If Curry is not injured, he can go further this year s playoffs, which is a pity

On May 15, in the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs, the Golden State Warriors lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves with a big score of 1-4, and unfortunately stopped. This result made countless Warriors fans sigh because the absence of the team's core Stephen Curry is considered a key factor in the series defeat. Looking back at the entire series, the Warriors seemed unable to do both offense and defense, especially lacking stable scoring points at critical moments, which is exactly what Curry is best at.

Curry suffered an ankle sprain at the end of the regular season, which directly resulted in him missing all five games with the Timberwolves. Although the Warriors have experienced players such as Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins, Curry's absence completely collapsed the team's offensive system. The Timberwolves seized this opportunity and used the strong performances of Edwards, Towns and Gobert to completely suppress the Warriors on both offense and defense. Edwards, especially, averaged 28.6 points in the series, becoming the biggest contributor to the Timberwolves' promotion.

From the data point of view, the Warriors' offensive efficiency plummeted to the fifth-last league in the game Curry missed, with a three-point shooting percentage of only 32.1%, far below the season average. Curry is not only the team's number one scorer, but also the core of the tactical system. His off-ball running, pick-and-roll coordination and scoring ability at critical moments are the magic weapon that the Warriors rely on for many years to survive. Without Curry, the Warriors' offense became monotonous and easy to predict. The Timberwolves could unbridlely double-team Thompson, shorting non-shot players such as Green and Looney, thus completely locking the Warriors' offensive space. On the defensive end, Curry's absence is also far-reaching. Although Curry is not good at defense, his presence can allow the Warriors to better implement the switch strategy. In his absence, the Timberwolves frequently used pick-and-roll to target the Warriors' substitute point guards, especially Jordan Poole and Chris Paul's limitations on the defensive end were infinitely amplified. Edwards and Conley's breakthroughs made the Warriors' defense busy, and Towns and Gobert in the inside were even more demanding.

If Curry can play healthily, the trend of the series may be completely different. Curry averaged 31.2 points and 6.8 assists per game against the Timberwolves, shooting 48.7% from the field and 42.3% from three-pointers. His presence not only opens up space, but also creates more opportunities for teammates to score easily. More importantly, Curry's leadership and playoff experience are the Warriors' most valuable assets. In the high-pressure environment of the playoffs, his calmness and decisiveness can often help the team overcome difficulties.

Of course, the rise of the Timberwolves cannot be ignored. They have a young and talented core lineup, Edwards' growth rate is far beyond expectations, and the double tower combination of Towns and Gobert is extremely deterrent on the defensive end. But even so, if Curry is in charge, the Warriors can at least drag the series into tiebreak. After all, the Warriors' championship background and Curry's super-giant attributes often play a decisive role in the playoffs.

From a more macro perspective, Curry's absence also exposed the issue of the depth of the Warriors' lineup. In recent years, the Warriors have relied too much on Curry and lacked a stable second-hand ball point on the bench. Poole's condition was fluctuating, and Paul was unable to maintain high-intensity output due to his age. If management fails to strengthen the roster in the offseason, the Warriors' future competitiveness may decline further.

Overall, Curry's absence from the Timberwolves series directly led to the Warriors' collapse and elimination. If he can play healthily, the Warriors will be able to go further and even reach the championship. But competitive sports have no ifs, injuries are part of the game. For the Warriors, how to maintain the health of the core lineup next season and build a deeper lineup around Curry will be the biggest issue facing management. For Curry, this injury may become another turning point in his career, inspiring him to return with a stronger attitude in the future.