5 biggest questions heading into 2021 NBA Playoffs

Can Golden State Warriors turn back the clock?

This is the big question right now. The Golden State Warriors looked like world beaters earlier this season. Steph Curry looked like he was a runaway for the MVP, and they were going to get Klay Thompson back. Now, Curry is hurt, and we won’t get another update on his foot until after the regular season ends. So, that’s not great for those holding Warriors title bets.

The Warriors have been lifted by Jordan Poole in Curry’s absence. Andrew Wiggins is having the season of his life. None of it really matters. The Warriors have lost six of seven games since Curry got hurt against the Celtics. If Curry can’t return at full strength, then it’s probably curtains for their season, one that had expectations for another championship.

If things go really bad, the Warriors could fall all the way to the six seed. That doesn’t matter that much since the matchups are all the same, but it does show how far things have fallen since the beginning of the season.

The question about “turning back the clock” has many layers. There’s the Curry injury, and then there’s Klay Thompson. He looks nothing like the Klay Thompson of old. His inconsistency is directly leading to losses for the Warriors. He still has some magic left, as he’s had some 30+ point performances since returning from a two-and-a-half-year absence in January. However, he needs to be something more than what he’s been. Draymond Green has been alright in doing what he does, but it’s not like he’s been a superstar either. This team looks like one that’s holding onto what it used to be, but it just takes one great Curry run to turn them into contenders again.