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Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors returned home to Charlotte for a game against the Hornets.

The Golden State Warriors are not where they expected to be at this point in the season.

Golden State sits in the play-in positions as the regular season enters its final stretch. That is not the plan Stephen Curry and the front office envisioned when the year began. But Curry is not concerned about the standings. He is focused on what comes next.

Speaking at All-Star weekend, Curry addressed the Warriors’ position and what the team needs to do to make noise in the postseason. His message was clear. Seeding does not matter if Golden State can get healthy and make the playoffs.

Curry Explains What the Warriors Need

Curry acknowledged the Warriors are not where they want to be in the standings.

The team started the season with higher expectations. Golden State looked like a legitimate contender before injuries derailed the momentum. Jimmy Butler went down with a torn ACL that ended his season. Curry has been dealing with runner’s knee that kept him out through the All-Star break. The injuries piled up, and the wins became harder to come by.

“We’re in a decent spot right now,” Curry said. “We’re not where we want to be. It’s not where we set out to be when we started the year. And like I said, Jimmy going down was a tough blow because we were really starting to take off.”

Butler’s injury changed everything for the Warriors. Golden State was building momentum before he went down. The offense was clicking. The defense was improving. Then Butler tore his ACL, and the season shifted.

Meanwhile, Curry’s knee issues have limited his availability. The four-time champion sat out multiple games heading into the All-Star break. That included sitting out the All-Star Game itself. For a team that relies heavily on Curry’s ability to create offense, those absences hurt.

But Curry believes the Warriors can still be dangerous if they get healthy down the stretch.

Why Curry Believes the Warriors Are Still Dangerous

Curry pointed to health as the deciding factor.

“If we can be healthy come March and April,” Curry said, “hopefully get out of the play-in, battle, secure ourselves into a playoff series – and if not, we find our way into one – we feel like we’re still a dangerous team.”

The word “dangerous” carries weight coming from Curry. Four championships and six NBA Finals appearances have taught him what it takes to win when the stakes are highest. That experience gives him confidence the Warriors have enough talent to compete with anyone if they can stay on the court.

Golden State added Kristaps Porzingis at the trade deadline. The 7-footer gives the Warriors an interior presence they lacked earlier in the season. However, Porzingis has been dealing with POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), and his availability remains uncertain. If he can play through it, he gives Golden State another legitimate scoring option and a rim protector on defense.

Golden State Have Championship Experience

The Warriors also have veteran championship experience across the roster. Curry is still playing at an elite level when healthy. Draymond Green anchors the defense. The supporting cast has playoff experience. That matters in a seven-game series.

Curry referenced last season as proof the Warriors can compete even as a lower seed. Golden State beat the Memphis Grizzlies in the play-in tournament, then knocked off the second-seeded Houston Rockets in a seven-game series. Unfortunately, Curry injured his hamstring in Game 1 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the run ended.

“All you want is the opportunity once those 7-game series start to have a chance,” Curry said. “Kind of like what we did last year, winning the first game of the play-in, beating Houston, I go down with an unfortunate injury, and bad timing.”

The message is clear. Get in. Get healthy. Then compete.

What Golden State Must Do Down the Stretch

The Warriors need to stabilize their position over the final weeks of the regular season.

Avoiding the play-in tournament would be ideal. A guaranteed playoff spot gives the team time to rest and prepare without the stress of elimination games. But if Golden State ends up in the play-in, Curry is not worried. The Warriors have proven they can win those games.

Health is the priority. Curry needs to get back on the court and stay there. Porzingis needs to manage his condition and contribute. The rest of the roster needs to avoid further injuries. If the Warriors can field a healthy lineup in March and April, they have a chance.

Final Word for the Warriors

Stephen Curry is not panicking about the Warriors’ position.

Golden State is not where the team expected to be at this point in the season. Injuries to Butler and Curry disrupted the momentum. The standings reflect those struggles. But Curry believes the Warriors can still be dangerous if they get healthy.

The goal is simple. Survive the regular season. Get into the playoffs. Then let the championship experience take over. Curry has been there before. He knows what it takes to win in the postseason. And he believes the Warriors have the pieces to make a run.

Avoiding the play-in would help. But even if Golden State has to go that route, Curry is confident the team can win those games and advance. Last season proved the Warriors can compete as a lower seed. This year, the goal is to recreate that success and go further.

The margin for error is thin. Curry must get back on the court and stay there. Porzingis needs to manage his condition and contribute. The rest of the roster needs to avoid further injuries. But if everything comes together, Golden State will be a dangerous playoff opponent.

Curry’s confidence should give Warriors fans reason to believe. The season has not gone according to plan. But with Curry leading the way, the Warriors still have a chance to make noise when it matters most.

Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins