Curry is left all alone, and Draymond only adds fuel to the fire.

Without Butler, the Warriors have suffered two consecutive defeats. They allowed 145 points against the Raptors, getting physically dominated; today’s loss to the Mavericks saw Curry regain his touch but still end up isolated and unsupported, like a repeat of the past.

When Butler is out, opponents only need to focus on stopping Curry to guarantee victory, because no one else steps up. Butler’s arrival changed the Warriors’ offense completely, preventing opponents from freely double-teaming Curry. Now, with Butler severely injured, the Warriors have regressed overnight.

In today’s fourth quarter, Curry took 10 shots, making 5, including 2 of 5 from three. The Mavericks surrounded Curry aggressively, and no one else could score. In the end, Curry was forced to take tough shots, making some, but the gap had already widened.

Actually, within the last 7 minutes of the fourth quarter, the Warriors were only down by one point. Curry had just hit a three-pointer and was hot, but then Draymond started making mistakes. When Powell cut inside, Draymond elbowed him in the ribs for no good reason. It was a completely unnecessary foul, and the referees called it a flagrant foul, resulting in two free throws and possession for the Mavericks.

Immediately on the next defensive play, Draymond committed a significant foul on Kristi. Although the referees downgraded it to a regular foul after review, it still cost two more free throws. By then, Draymond had fouled out with five personal fouls.

The Mavericks capitalized on consecutive free throws and Marshall repeatedly targeting Curry, going on an 11-0 run that stretched the lead from 1 to 12 points. This scoring burst directly caused the Warriors’ defeat, all stemming from Draymond’s pointless flagrant foul.

When Draymond returned, he quickly picked up his sixth foul, finally forcing himself off the court early. Before the fourth quarter, he only had two fouls, but in just over three minutes of the quarter, he committed four fouls. This foul spree suggests he simply didn’t want to keep playing.

This season, Draymond earns $25.89 million, averaging 8.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game. As an interior player, his shooting percentage is only 43%, and his defensive ability has greatly declined, cementing him as Curry’s biggest liability.

Losing a game like today, where Curry played well but Draymond’s antics cost the team, is extremely frustrating. Curry shot 14 of 27 overall, 8 of 15 from three, scoring 38 points, yet his plus-minus was a low -24. This marks Curry’s 93rd career game with 8 or more three-pointers, the most in history, with Lillard second at only 32 games.

Curry scored 38 points alone, while the rest of the starters combined for just 30. The bench performed better, especially during Curry’s time off the floor, with Melton playing well lately. Kuminga also showed promise after being allowed to play but unfortunately twisted his ankle after hitting 3 of 3 shots, adding insult to injury.

This means the Warriors now only have Curry and Melton who can handle the ball and run the offense. Coach Kerr even tried a lineup with Curry, Poole, Payton Jr., Hield, and Draymond, but the defense completely collapsed. Butler’s injury has exposed vulnerabilities in the entire team.

After the game was decided, Curry sat on the bench with a vacant look, towel over his head—a classic scene of defeat. I can already imagine Kerr relying heavily again on his favored four-guard lineup without Butler, leading to repeated losses like today.

What’s most regrettable is that before Butler’s injury, the Warriors seemed to be on track. They won 10 of 12 games, Melton revived his form off the bench, and Curry and Butler led the team effectively, with Draymond rarely making mistakes.

The Warriors had set their sights on Porter Jr., planning to trade Kuminga’s contract and strengthen the roster. Everything looked promising, but Butler’s torn ligament has reset the team’s progress, forcing them to start over. Although Kuminga returned to play, a gap between him and the team now seems irreparable.

The key issue is that Butler will be out for a year, not just a few months. The Warriors will feel the impact next season as well, and their efforts and plans over the past two to three years may be ruined. As mentioned before, the Warriors must make a choice: rebuild or go all-in to seize Curry’s final prime. With the trade deadline approaching, the time left for decisions is running out.

When you have done everything possible, yet a single accident causes total collapse, how can you accept such a fate?