The Timberwolves advance to this round for the second straight year, both berths improbable given the lack of optimism most of the basketball world felt for this franchise. That goodwill was left toward the mainstays, which is why there was so much hope for a Curry return if his injured hamstring had improved in the break between Games 5 and 6.<\/p>\n
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Perhaps it was for the best this series didn\u2019t extend. Not for lack of drama because a potential Curry comeback would\u2019ve been dripping with theater, him coming out to the Chase Center faithful \u2014 the belief that a miracle would\u2019ve been possible.<\/p>\n
Certainly the anemic way the Warriors performed on offense Wednesday, shooting under 40 percent for most of the night, they would\u2019ve been aided by Curry\u2019s offensive wizardry.\u00a0The Timberwolves did everything they could to gum up the ball movement offense, and even though the Warriors accomplished their game plan goals of winning the possession game and hoisting up 39 3-pointers, it was still futile.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you don\u2019t have Steph on the floor, the margin for error is so much smaller, and everything has to take on more,\u201d Butler said. \u201cInjuries happen. But it is a lot different with Steph not out there.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Curry\u2019s presence wouldn\u2019t have helped defend Julius Randle playing the best and most controlled basketball of his career, or Anthony Edwards continuing to grow into his own as a current torchbearer.<\/p>\n
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Warriors head coach Steve Kerr and Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards share a moment after Game 5 on Thursday in Minneapolis. (AP Photo\/Abbie Parr)<\/p>\n
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)<\/p>\n
To a man, the Warriors gave full credit to the Timberwolves, who shot 63 percent and 42 percent from 3. It\u2019s hard not to when a team beats you four straight times, Curry being there or not. The Warriors have won two playoff series since winning the 2022 title, and each loss signaled something minute.<\/p>\n
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Losing to the Los Angeles Lakers ended an awkward season that began with Draymond Green punching Jordan Poole in training camp, which followed them all year. Losing to the Sacramento Kings in the play-in tournament last year ended the long kiss goodbye to Klay Thompson.<\/p>\n
This one, it wasn\u2019t like the Warriors lost to mirror images of themselves \u2014 nobody would confuse Anthony Edwards or Rudy Gobert any reasonably facsimile to players of Warriors vintage, but the how seemed telling.<\/p>\n
Seeing Jaden McDaniels flying around on both ends sure conjured up images of a younger Andre Iguodala as the ultimate glue guy, and the Timberwolves even through their flaws took full advantage of a wounded team. They didn\u2019t want to take any chances of Curry coming back in a Game 6.<\/p>\n
The Timberwolves took control of the series in Game 3, when they suffocated the Warriors offense in the fourth quarter and then followed it up with another professional performance two nights later to take this commanding lead.<\/p>\n
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In a way, they were paying the best homage to the Warriors with their approach, the appropriate fear.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey’re no longer in their dynastic phase, I would say. But the era of Golden State basketball is still rolling on and very, very relevant,\u201d Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. \u201cWhen they’ve not been at the top in the last number of years, a lot of injury driven, which has been unfortunate for them.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it’s incredible what they’ve done and what they’ve built and what they’ve accomplished and in doing so, really also many ways changed how the game is played.\u201d<\/p>\n
A lot of discussion will revolve around \u201cif.\u201d If Curry was healthy. But when your foundation is around a 37-year-old, injury has to be baked in because that\u2019s what happens to a soon-to-be 38-year old \u2014 you just hope it doesn\u2019t happen this time of year.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI know we had a shot. I know we could\u2019ve gone the distance,\u201d Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. \u201cBut it doesn’t matter. Again, everything in the playoffs is about who stays healthy and who gets hot, you know. Are you playing well at the right time? Do you have multiple guys step up in key games, make shots, and do you have good health?\u201d<\/p>\n
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Draymond Green, a champion who helped fuel the Warriors dynasty, now faces what comes after. (Photo by Ellen Schmidt\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
(Ellen Schmidt via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Without the last one, there\u2019s no point in asking the first two questions, especially if it\u2019s Curry\u2019s health that\u2019s in question. The Timberwolves didn\u2019t run out of good players while it seemed like the Warriors had more than a few who need more playoff seasoning \u2014 some simply looked out of element, and the roster has to be built to fit around the vets\u2019 needs, especially Curry\u2019s.<\/p>\n
This is their lot. Green will be 36 shortly after next year\u2019s All-Star break, Butler will turn 36 before training camp begins and Curry enters true old-head territory as he races toward 40.<\/p>\n
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Kerr, Butler and Green were optimistic about next season\u2019s prospects given how they performed after Butler came aboard, but you wonder if that\u2019s enough on its face to believe in.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is tough, but it\u2019s tough on both sides,\u201d Butler said. \u201cIf we\u2019re healthy, \u2018if all this and if all that, it may be different. But we\u2019ll take our chances for sure with Steph out there. We\u2019ll come back and figure this thing out.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Western Conference is increasingly a younger man\u2019s game and asking these three accomplished-but-body-weary players to ward off that level of competition seems too much to ask without significant personnel changes.<\/p>\n
When factoring in Butler\u2019s extension, the Warriors have a lot of free agents \u2014 most notably Jonathan Kuminga (restricted) and managed to get under the punitive second luxury tax apron this season, which gives them some wiggle room this summer, like the non-taxpayer midlevel exception around $14 million.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI\u2019m excited,\u201d Kerr said. \u201cWe\u2019ve got Jimmy and Dray and Steph all coming back. Our young players performed really well. There\u2019s a lot to look forward to.\u201d<\/p>\n
But to just to keep pace with the top of the west, the Warriors are missing something significant \u2014 even beyond the Butler acquisition, which bolstered the back end of their season.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think every team in the NBA feels like they need personnel help that\u2019s not in the building,\u201d Green said. \u201cIt has nothing to do with who\u2019s young, who\u2019s old. That\u2019s the nature of the business. Contracts happen, money situations happen. But do I have confidence in our young guys that they can take the next step? 100 percent, absolutely.\u201d<\/p>\n