The Warriors Are Weathering the Storm - and the Forecast’s Looking Brighter
The Golden State Warriors aren’t just surviving - they’re scrapping, clawing, and staying in the fight. At 29-26 and holding onto the eighth seed in the Western Conference, this team has been through the wringer: a flurry of injuries, trade deadline uncertainty, and the absence of two of their biggest stars in Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler. But like the white ibis - the last to leave before a storm and the first to return when it clears - the Warriors are still standing.
They’ve taken some hits. Curry’s been sidelined with a knee injury.
Butler, lost for the season with a torn ACL, won’t be walking through that door. But even without their two closers, Golden State has found ways to stay competitive.
Heading into the All-Star break, they rattled off a gutsy 25-7 run to shock the Suns, erased a 17-point deficit to beat Memphis, and pushed San Antonio to the brink before the Spurs pulled away late.
So how have they stayed afloat in the five games since Curry went down? Let’s break it down.
Offense by Committee, Defense by Design
Without Curry and Butler, Golden State’s offense was always going to take a hit. Those two are the engine and the spark - the only players on this roster who can consistently create for themselves and others.
Without them, the offense has sputtered, especially in first halves. Turnovers, missed shots, and a lack of rhythm have put the Warriors in early holes, including a double-digit deficit against Phoenix and a 17-point halftime gap against a rebuilding Memphis squad.
But here’s where it gets interesting: the Warriors have leaned into their defense to claw their way back. Ranked 10th in the league in defensive rating, they’ve used zone coverages to force turnovers and flip the tempo. That defensive pressure has sparked their offense - not through flashy isolation plays, but by committee.
Against the Spurs, it was a full team effort: Draymond Green, De’Anthony Melton, and Moses Moody each dropped 17 points, with Brandin Podziemski adding 16. It wasn’t pretty, but it was effective - and it’s the kind of gritty, all-hands-on-deck performance that’s kept Golden State in the mix.
A Shift Toward Traditional Lineups
Steve Kerr is known for his creative rotations - often rolling with smaller, guard-heavy lineups to maximize spacing and speed. But without Curry and Butler, he’s had to adjust. And that adjustment has been a shift toward more traditional, size-balanced lineups.
In recent games against Phoenix and the Lakers, Kerr started Melton, Pat Spencer, Gui Santos, Green, and Moody. It’s not a flashy group, but it’s functional.
Melton provides steady ball-handling and pairs well with Green defensively. Santos brings size and energy to a roster that’s lacked both at times.
The numbers back it up: that lineup has posted a 116.9 offensive rating and a 103.0 defensive rating - a net rating of +13.9 in 32 minutes since Curry’s injury. It’s a small sample size, sure, but it’s an encouraging one.
Santos, in particular, has been a revelation. Earlier in the season, he was a high-energy bench piece, mostly seeing minutes in garbage time.
Now, he’s proving he belongs in the regular rotation. His hustle hasn’t wavered with the increased workload, and he’s shown he can be a defensive asset alongside Green.
Offensively, he’s limited - but in a lineup built around defense and effort, he fits like a glove.
Help Is on the Horizon
The Warriors have been holding the line. Now, reinforcements are on the way.
Stephen Curry is expected to return after the All-Star break, and newly acquired Kristaps Porzingis is nearing his Warriors debut. If healthy, Porzingis gives Golden State a much-needed boost in size, scoring versatility, and floor spacing. But health is the big question mark.
Porzingis is managing postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome - a nervous system condition - and is still rehabbing an Achilles injury. He’s been ramping up on-court work, but the Warriors are wisely taking a cautious approach. The same goes for Melton, who’s still working his way back from last season’s ACL tear.
If this group can get healthy, they have a shot at making a real push. It’s not hard to imagine a post-All-Star surge, especially with Curry back in the fold and Porzingis adding a new dimension to the frontcourt. It’s a scenario that echoes last season’s late run after acquiring Butler at the deadline.
The Road Ahead
There’s no sugarcoating it - this season hasn’t gone according to plan for Golden State. But through the chaos, they’ve shown resilience. They’ve tightened up defensively, leaned into role players, and found just enough offense to stay competitive.
Now, with Curry’s return on the horizon and Porzingis waiting in the wings, the Warriors have a chance to shift gears. They’ve weathered the storm. And if they can stay healthy, they might just strut into the postseason with the same confidence and fight as those fearless white ibises - bold, proud, and ready for whatever comes next.