Despite a strong run of 16 wins in their previous 20 games, the Golden State Warriors have recently shown signs of weakness. This vulnerability was exposed in a game against Atlanta on Saturday, which Draymond Green described as a `terrible loss`.
Playing without Stephen Curry, the Warriors fell behind by 17 points in the first quarter against the Hawks. They were unable to recover, ultimately losing 124-115 in a game that felt more lopsided than the final score suggests.
Curry is currently out with a pelvic contusion after a fall in the previous game against the Raptors. In their last four games, the Warriors have only had one convincing performance – a win against the Bucks while Curry was resting.
Aside from that win, they performed poorly against the Nuggets (who were missing key players) and barely defeated a struggling Toronto team before losing to the Hawks, who have been playing better recently with six wins in their last eight games.
`This is a bad loss, a really terrible one,` Green stated. `When you`re fighting for a playoff spot with only eleven games left, you can`t afford losses like this. There`s too much at stake. We need to win the games we should win. Even with Steph out, this was a game we should have won.`
Green is correct. With 11 games remaining, this loss has pushed the Warriors closer to the play-in tournament. Although they appear to be in the 6th seed currently, they are only there because they`ve played more games than the Clippers, who are tied in losses and hold the tiebreaker. This means the Clippers, not the Warriors, control their destiny for the final playoff spot. Golden State is also only one game ahead of the 8th seed.
Every game is crucial now. While their next three games against Miami, New Orleans, and San Antonio might seem winnable on paper, nothing is guaranteed without Curry.
Initially, some thought Curry`s injury might be beneficial, allowing him to rest before the playoffs. However, the Warriors need to secure a playoff spot first. Their recent performance, reminiscent of their pre-trade deadline struggles where they barely clung to a play-in spot, emphasizes the urgent need for Curry`s return.
Curry is scheduled to be re-evaluated on Monday before the Miami game. Miami, despite a ten-game losing streak, will likely be motivated for this game. The Warriors must also be ready.
Jasper Hawthorne