The Warriors' "Ice Age": The merciless reality of a 16-16 record. Before the start of the season, the Warriors had a stable 12-3 record, firmly seated atop the Western Conference, and everyone praised them with the words, "This is the temperament of the defending champions." However, in the last 17 games, they crashed and burned with a 4-13 record, plummeting their overall record to 16-16, completely undoing all their previous progress. After being thrashed by the Cavaliers, the Warriors' "winter" was confirmed.
Curry Clocks Out Early: The "Bitter Smile of Acceptance" at 4:39. With 4 minutes and 39 seconds left in the game, Curry looked at the scoreboard and perhaps silently thought, "Forget it, don't struggle anymore." Then he and Green were immediately subbed out and sat on the bench in a daze. Curry's face bore a "bitter smile," filled with helplessness that conveyed, "I really tried my best, but we just can't do it." This loss was too clean, too thorough, too embarrassing, even the starters decided to clock out early.
The Big Three Become "Sinners": A Ridiculous 35-for-9 Shooting Performance. Curry, Green, and Schroder, who should have carried the Warriors' flag, ended up becoming the "trio of sinners." In the entire game, these three players shot 35 times but only made 9 shots, with a shooting percentage comparable to amateur players. Curry went 4-for-14, 3-for-11 from beyond the arc; Green went 1-for-10, becoming a "blacksmith"; Schroder went 4-for-11, barely considered a "normal person." Together, they only scored 25 points, directly dragging the Warriors into the abyss.
First Half Daydreaming: The Cavaliers Give Away 11 Turnovers, Yet the Warriors Score Zero Points. If someone asks: What was the most ridiculous moment for the Warriors in this game? The answer is - the Cavaliers gave away 11 turnovers in the first half, yet the Warriors failed to score a single point! In the first half, the Warriors' shooting percentage was only 30%, and their three-point shooting percentage dropped to a season-low 16.7%. Curry went 1-for-6 in the first half, 0-for-4 from three-point range, scoring only 2 points and 2 assists. Have you ever seen Curry like this? Curry probably doesn't even recognize himself.
Second Quarter "Blackout": Only 3 Points in 7 Minutes, the Warriors Were Stunned. The second quarter marked the beginning of the Warriors' complete collapse. The entire team experienced a collective blackout, scoring only 3 points in nearly 7 minutes, while the Cavaliers took advantage to overtake the score. At halftime, the Warriors trailed 38-46, down by 8 points.
Third Quarter Collapse: The Cavaliers' Scoring Spree, the Warriors Were Completely Overwhelmed. Entering the third quarter, the Cavaliers unleashed their firepower, going on a 30-13 scoring spree. In just a few minutes, the Warriors found themselves trailing by 25 points! Curry slightly regained his composure in this quarter, going 2-for-6, 2-for-5 from three-point range for 6 points, but his "bitter smile" after missing an open three-pointer became a classic scene of the game - behind that smile was written despair and surrender.
The Opening "Illusion": All 8 Rotation Players Score, Yet the Warriors Lead by Only 1 Point. In the first quarter, the Warriors' performance seemed normal, with all 8 rotation players scoring, and they managed to lead the Cavaliers by 1 point, 27-26. But pay attention, this was just an illusion - Curry went 1-for-4, 0-for-3 from three-point range in this quarter, scoring only 2 points and 2 assists. This "low-pressure" start actually foreshadowed the subsequent comprehensive collapse.
Curry's Classic Words of Helplessness: What Else Can I Do? After the game, Curry might recall countless questions: Why did his three-point shots suddenly fail him? Why were his teammates' shots as hard as steel plates? Why didn't they seize the opportunity when the Cavaliers made turnovers? But in the end, he could only helplessly sigh to the sky, "What else can I do?" This crushing defeat exposed the Warriors' weaknesses under the harsh light of day. Fans expressed, "Don't ask Curry, he really did his best."