Warriors Poised to Disrupt West After Play-In Win Over Grizzlies
With Curry and Butler leading the charge, Golden State enters the playoffs as a battle-tested threat to higher seeds.
The Golden State Warriors may have entered the 2025 NBA Playoffs through the back door, but they’re kicking it wide open. After a 121-116 play-in victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, the Warriors clinched the Western Conference’s No. 7 seed — and more importantly, reminded everyone why they’re still one of the most dangerous teams in the league.
While the win itself was significant, it was the way Golden State won that turned heads. Stephen Curry was electric, dropping 37 points with the kind of precision and calm we’ve come to expect from one of the greatest postseason performers in NBA history. But the real story was Jimmy Butler, who exploded for 38 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and three steals in his playoff debut with the Warriors — a statement outing that hints at the team’s newly found ceiling.
Golden State’s upcoming first-round matchup against the second-seeded Houston Rockets is far from a walk in the park. Houston is younger, deeper, and had a stronger regular season. But playoff experience is a currency that holds massive value in the NBA, and the Warriors are filthy rich in it. Their veteran core — Curry, Butler, and Draymond Green — has been through championship wars, while Houston’s young roster is still largely untested on this stage.
Post-trade deadline, the Warriors look like a different team. Since acquiring Butler, they’ve gone 20-7, a stretch only bested by the Thunder and Celtics. During that run, they ranked seventh in offensive rating (118.4) and first in defensive rating (109.3). That defensive dominance — often overlooked — could be their secret weapon.
Draymond Green continues to be the team’s defensive anchor, capable of switching across multiple positions and directing traffic with elite communication. That kind of versatility is exactly what’s needed against Houston’s high-paced, turnover-prone offense. If Golden State can force mistakes and get out in transition, the balance tips.
Of course, playoff success often comes down to star power — and the Warriors might have the West’s most explosive backcourt. Curry can win a game in five minutes. Butler can close one in the final five. Together, they give the Warriors a championship-caliber duo at just the right time.
There are still concerns. Outside of Curry and Butler, only two other Warriors reached double figures against Memphis. Depth could be an issue, especially in a long series. But what the roster lacks in bench production, it makes up for in chemistry and postseason know-how. Head coach Steve Kerr has been here before — many times — and knows how to manage a series and make key adjustments on the fly.
Facing the Rockets will be a test of pace, depth, and youth versus experience. But if Golden State survives — or thrives — in that series, they’ll become the nightmare matchup for every contender in the West.
They’ve shed the inconsistency of early-season struggles. They’ve found their identity again. And now, with a locked-in Curry and a fired-up Butler, the Warriors aren’t just back in the playoffs — they’re back in the conversation.
