Kurtenbach: Can the Warriors Load Manage Their Way to Playoffs?
Without Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green, the Warriors lost Wednesday’s game to the Kings. Despite fielding a line-up reminiscent of a G-League roster, they stayed competitive against a also shorthanded Sacramento team until the final minute.
- Rookie Will Richard scored 30 points.
- Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga added 28 and 24 points respectively.
However, in the fiercely competitive NBA Western Conference, moral victories hold little value. Resorting to silver linings with the 2025-26 Warriors suggests trouble ahead.
"We’ve seen the Warriors when they are humming. Curry and Butler playing like their MVP-caliber selves, Green and Al Horford are running the defensive end like they own the patent."
At their best, the Warriors can compete with any team, but that level of performance appears rarely—comparable to the infrequency of helpful videos on TikTok’s algorithm. Last week, the Warriors sluggishly lost to the Pacers and Bucks, teams they should comfortably beat. Then, on Wednesday, they seemingly gave up on a back-to-back matchup against Sacramento.
Author's summary: The Warriors struggle to maintain consistent top-tier performance, risking their playoff hopes despite moments of promise from young talent and veterans alike.