The Golden State Warriors‘ playoff campaign is collapsing in the cruelest way imaginable. After a promising start to their second-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the loss of Stephen Curry to a hamstring injury has turned their postseason run into a rapid unraveling.
What began with a gutsy Game 1 win has turned into four consecutive defeats – and with it, a growing wave of frustration pointed squarely at head coach Steve Kerr.
Curry suffered his injury during Game 1, a contest in which he still managed to contribute in limited fashion to help secure the win. But with Curry sidelined for the next four games, Golden State has failed to maintain any momentum.
Most painful of all was Game 3, where the Warriors squandered a fourth-quarter lead – a loss that many now point to as the turning point in the series. Instead of seizing a 2-1 series advantage and buying time for Curry‘s return, the Warriors lost their grip, and the Timberwolves took control.
After Game 5, the Warriors now face elimination, trailing 3-1 in the series. Game 6 could have provided Curry with a realistic return window thanks to a three-day gap in the schedule. Instead, Golden State’s collapse has likely robbed them of that opportunity.
Fan frustration mounts as Kerr becomes the scapegoat
As the team falters, fans have begun directing their ire at Steve Kerr, questioning his in-game decisions, lineup rotations, and late-game strategy. The criticism, while vocal, comes against the backdrop of a coach who has delivered four NBA titles and reshaped the league with his motion offense.
“Steve Kerr went with the same line up. That’s been losing. Warriors need to fire this man because he’s stubborn and killed youth development,” a user wrote on X.
Another added: “Am sorry, say what you want but I am officially in the “Steve Kerr should be fired” group this is what we really look like without Steph. Kerr out.”
The midseason trade for Jimmy Butler seemed to signal that Golden State was all-in once again, and their 23-8 finish to the regular season only heightened expectations.
But even the addition of Butler hasn’t been enough to counter the absence of Curry. The system Kerr runs is built around the gravity Curry provides.
Without him drawing defenders, creating space, and igniting transition opportunities, the Warriors‘ offense has sputtered. Jimmy Butler and Jonathan Kuminga have tried to carry the load, but the Warriors simply haven’t had enough firepower to match Minnesota’s physical, balanced attack.
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