The Warriors' midseason acquisition of Jimmy Butler ignited excitement for a possible championship pursuit. When both Butler and Stephen Curry shared the court, Golden State posted a dominant 23-7 record, showcasing the peak of what could've been a lethal duo.
Then, after surviving a physical seven-game series against the Houston Rockets, Curry suffered a hamstring injury in Game 1 of the Conference Semifinals, essentially sealing the Warriors' fate.
The Warriors fell 4-1 to a healthy and hungry Timberwolves squad, led by Anthony Edwards playing the "legend-slayer" role to perfection. At full strength, the Warriors could hang with the best of the West, but time is running out.