Overview
- Golden State reached the halfway mark at 22-19 and eighth in the West with a 119-97 rout of Portland that featured 34 assists and a season-high 11 from Stephen Curry.
- Jimmy Butler labeled the first half "mediocre," contrasting with Steve Kerr and Draymond Green, who said the team is in a pretty good place and building an identity.
- Turnovers remain the glaring issue, with a 24th-ranked 15.6% turnover rate per Cleaning the Glass, though the past 12 games improved to 13.7% as health and rotation stability returned.
- The team profiles as defense-first, ranking fifth defensively and middle-of-the-pack on offense, with shaky results in clutch situations.
- GM Mike Dunleavy said a Butler-level trade is unrealistic this season, indicating the path forward leans on internal fixes and modest deadline moves.