https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/warriors/article/warriors-vs-kings-dynasty-ropes-game-7-17926467.php

The Sporting Green staff analyzes key questions ahead of Game 7 of the first-round playoff series between the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings. Tipoff is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Sunday at Golden 1 Center.

Who is the biggest X-factor for Game 7, for either team?

C.J. Holmes, Warriors beat reporter: Stephen Curry. He’s been incredible throughout this series, but it’s going to take a master-class performance from No. 30 to overcome what Golden State will face on Sunday. It has to be him.

Ann Killion, columnist: The dynastic trio, which has been in this situation and knows what to do. It needs to lead the way. Draymond Green, in particular, needs to play the way he did in Game 5, controlling pace on both ends of the floor.

Ron Kroichick, staff writer: Malik Monk. He’s averaging 26 points in Sacramento’s three wins and 12.7 in its three losses. Gary Payton II needs to spend more time shadowing Monk.

Connor Letourneau, staff writer: The Big Three. For the Warriors to go into a hostile road environment and keep their season alive, they need big-time performances from Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.

Scott Ostler, columnist: Malik Monk. The W’s can’t let a guy come off the opponent’s bench and crush them, nightly. He brings momentum, energy and points, and the Warriors have to slow him. Jonathan Kuminga?

What’s the most important adjustment the Warriors need to make?

Holmes: Bringing Draymond Green off the bench was a gamble that paid off in Games 4 and 5, but now the Warriors find themselves in a win-or-go-home situation. With Jordan Poole’s struggles in both of those games, its probably time to get Green back in the starting lineup. That way Golden State will have its five best players on the court from the opening tip. The starting lineup of Green, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins and Kevon Looney is still the best five-man combo in the league. Those five should be on the court as much as possible in Game 7.

Killion: Pay attention to the mantra of Steve Kerr: take care of the ball, get the rebounds and ball movement. Hey, it’s only led to four championship rings. It just might work.

Kroichick: Start Draymond Green and limit Jordan Poole’s minutes. Poole was out of control in Game 6, as he has been most of the series. He still goes out of his way to seek contact on nearly every shot, making the shots infinitely more difficult, and then complains to the officials when he doesn’t get the call. And his defense is simply dreadful.

Letourneau: Move Draymond Green back into the starting lineup. Bringing him off the bench was well and good for a couple of games, but it clearly became a problem Friday. Without Green’s energy, the Warriors opened sluggishly, digging a quick 8-0 hole. It also didn’t help that Jordan Poole, the fill-in starter, was awful on both ends.

Ostler: Pass the stupid ball. Twenty assists in Game 6, that will never get it done. Maybe Kerr will have to go all high school: “Four passes before you shoot.”

If the Warriors fail to close out the Kings, is the dynasty dead?

Holmes: It really depends on the Warriors’ ability to put productive pieces around Stephen Curry. Draymond Green has a player option this offseason. Does he stay? Klay Thompson will be entering extension talks in the near future. Can Golden State find a team-friendly deal that satisfies both parties? General manager Bob Myers — the man who helps make these important decisions — hasn’t gotten a new deal from owner Joe Lacob yet. In short, the Warriors could look a lot different soon from a personnel and front-office standpoint. How they manage the fallout will determine if they can continue to contend for championships.

Killion: Not necessarily. This season has played out more the way most people thought last season would unfold, but instead the Warriors went and won another championship ahead of schedule. There’s always the possibility that Joe Lacob will be angry with a first-round exit and want to blow things up, but if Steph, Klay and Draymond stay together — and Lacob holds on to Bob Myers like all sane people believe he should — I think this team could make another run. They’ve learned a lot of humbling lessons in this erratic season. Never dismiss Steph Curry.

Kroichick: “Dead” is too strong with Stephen Curry still doing Steph Curry things. And the dynasty did leap back to life in 2022, after two forgettable seasons. But it would land on life support with a first-round departure, especially in the wake of a pedestrian (and turbulent) regular season.

Letourneau: Probably. The Warriors face two big questions this offseason: Does Draymond Green pick up his player option? And does general manager Bob Myers return? A first-round exit would up the odds of both Green and Myers moving on. And even if those two don’t, the Warriors would have a really hard time putting together a championship-caliber roster. Their core is just getting too old.

Ostler: Yes. If the Kings light the beam, the Warriors’ soul will follow it and ascend to heaven.

What’s your boldest prediction for Game 7?

Holmes: The Warriors wasted a golden opportunity in Game 6 Friday night at Chase Center. Their season will end Sunday afternoon in Sacramento because of it. Even in Golden State’s Game 5 win in Sacramento, the team played about as well as it could and still barely escaped with a victory. Now the Kings believe in themselves, and they will have a ridiculous homecourt advantage. If the Warriors come out flat as they did in Game 6, it’s a wrap.

Killion: Quiet Andrew Wiggins has been almost a forgotten man in all the chatter around this team. He will channel his inner 2022-playoff Wiggs and have a break-out game, quieting the Golden 1 crowd and leading the Warriors to victory. Maybe.

Kroichick: Curry plays 45-plus minutes and takes 30-plus shots. If the Warriors are going down, they need to know they played their best card.

Letourneau: Moses Moody is a difference-maker. After spending much of the regular season out of the Warriors’ rotation, he is getting meaningful minutes on a big stage. Moody’s nine-point, three-steal game in Game 6 should force Steve Kerr to bump him ahead of Poole on Sunday.

Ostler: Kerr will ride with his aces. Curry, Thompson and Green will each play 40-minutes plus, Poole will be on a super-short leash. Strength in Numbers? Not in this game.