Warriors Struggle Without Curry in Second-Round Matchup
Warriors, Minus Stephen Curry, Receive Reality Check from Charles Barkley: Alleged Hard Truths Delivered
The Golden State Warriors are grappling with some tough times as they face off against the Minnesota Timberwolves without their star player, Stephen Curry. His hamstring injury, sustained in Game 1, will keep him out for at least a week.
Now, the Warriors' offense, which once thrived under Curry's leadership, appears disjointed and out of sync. The team's lack of scoring prowess was evident in their 117-93 loss in Game 2, a result that had rookie coach Steve Kerr fielding his entire active roster in search of a workable combination.
Charles Barkley noted on TNT's Inside the NBA after the Warriors' Game 2 defeat, "All players in the NBA can play. Everybody's a good player. But what percentage of players can you give the ball and say, 'Go get me a shot. Get me a good shot.' You go get a shot every time or you go get fouled?"
With Curry out, the Warriors are yearning for a much-needed offensive surge. Even during their series against the Houston Rockets, they found it challenging to score, and without Curry, the needle they've to thread seems impossibly thin.
Steve Kerr, who's been open about his disapproval of the Jonathan Kuminga-Jimmy Butler lineup, has been forced to lean heavily on Kuminga to generate some scoring.
Toothless Attack Without Curry
The Warriors' role players are finding themselves under immense pressure, and the absence of their dynamic point guard is causing a ripple effect.
For instance, Moses Moody, who closed the 2024-25 season as a legitimate high-level rotation player, is faltering under pressure. Not only is he missing shots, but they're clanking loudly off the rim, or he's air-balling them entirely. Moody went 0-5 from the field on Thursday night.
In Game 2, it was Trayce Jackson-Davis who stole the spotlight, providing the Warriors with a much-needed lob threat. His involvement in the game relegated Kevon Looney to just three minutes on the court.
A Prayer for Curry's Miraculous Recovery
The Warriors are desperately hoping for a miraculous recovery from Stephen Curry's hamstring injury. Without him, this second-round matchup is looking more daunting by the day.
The Warriors, without their star player Stephen Curry, are finding it challenging to maintain their offensive rhythm in the NBA playoffs, relying heavily on less experienced role players such as Moses Moody and relying on a prayer for Curry's miraculous recovery to secure a win against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second-round matchup.
Despite improving play from players like Trayce Jackson-Davis, the team's lack of scoring prowess has been exacerbated by the absence of their dynamic point guard, leading to a toothless attack and increasing pressure on young players to produce.
