Analysis: Curry is absent due to injury, the Warriors still have a glimmer of hope and may advance to the Western Conference Finals

Golden State Warriors will return to the Bay Area and tied 1-1 with the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the series, and it is undeniable that their prospects are bleak.

Stephen Curry left the court with a hamstring strain in the first game and was expected to be out for at least one week, and the team's offense seemed messy. They scored less than 100 points in Game 1 and 2, and so far, many players have not played in this series.

However, their half-court defense has been the team's most prominent aspect during this short playoff journey, and it seems that this may be their life-saving straw for Curry's comeback. The Warriors' defense may save their playoff journey

Whether before or after the heavy introduction of high-intensity forward Jimmy Butler, the Warriors' defense is one of the best in the NBA. Throughout the season, their defensive efficiency reached 111.0, ranking seventh in the league. But after the All-Star Game, their defensive efficiency soared to the league's highest 109.3.

Although Butler's joining promoted this progress, Draymond Green remains the backbone of the Warriors' defense. Even after Butler joined, he was able to suppress opponents and command many excellent defensive rotations.

This advantage played a crucial role in the seven tough series against the Houston Rockets, and he once again showed off his strength against the Timberwolves.

In the first game, the Minnesota Timberwolves scored only 88 points, while in the second game, their opponent seemed to be in a state of courage, scoring 117 points and making 16 of 37 three-pointers.

However, a large portion of this score came from the 17 turnovers that the Golden State Warriors made in that game. While their half-court defense is still excellent, they have performed poorly in fast breaks and conversion offenses. In addition, the Timberwolves struggled against regional joint defense this season, and sometimes the ball transfer seemed messy and the offensive rotation was stagnant.

In addition, the Warriors' own offense is also full of difficulties. In nine games this season's playoffs, the Golden State Warriors scored four times but failed to break the 100-point mark, and the challenge of creating offensive opportunities will only be even more difficult with Curry's absence.

When the Golden State Warriors try to extend the series until Curry returns from injury, they need to rely on Green and Butler to keep this only highlight and take advantage of Minnesota's weakness.