I think we all should just stop and appreciate what hes doing right now, Stephen Currys teammate Kent Bazemore said in the midst of Currys incendiary run throughout the month of April.

Curry was already having one of his best individual seasons since 2016, the year he won the only unanimous MVP award in NBA history. But the tear hes been on has been a whole new level. Here is what Curry has done over the last month:

Yet the Warriors remain mired in mediocrity, stuck in the play-in bracket with a .500 record. Realistically, despite that incredible list of achievements in the last month alone, that record is probably enough to doom Currys chances of his third MVP.

With three games left against the Pelicans, who are attempting to chase down the Warriors three game lead for a play-in spot, two against the tanking Thunder, and a final contest against the Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State has plenty of chances to make it into the top eight in the West, and therefore get two cracks at one of the final playoff spots. But objectively that is a pretty poor return from such an incredible run from Curry.

Still, this season has all been about preparing for a genuine championship attempt next season. Obviously they need more talent on their roster. This level of individual play just isnt sustainable over a season, especially not with Curry well into his 30s. If theres a star on the horizon this summer, the Warriors will be in the conversation. Theyve also got a decent shot at a potential lottery pick on the way, perhaps even two, and of course Klay Thompsons return to look forward to. So theres plenty to be optimistic about.

But the last month should certainly have helped remind the Warriors how to leverage Currys unique talents to the fullest. Their best stretch over the last month was an 8-3 run, powered not just by Curry, but by surrounding him with high-IQ role players who knew how to move the ball, move themselves, and hit the open shots presented by playing with Curry, and who could provide solid, versatile defense on the other end.

As much as they would have liked proactive coaching decisions to be the driver, it was two injuries that really unlocked that Warriors mini-run. James Wisemans injury re-inserted Kevon Looney into the starting lineup, while Kelly Oubres injury brought Kent Bazemore into the starting lineup. Damion Lee and Juan Toscano-Anderson continued their solid seasons, playing increased roles very effectively off the bench. All four players understand how to play with Curry and can offer various levels of shot-making, passing, and defense to complement the rest of the roster.

Andrew Wiggins too has staked a strong claim as part of the Warriors future core, barring a superstar trade in which he is the ballast, at the expense of Oubre. Given the Warriors upcoming financial constraints, they cant keep both. Wiggins has done the job required of him all season, moving the ball when needed and hitting 38% of his three-point shots.

Combined with his consistent defensive effort on the wing all season, Wiggins has not only been better than Oubre, but is also a much better fit - the ball doesnt stop in his hands, and he picks his spots to get his rather barreling into multiple defenders or throwing up a shaky jumpshot. As a third or fourth wheel next season hell do fine as long as CEO Joe Lacob is willing to foot the enormous bill theyre facing.

Altogether thats five role players, alongside Green and Thompson that the Warriors can count on as they seek to create a roster that might have a shot at contending around Curry. And crucially it shows the Warriors what they should have known all along - surround Curry with players who can play the right way and they will almost always have a decent shot at pulling out a win.

The biggest blow this month was the news that their prized rookie James Wiseman would be out for 6 months with surgery to prepare the meniscus in his right knee. That has robbed him of what both he and the Warriors needed most - a full offseason of NBA development, complete with a summer league and training camp.

Wiseman has been unlucky. His rise was always going to take time, but this was the worst possible thing that could have happened to his early career. Now he will enter his second season off the back of a predictably shaky rookie season without the extra opportunity to learn how to play the Warriors way or the intricacies of NBA defense, something he has struggled mightily with.

The upshot of this is that Wiseman is now going to have to earn his minutes. Barring some miraculous growth the Warriors cant count on him to be their starting center next season. If Wiseman can develop over the course of the season thats a bonus, but for now hes best used in a Javale McGee vertical spacing bench role at least for the initial stages. Over time he can offer much more, but a vital chance to accelerate that has now gone.

The implication of all this is that the front office are going to need to change tack a little as they enter their most high pressure summer yet. Over the last couple of seasons the Warriors have prioritised athleticism and youth to refresh an ageing roster. But they just cant afford to take punts on high potential rookies who are still learning how to play the game, or use valuable exceptions on talented but flawed players who cant see an open pass or hit an open shot.

The Warriors priority now has to be acquiring players with a high level of basketball IQ, feel for the game, and a solid measure of experience whether thats in the draft, free agency, or the trade market.

If theres a frustration, its that none of this is new. Exploiting a market inefficiency around basketball IQ is exactly how they built their 2015 title-winning team, bringing in Andrew Bogut, Andre Iguodala, and Shaun Livingston.

The Warriors have done it before. Now they need to do it again. All the more so, since they now have final, conclusive proof that Steph Curry going absolutely supernova isnt enough on its own.