OAKLAND -– The Memphis Grizzlies have not updated the status of starting point guard Mike Conley, who underwent facial surgery on Tuesday and hopes to return in time for the Western Conference semifinal series against the Warriors.
Conley made a TV appearance during Memphis' series-clinching win over Portland on Wednesday and the swelling on his face, particularly around his left eye, was very noticeable. It's hard to imagine he'll return in a matter of days.
The Warriors, particularly center Andrew Bogut, are taking no chances in the series that begins Sunday at Oracle Arena.
"I'm not ruling him out until I don't see him on the court in Game 1," Bogut said Thursday, after practice. "So we're preparing like he is playing."
Reminded of the swelling, Bogut didn't back off.
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"Yeah, but he's got a week to prepare," he said. "Those pills these days do wonderful things. So we're preparing like he's playing.
"You never know what's going to happen. They could make him an 'Iron Man' mask. Who knows? We're preparing like he's playing."
Warriors coach Steve Kerr said that's the only way to prepare. Acknowledging Conley's importance to Memphis, he compared it to Stephen Curry's importance to the Warriors.
And he's not far off.
"Conley's a great player; I think he's an All-Star," Kerr said. "Obviously, his absence is a big deal. If we lost Steph, it would be a big deal. It's similar in terms of the impact he makes as a point guard.
"We'll play against whoever's out there. We have no idea if he'll play in the series, or when, and all that stuff. The preparation doesn't really change."
