Golden State Without Steph: Warriors Lean on Jimmy Butler to Stay Alive as Curry Faces Gut-Punch Hamstring Setback

🩺 Injury Update: Steph Curry

Injury: Grade 1 left hamstring strain
Timeline: Indefinite – Curry has never had a hamstring injury before, so no concrete timetable for return.
Steph’s Words: “This is a gut punch… I know I’m closer to the end than the beginning.”
“You can be fooled into thinking you’re ready… I just need time.”

At age 37, Curry acknowledged this injury carries added weight, knowing playoff windows don’t last forever.

📊 The Warriors Without Steph – Historical Context

All-time playoff record without Curry: 9–3
But: All 12 of those games were during the KD/Klay/Draymond prime era (2016–2018)
No Durant now. No vintage Klay. But Golden State’s chemistry and culture still count.

💡 Expert Film Breakdown – Chiney Ogwumike’s Cheat Sheet

With Steph sidelined, Jimmy Butler has emerged as the heartbeat of the offense — not just scoring, but quarterbacking the team.

🔍 Fourth Quarter vs T-Wolves:

Jimmy accounted for 100% of the Warriors’ 4th quarter points (scoring + assisting).
Had 20 points, 8 assists — many off baseline drives and double-drag screens that drew two defenders.

Key Plays:

Draw and dish to Kaminga – baseline drive sucks in defenders → easy bucket.
High-screen isolation – Jimmy draws attention → hits Payton II for open threes.
Double drag screen – forces switch, creates mismatch → kick-out to Buddy Hield for 3.

💡 Impact:

Before Butler trade: Warriors were -91 when Steph sat.
With Jimmy in those non-Steph minutes: +97. A stunning 188-point swing in bench impact.

🧠 Expert Take: What This Means Going Forward

Kendrick Perkins:

“This is about mentality now. Steph being out doesn’t mean you fold. The Warriors have the DNA — Jimmy gives them belief.”

Chiney Ogwumike:

“They can absolutely steal another game. Jimmy’s IQ and intensity cover a lot of gaps.”

📈 What to Watch Moving Forward

Jonathan Kuminga: Quietly emerging as a slasher and finisher — needs to stay consistent.
Steve Kerr: Tactical adjustments will be everything — expect more off-ball screens, Jimmy ISO, and Hield spot-ups.

🔮 Final Word

This isn’t the 2018 juggernaut. But it is a battle-tested squad with just enough talent and culture to weather the storm.
If Jimmy Butler continues to dominate non-Steph minutes and the Warriors steal another, Steph might just return to a tied series — rested, locked in, and dangerous.