The Golden State Warriors’ season concluded abruptly in Game 5 of the Western Conference semi-finals, revealing a stark truth: life without Stephen curry is, to put it mildly, challenging. The Minnesota Timberwolves thrashed them 121-110, ending a series where the Warriors struggled to find their footing.

The turning point? The second quarter of Game 1. For the initial 14 minutes and 41 seconds, Golden state outscored Minnesota 30-20. However, Curry then suffered a strained left hamstring and did not return. While the Warriors managed to win that game by 11 points, the remainder of the series painted a grim picture. With Curry on the court, Golden State won the first 15 minutes by 10 points. Without him, they lost the subsequent 225 minutes by a combined 56 points.

The Curry Effect: A Tale of Two Teams

even at 37, Curry remains the engine of the Warriors’ offense. The team has been rebuilt around him, with Draymond Green, 35, and coach Steve Kerr being the only other remaining figures from their championship era. The numbers speak volumes: with Curry on the floor this season, the Warriors boasted one of the league’s most potent offenses, scoring 120.4 points per 100 possessions. Without him, that figure plummeted to 108.4.

This difference, according to the article, is roughly the difference between the best offense in the NBA over a full season and the worst.

Hopes Dashed: The Jimmy Butler Experiment

There was optimism that the Warriors could mitigate their dependence on Curry with the midseason acquisition of Jimmy Butler, known for his scoring prowess and defensive capabilities. Butler did have a transformative impact, boosting the Warriors’ numbers when he was on the court more than any other player, Curry included. The team seemed to have a promising blend of veterans (Curry, Green, Butler) and young talent (Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody), raising hopes for a deep playoff run.

However, without Curry, the Warriors’ offense became anemic, scoring just 104.6 points per 100 possessions in the final four games of the series,while Minnesota scored 116.9. Their assist-to-turnover ratio also declined from 2.1 in the regular season to 1.2 in those games. The article notes, The Curry-less Warriors weren’t just missing his all-world shooting ability, but his creativity, too.

individual Efforts and Collective Struggles

While depth players like Jonathan Kuminga stepped up, averaging 24.3 points per game after Curry’s injury, their efforts weren’t enough.Butler, tasked with filling Curry’s scoring void, struggled to find consistency, shooting 45.8% from the field in Games 2 through 5. The article states, The Warriors’ team defense was decent enough, but the offense was so lifeless that the Warriors’ series never got out of neutral once Curry exited.

A History of Resurrections, But…

The Curry-Kerr Warriors have defied expectations before, including their 2022 championship win after missing the playoffs twice and their resurgence after the Butler trade. As the article points out, There is no sense in declaring that Curry will never win anything again, only to have to walk it back later. They finished the season on a 23-8 run after acquiring Butler and won a seven-game first-round series against the Houston Rockets.

However, the Warriors face significant challenges. While they have bolstered their depth, the drop-off in performance without Curry is undeniable. The article emphasizes that even if Curry continues to beat Father Time well into his 40s, the Warriors’ lack of other gamechanging offensive talent was laid bare as he watched from the sidelines. The Warriors’ salary cap situation further complicates matters, making it challenging to add another high-priced player or even retain Kuminga without exceeding the luxury tax threshold.

the Uncomfortable Truth

Ultimately, the Warriors are relying on curry’s continued brilliance and hoping for better luck with injuries. The article concludes with a sobering assessment: It isn’t a great bet, but what else is there to do?