Stephen Curry’s hamstring injury caused the Golden State Warriors to a serious predicament as they fought the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the playoffs.
The report suggests that Steph Curry could only return if the series can be expanded to Game 6.
In his absence, Kevin Garnett believes Jimmy Butler must get used to that of the indisputable team leader, reminiscent of Miami’s hot days.
“This will feel like Jimmy back in Miami,” Garnett explained on his podcast. “He’s going to have to be the focus, Draymond will have to bolster his offense. I think everyone has to step up.”
Butler frequently demonstrated his leadership skills and his ability to help the fever succeed in the postseason. This earned him the nickname “Playoff Jimmy.”
He not only lost to LeBron James’ Lakers, but he also led the less experienced, engaging and engaging Heat to the Eastern Conference Finals and NBA Finals.
However, despite his belief in Butler’s potential leadership, Garnet remains skeptical of Golden State’s chances without their superstar point guard.
“To be honest, I don’t know if there’s enough to defeat Minnesota without Steph,” he admitted.
Butler showed a flash of potential in Game 1, scoring 20 points and 11 rebounds, with Curry playing in just 13 minutes. However, his production immersed himself in 17 points in Game 2, raising concerns about consistency.
Meanwhile, Garnett’s podcast co-host and former Celtics star Paul Pierce believes Jonathan Cuminga could be an unexpected X-factor for the Warriors.
The young forward led Golden State 18 points off the bench in Game 2 despite receiving a limited amount throughout the playoffs.
“Kuminga, he has to give them something,” Pierce said, highlighting the urgent need for role players to raise the game at this critical time.
The deeper the series, the more pressure the warriors are put in step with the enemy, buying time for the injured star to return and lead the title push.