Buddy Hield continued his impressive shooting performance in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals, maintaining his hot streak and helping the Warriors secure a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, despite the absence of star player Stephen Curry due to injury.
As a team, the Warriors managed to keep their three-point shooting intact, even without Curry on the court.
However, ESPN’s Kevin Pelton warns that this level of shooting consistency shouldn’t be expected to continue throughout the series with Curry sidelined.
Pelton believes that while the Warriors can still find an offensive edge by focusing on Jimmy Butler’s abilities, they must be cautious about overloading him.
He highlights the risk of wearing Butler down through excessive reliance, emphasizing the importance of other role players stepping up to fill the void left by Curry’s injury.
Without support from the broader roster, Pelton suggests that the Warriors might struggle to maintain their success in the long run, especially in such a high-stakes playoff series.
Vice president of basketball engagement Alvin Gentry will remain with the Kings, plus more notes from the Pacific. https://t.co/A8SObVh2Y7
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) May 9, 2025
