The absence of Stephen Curry has left the Golden State Warriors reeling in their Western Conference semifinal matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves, as their offensive inefficiencies have come into sharp focus.
Curry, who sustained a hamstring strain in Game 1 and left during the second quarter, has not played since.
While there’s cautious optimism he could return if the series stretches to a Game 6, Golden State’s performance in his absence has raised significant alarm bells.
The team’s offensive drop-off has been stark, and Steve Kerr now faces a daunting challenge in keeping the Warriors’ season alive.
Curry had been averaging 22.6 points per game in the postseason before his injury, making him the Warriors’ top scorer. Without him, the offensive system has faltered.
Over Games 2 and 3 – both of which were wins for the Timberwolves – Golden State has managed an offensive rating of just 100.0, a steep decline from their 111.7 rating in the first-round series against the Houston Rockets.
In Game 1, even before Curry exited, the team’s offensive efficiency was already dipping, with a 104.2 offensive rating.
Since his departure, the offensive rhythm has disappeared altogether.
Turnovers rise, ball movement suffers, defense breaks down
Golden State’s struggles aren’t limited to scoring. Their ball control and passing fluidity have suffered without Curry orchestrating the offense. Turnovers have spiked, with the Warriors coughing the ball up an average of 17.5 times in the last two games – a significant rise from the 12.4 turnovers per game recorded in the Houston series.
Assists have also taken a hit, falling from 24.3 per game to 22.0, further emphasizing how the offense has become more stagnant and less cohesive in Curry’s absence.
The breakdown on offense is beginning to affect the defensive side as well. The Warriors’ defensive rating has climbed from 111.5 in the first round to 115.9 in the last two games. That’s no coincidence, as the Timberwolves have capitalized on Golden State’s miscues, posting the best offensive rating (115.9) of any remaining playoff team over the last two games. Their net rating of 15.9 during this stretch is also the highest in the league.
With Game 4 set for Monday at 9 p.m. CT at Chase Center, the Warriors are now staring down the possibility of a 3-1 series deficit. Without Curry, they’ll need a near-perfect performance to extend the series and give their injured star a chance to return.
This series is proving just how central Curry remains to Golden State’s identity, and how fragile their offensive balance is without him. For Steve Kerr, the task now is finding answers – fast – before the Timberwolves slam the door shut on the Warriors’ playoff hopes.
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