How the Warriors Get Steph to a Game 6, and More NBA Playoff Keys
As the 2025 NBA Playoffs surge forward, storylines are overflowing — from youth-led upsets to legacy-defining moments. Yet, perhaps no question looms larger than this: How do the Golden State Warriors extend their playoff life long enough for Stephen Curry to get to a Game 6?
There’s an aura around Curry in Game 6s. His performances in those elimination or series-turning moments have earned him a mythical reputation. But to even have a shot at one this season, the Warriors must solve several riddles — including a rapidly aging core, defensive liabilities, and the increasingly deep Western Conference.
Here’s a deep dive into how Golden State can extend their postseason and what other playoff keys are shaping the NBA landscape this spring.
Warriors’ Path to a Game 6: Maximize Steph, Minimize Chaos
1. Steph’s Off-Ball Genius Must Be Unleashed Again
The Warriors have always been most dangerous when Curry is moving constantly off the ball, tiring defenses, and creating gravity that warps entire schemes. But as he nears 37, Golden State has overcompensated by giving him more pick-and-roll reps with the ball in his hands.
While this produces easier looks, it also stalls their signature motion offense.
To win games in this postseason, Steve Kerr must revert to chaos — organized chaos — and reintroduce the vintage flow that got them here. Draymond Green must act as the point-forward savant, Klay Thompson must move with confidence and volume, and Curry must remain the silent puppeteer, sprinting through screens, dragging defenders, and waiting for his kill-shot moments.
2. Draymond’s Defense Has to Be Flawless
Gone are the days when the Warriors could hide poor defenders behind Draymond and trust that the rest would take care of itself. With Thompson slowing down, Jonathan Kuminga still learning, and Andrew Wiggins inconsistent, Draymond has to cover more ground than ever before.
His IQ is unmatched, but against quicker, younger, more athletic teams — like the Kings, Pelicans, or Thunder — Green must be surgical. His communication, rotations, and help defense can’t afford a single lapse. Any mistake can swing momentum or dig a hole too deep for even Curry to climb out of.
3. Kuminga and Moody Must Grow Up Now
Golden State’s youth movement hasn’t evolved fast enough. Moses Moody shows flashes, but his role fluctuates. Kuminga has the physical tools to dominate, yet lapses on defense and tunnel vision on drives still plague him.
To stretch the series, Kerr needs one of them — preferably Kuminga — to play like a two-way starter. They don’t need 25 points, but they do need 15 with energy, cutting, rebounding, and defense. Anything less, and the Warriors are simply too small and too old to hang.
Beyond the Bay: 6 Other NBA Playoff X-Factors That Will Define the 2025 Title
4. The Celtics Must Solve Their Crunch-Time Puzzle
Boston has the most complete starting five in the league. Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, and Kristaps Porziņģis give them elite two-way talent. Yet, in the final five minutes of close games, the Celtics often look like five strangers sharing a Lyft.
They’ve experimented with giving Tatum the ball in isolation, running Brown off staggered screens, or letting Holiday operate pick-and-rolls. The result? Inconsistent late-game execution and stalled possessions.
If Boston wants to claim its 18th banner, Joe Mazzulla must identify the one late-game formula the team trusts — and stick with it. Whether it’s a steady diet of Tatum-Porziņģis pick-and-pops or a structured offensive set with options, indecision can no longer be tolerated.
5. Can Jokic Be Stopped… or Even Slowed?
Nikola Jokic is the single most unguardable player in the league today. The 2023 Finals MVP and reigning two-time champion centers the Nuggets’ offense like a planet. Whether it’s spinning hook shots, three-point range, or no-look dimes from the elbow, Jokic is producing at an almost unfair level.
Slowing him isn’t about shutting him down — it’s about controlling his influence. Teams like Minnesota and Phoenix have tried to double him early, force turnovers, and make him defend in space.
The most successful tactic? Make Jokic move laterally on defense. His only weakness is foot speed. Teams that run high pick-and-rolls and force switches can tire him and force Denver’s other players to beat them.
Easier said than done. But if a team can make Jokic work harder on defense than offense — say, the Clippers or Thunder — the Nuggets could be mortal.
6. Will Giannis Be Healthy Enough to Dominate Again?
The Milwaukee Bucks’ title hopes hinge on one calf: Giannis Antetokounmpo’s.
As of mid-May, the Greek Freak has yet to look fully right. After missing the final weeks of the regular season and parts of the first-round series, his explosiveness and defensive presence have looked uneven.
When healthy, Giannis changes everything. He collapses defenses on every drive, patrols the paint like a sentient wall, and covers up defensive flaws for Damian Lillard and Brook Lopez.
But if Giannis isn’t himself — even at 85% — the Bucks can’t beat Boston or Philadelphia in a seven-game series. Khris Middleton and Lillard are still threats, but this team is built around a fully operational Giannis. Without him, Milwaukee’s path is blocked.
7. OKC’s Youthful Depth Is a Blessing — And a Curse
The Oklahoma City Thunder are the darlings of this year’s playoffs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a bona fide superstar, Chet Holmgren is making a Rookie of the Year-worthy impact on both ends, and Jalen Williams plays with the poise of a veteran.
Add in Josh Giddey, Lu Dort, and Isaiah Joe, and the Thunder have legitimate depth. But with youth comes volatility. They may go on a 15-2 run in one quarter and give up a 14-0 run the next. Late-game execution can waver, and emotions occasionally get the better of them.
The key to their run? Staying grounded. If Mark Daigneault can keep them mentally locked in, this team can shock everyone and make a Western Conference Finals push. If they get caught in the moment, they could exit earlier than expected.
8. LeBron’s Last Stand Depends on AD’s First Step
LeBron James continues to defy the laws of aging. At 40, he still commands double-teams, finishes through contact, and leads emotionally and strategically. But it’s clear now: The Lakers are Anthony Davis’ team on both ends.
If Davis plays like a top-5 MVP candidate — as he has in stretches — the Lakers can beat anyone. His ability to erase mistakes on defense, space the floor, and get easy buckets against switches makes them dangerous.
But if Davis fades, as he sometimes does in consecutive playoff games, LeBron’s Herculean efforts are wasted. Darvin Ham must keep Davis engaged from the jump — post touches, face-up opportunities, and pick-and-rolls — to build rhythm. They don’t need 35 and 20. They need consistent engagement and defensive dominance.
Coaching, Matchups, and Intangibles
9. Erik Spoelstra Is Still the Best Coach Alive
Every postseason reminds the world why Erik Spoelstra is arguably the best coach in the NBA. No matter the Miami Heat’s roster, they are competitive. Whether it’s orchestrating defensive traps, perfecting out-of-bounds plays, or motivating role players to produce, Spoelstra’s fingerprints are everywhere.
This year, Miami entered the postseason underwhelming — an 8-seed battling injury and lacking a true secondary scorer. Yet they dispatched a higher seed in the first round, pushed their next opponent deep into a series, and made it clear: Never count out a Spoelstra team.
10. Coaching Carousel Looms Over Underperformers
If the Clippers fail to make the Western Finals again — despite boasting Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook — Ty Lue may face questions. The same goes for Philadelphia’s Nick Nurse if Joel Embiid fails to stay healthy or adapt.
In the East, the Bulls’ Billy Donovan and the Hawks’ Quin Snyder may be on thin ice depending on their team’s competitiveness, or lack thereof.
This looming instability adds pressure. The playoffs don’t just crown champions — they expose cracks, amplify flaws, and often prompt sweeping changes.
Crunch-Time Metrics and What They Reveal
11. Clutch-Time Net Rating: The Hidden Stat
Look beyond win-loss records. Some teams thrive in clutch moments — defined as games within five points in the final five minutes. According to Second Spectrum and NBA tracking data, the best teams in crunch-time often have:
- High turnover avoidance
- Free-throw efficiency
- A top-tier isolation scorer
Unsurprisingly, Boston, Denver, and Dallas rate high here. Meanwhile, Phoenix and Memphis have struggled, with erratic shot selection and late-game stagnation.
If you’re picking playoff outcomes, this stat matters more than you think. Depth and talent help, but execution in those final possessions is what decides series.
Warriors or Window Closed?
Getting Steph Curry to Game 6 might seem symbolic — but it’s practical too. The Warriors have never gone quietly. When the stakes rise, so does Curry. His Game 6s — like the 30-point explosion against the Rockets in 2019 or the dagger-laden finale in Boston in 2022 — are reminders of his legacy.
But even Steph can’t do it alone anymore. The Warriors need their system to work, their youth to emerge, and their defense to hold. That’s the price of extending this dynasty’s life by just one more game.
Elsewhere, title windows are opening and closing. The Celtics must seize theirs. The Nuggets must protect theirs. The Bucks are racing against injury. The Thunder are ahead of schedule. And somewhere, in the shadows, LeBron still lurks.
