In the 2019 offseason, when the "five-star warriors" disintegrated, I believe that no one would have thought that the warriors would collapse, right? After all, after the departure of Durant and "Cousins", the overall strength of the Warriors has been greatly weakened. However, the Warriors management has successfully retained Curry, Thompson and Green as the three cores of the system, preserving the hope of returning to the championship race.
Because during the 14-16 season, the Warriors reached the Finals for two consecutive years with the help of the big three combination led by "Ku Chai Tang". But no one thought that after the disintegration of the "five-star warriors", the warriors could not play in the playoffs for two consecutive years...
Early 21-22 season: The Warriors once became the league number one with their efficient offensive and defensive performance
After the Warriors failed to make the playoffs for two consecutive seasons, there are no illusions about their return to the championship. Because the Warriors in the new season not only did not get much reinforcement compared to last season, but even the lineup lacked players such as Oubre and Wiseman.
So at the beginning of the season, some fans were paranoid that before Thompson returned, the Warriors, under Curry's leadership, could maintain the top eight in the West and complete the goal. However, after the start of the new season, the Warriors did not disappoint, but played the first record in the league...
After the start of the new season, the Warriors did not fall into a losing streak because of the lack of Oubre and Wiseman. Instead, in the case of Poole's outbreak and Wiggins playing an all-star performance, they defeated the Lakers, Bulls, Philadelphia, Nets and other teams with super efficient offensive and defensive performances, and climbed to the top of the league record list.
The reason why the Warriors were able to win many battles and wins in the early part of the season and achieve the first record in the league. In addition to Curry's important contribution of averaging 27.6 points, 5.3 boards and 5.8 assists per game, 42.7% shooting, and the all-star performance of Poole and Wiggins averaging 18 points per game, Green's organizational and defensive performance is also very important for the team to continue to win.
Late 21-22 season: Curry didn't perform well, and the Warriors' record continued to decline
After entering January, although Thompson ushered in a comeback, Green missed the game due to injury after playing a few games, and the "Kuchai Soup" big three never got a chance to really fit.
And after Green's injury, the Warriors' performance continued to decline, ending the "sweet period" in the early part of the season. After January, Wiggins slipped to 15.7 points, 4.3 boards, 2.7 assists, 44.5% shooting percentage, and no trace of all-Star starter temperament. Although Poole does not seem to have a serious overall data decline, his state fluctuations are very large.
Especially during the time when Thompson was just returning, Poole averaged 13 points per game. However, the decline of Wiggins and Poole is not the most important reason for the Continuous Decline in the Warriors' record later in the season.
From the perspective of personal performance alone, after January, Curry can only contribute 23.2 points per game, 5.1 boards and 6.7 assists, and 43.8% shooting, down 4.4 points from the early part of the season.
After Thompson returned, although he had enough ball rights and shots, the performance at both ends of the attack and defense was quite different from the peak - averaging only 17.9 points, 3.8 boards and 2.6 assists per game, 41% shooting percentage performance; the Splash Brothers did not play the expected performance after joining forces, which is actually the main reason for the Continuous Decline in the Warriors' record.
And Curry's continuous decline in personal performance in the late season has made the outside world once again full of doubts about him - thinking that when Green is not there, Curry is simply unable to lead the Warriors to play a good record; the reason why the Warriors' record at the beginning of the season is so good is not entirely because of Curry, but because Green inspired Wiggins, Poole and others...
Losing to the Spurs first, then losing the Magic, the Warriors without Curry are not even strong teams?
In the Mid-March Warriors vs Green Kai match, Curry was accidentally pressed to his foot when he competed with Smart for the ball, and was eventually diagnosed with a sprained ligament in his left foot. After Curry was injured, 10 points behind in the third quarter was already equivalent to sentencing the Warriors to a "death sentence", after all, in the crucial final quarter of the game, it is difficult for the Warriors today to stand up and score.
The loss of the warriors in third place in the West to green Kai in fourth place in the East may not be so unacceptable. However, when the Warriors Nears faced the spurs (Western Eleven) and the Magic (the bottom of the East), with the lineups of Green, Wiggins, Thompson and Poole, they could not even win a game.
Especially in the game against the Magic, the Warriors also led by nine points at the end of the third quarter, seemingly "holding" the Magic team at the bottom of the East. But after entering the fourth quarter, the Warriors suddenly "lost power", and in nearly five minutes, they could not get a single point, but instead were played by the Magic in a wave of 13-0 attack...
Only when Curry is absent from the game for a long time will the outside world realize his importance
When Curry's personal performance is not good, and the Warriors' record continues to decline, Wiggins, Poole, Thompson and others, although their personal performances have also declined, they do not have to bear the main responsibility for the continuous decline in the team's record, because the "biggest pot" for losing is carried by Curry.
Therefore, a while ago, most people in the outside world thought that Curry's performance declined, which was the main reason why the team lost more and won less. But in fact, no matter how much Curry's personal performance has slipped, his importance to the Warriors is still irreplaceable...
1, "library has gravity" - is the basis of the Warrior system. Since Kerr became the Warriors head coach and brought advanced small-ball systems, Curry is widely considered to be the biggest beneficiary. Because under Cole's small ball system, Curry not only achieved a leap from ordinary stars to superstars, but also won 2 MVP trophies and 3 championship trophies.
Because of this, there has always been a saying that Curry is a "system player", and some people believe that as long as he leaves Kerr's small ball system, Curry will no longer be able to play super-giant personal performance.
In fact, regarding the tactical system, everyone has their own understanding in their hearts. But no matter what kind of system, the most important thing is to find the right players to be able to fully play. Just like Phil Jackson's triangle offensive tactics that year, he can help Jordan and Kobe win championships, and he can also become "worthless" in the Knicks.
In my personal opinion, the small ball system advocated by Kerr does maximize the release of Curry's offensive ability. But in fact, Curry injected the soul into Cole's small ball system - because even without Cole's small ball system, Curry may not be super giant, may not be able to win so many championships, but as long as his talent can remain healthy, it will not be through the nameless.
Just like in recent games, after curry is missing, even if Green is still there, Thompson, and Wiggins are still there, Poole can make up for Curry's offensive firepower to some extent. Without Curry's "soul figure", they simply can't fully play the advantages of the small ball passing system, and they can't find the opportunity to shoot easily...
2. Offensive firepower at critical moments. Whether it is missing the FMVP in the 15-year finals, or missing the championship in the 16-year finals, or being awarded the FMVP by Durant in 17 or 18 years, it seems that curry's personal ability at key moments is not good, and he cannot stably provide offensive firepower at key moments.
Curry in the 16-year finals was indeed very disappointing, but in fact, as early as 16 years after the failure to win the championship, Curry began to gradually increase his muscle and increase the proportion of shots under the basket, in order to make himself more accustomed to the rhythm of the playoffs and have a more stable personal performance in the playoffs.
So that's where the playoffs came in the coming years, and Curry's playoff performance was getting more and more stable year by year. Especially in the 19th Finals, even in the face of the Raptors' "BOX-1" defensive tactics, Curry can still play a super-giant performance.
And today's Warriors, in addition to helping the team contain most of the defensive forces and maximize the small-ball system, Curry can also become the Warriors' most reliable scoring point at key moments. Otherwise, with Thompson's current state, Wiggins' inability to be a tool, and Poole's immaturity, they simply cannot continue to score consistently at key moments.
Therefore, at present, whether it is personal restraint or offensive ability, Curry's role in the Warriors is irreplaceable. He is the foundation of the warrior system, the soul of the warrior system. Even if his personal performance is "crotch-pulling", with him and his Warriors, it is a team of different levels...