It would be an understatement to suggest that the Golden State Warriors are having an underwhelming season. The Warriors have looked like a shell of their former formidable selves. With hopes of bolstering their roster and title chances, many anticipated the Warriors to be active during the trade deadline. However, the trade deadline came and went on Thursday, and the Warriors didn’t pull off any significant trades.
The only deal that the Warriors could manage was sending backup point guard Cory Joseph to the Indiana Pacers. The Warriors were interested in Kelly Olynyk and Alex Caruso but couldn’t agree on a trade package with their respective teams. In a news conference, Warriors’ GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. summed up their trade window activity. He said, “There wasn’t a lot out there that we thought could improve us significantly at an appropriate price.”
Following a disappointing trade window, Stephen Curry posted a montage of his best moments of the season on Instagram, with the caption, “Blessed & Highly Favored!” Curry’s post has taken many fans off-guard, who think that this could be a cryptic post on Steph’s behalf. However, this post comes just hours after the Warriors completely dismantled a promising Pacers side. On the back of a 42-point performance from Curry, the Warriors won the game against Indiana by a scoreline of 131-109.
The Warriors’ win against the Pacers brings them within striking distance of the 10th spot in the Western Conference standings, currently occupied by the Utah Jazz. Steve Kerr, the head coach of the Warriors, has expressed that their current three-game winning streak reflects the team performing at, what he considers to be, their “best version.”
Can the Warriors complete a miraculous turnaround?
The Warriors are NBA royalty, and seeing them occupying the 11th spot is a bit of a shock for most fans. But the Dubs have looked nothing like their former selves. They have looked disjointed. While Stephen Curry has continued to perform at an All-NBA level, the support just hasn’t been there. Key contributors in their 2022 title triumph, Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins, have witnessed a significant slump in their performances and production.
However, it’s looking like the Warriors are starting to figure things out. Young players like Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski have been given an extended run in the rotation, and both the youngsters have delivered. A lineup featuring stars like Curry, CP3, Klay, and Draymond should never be underestimated. However, the current circumstances suggest that securing a fifth NBA title appears highly improbable for the Warriors at this time.