Can the Warriors Save Their Dynasty in Game 7? Or Is This the End?
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For Warriors fans, Sunday’s Game 7 in Houston isn’t the time for cold, hard analysis. That path leads only to despair.
After back-to-back blowout losses—including Friday’s 115-86 thrashing—Golden State looks finished. The Rockets outplayed them in every facet: shooting (44.9% from three to the Warriors’ 41.1%), rebounding (46-42), free throws (33 makes to 18), paint dominance (42-32), hustle plays, turnovers (11 to 16), and even strategy.
Outside of that? No big deal.
The Warriors have been fighting a wildfire with a squirt gun. Their only hope now, according to their own players, is to outwork a younger, hungrier Rockets squad built on relentless energy.
Jimmy Butler, battling through a sore hamstring at 35, took responsibility:
“I gotta grab more boards. I’ve been lazy. Game 7, I’m diving for every loose ball—leading by example. If I do it, the team follows.”
Wait—lazy? Butler had a team-high nine rebounds Friday. If this is "lazy," Houston should be terrified of "Playoff Jimmy" at full throttle.
Draymond Green echoed the sentiment:
*“It’s about what we’re not doing—fighting for 50/50 balls. That’s the difference.”*
But can the Warriors suddenly flip a switch in Game 7?
Momentum in the playoffs is often overrated, but right now, it’s hard to see where Golden State’s spark comes from. They entered this series banking on playoff experience—yet Houston’s young stars (like 22-year-old Alperen Şengün, who dropped 21-14-6-3 steals plus a flagrant foul) now have six games of battle-tested confidence.
At some point, an aging core—Curry (37), Green & Butler (35)—reaches for another gear… and finds nothing left. Is this that moment?
But if you bleed blue and gold, you’ve seen miracles before. So what must the Warriors do to survive?
1. Rediscover Their Offensive Flow
Steve Kerr’s motion offense, which revolutionized the NBA and carried a flawed roster this season, has been stifled by Houston’s defense. The Rockets ran Golden State off the three-point line, denying open looks and swarming Curry.
Rockets coach Ime Udoka explained their strategy:
“Our focus was Curry—double-teaming him, scrambling on rotations.”
It worked. Buddy Hield (0-4 in 16 minutes) couldn’t capitalize, and Butler (not a sharpshooter) was forced into six threes.
This was never going to be a pretty, free-flowing series, but Golden State must find a way to reignite their ball movement.
2. Find the Right Lineup
Kerr has tinkered all series, and desperation may force more experiments.
Remember when Gary Payton II as a starter worked in 2022? Not this time. Should they go back to Moses Moody? Stick with Hield and pray he heats up?
The wild card? Jonathan Kuminga—the forgotten man. Kerr hinted at using him to attack the rim and disrupt Houston’s perimeter defense. Kuminga’s athleticism could be a spark… but is he ready after being buried on the bench?
Green insists:
“He’s built for this. Throw anything at him.”
But is playing Kuminga a bold adjustment or pure desperation?
The Last Stand
One thing’s certain: The Warriors will ride three all-time playoff warriors—Curry, Green, and Butler—into battle. All three vowed after Friday’s loss that they’re not done yet.
So do you trust logic… or your heart?