There was an expectation heading into the Warriors‘ game on Friday in Oklahoma City that head coach Steve Kerr might make a change to a starting lineup that has struggled this season after being one of the NBA’s best in 2022/23. Entering Friday’s action, the five-man group of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green, and Kevon Looney had posted a minus-13.0 net rating in 113 minutes.
However, as Kendra Andrews of ESPN tweets, Kerr stuck with that lineup on Friday and it was relatively effective, outscoring the Thunder by three points in nearly 16 minutes of action. Still, it wasn’t enough. After taking a 14-point lead in the first half, the Warriors watched it slip away and eventually lost in overtime in OKC.
“It’s a pattern right now,” Kerr said after the game, per Anthony Slater of The Athletic. “I watched this same group win a championship a year and a half ago. They’re champions. But they’re not playing like it. I’m not coaching like it. We have to figure this out.”
Here’s more on the Warriors:
- Veteran point guard Chris Paul was a late scratch on Friday due to an illness, tweets Slater. The Warriors announced their starters before ruling out Paul, so the starting five presumably would have been the same even if he had been available.
- Golden State committed 29 turnovers in Friday’s loss, which is the most in any game in the Kerr era and the most by any Warriors team since 2002, writes Slater. Kerr referred to it as an “obscene” amount of turnovers and said he plans to hold a film session to try to address the issue. “You want me to go through them?” Kerr said when asked if there were any in particular they needed to eliminate. “We will watch all 29 as a team. I can tell you that. We will watch all 29 turnovers.”
- Klay Thompson praised Jonathan Kuminga for his recent play, referring to him as “the future,” according to Slater. Thompson also said he’ll “never, ever lose faith in this group” and shrugged off Charles Barkley likening the 10-12 Warriors to the Titanic on TNT’s Thursday broadcast.“The only frustration with that is will this guy ever give us any credit?” Thompson said when informed of Barkley’s comments. “You know how hard this is to do? Annually? You’d think Charles would understand how hard it is to win a championship. To do that annually? And we’re still here. What are we — 10 and 12? There’s 60 freaking regular season games left. But he’s been hating on us since 2015. So this is no surprise.”
- During that same TNT broadcast, former Warriors president of basketball operations Bob Myers spoke about bringing Tyrese Haliburton in for a workout prior to the 2020 draft and ultimately passing on him (Twitter video link). “What bothers me more than anything was — his workout was good (but) when we met with him after, I should have known then because of who he is as a person and a leader,” Myers said. “… That conversation left a mark because of how smart he is and how confident. It’s not fake, it’s not arrogant, it’s confidence. When you talk about players wanting to play with him, that’s real. … There’s a lot of great players in the NBA that people do not want to play with. (If) you are a great player and a great person, then people want to play with you.” Haliburton said at the time that he thought he’d be a “really good fit” in Golden State — he wasn’t really in the conversation for the No. 2 overall pick, but there was a sense that he could be one of the Warriors’ targets if they traded down.
Repeating is tough. When you realize what it takes to win a championship and how every ounce of effort and fabric of your being must be all in towards the goal and everyone on board, you’re not so crazy excited to do it again the next year or the year after.
You’ll see that with the Nuggets this year, they won’t repeat, it’s too tough and they lost a couple players.
That’s what makes Michael Jordan so incredible with his dynasty. It is so very difficult to give that 150% again once you’ve seen what it takes to get to the top of the mountain.
You’d rather just cruise at 80% through the regular season and try to turn it on in the playoffs which of course doesn’t work.
Ask Kobe. You can’t turn it on and turn it off. You have to be “on” all the time even at practice. Ask Jordan also, he was a killer in practice.
As far as the Warriors situation, they’re getting a little older, so even if you desire to give 150%, you can’t.
Your mind wants to box out Chet Holmgren in the last minute of OT last night but moving your body over there and actually doing it is another thing.
Let’s see if Mike Dunleavy has the stones to move Klay Thompson at the deadline and bring in another shooter or big man or both.
I know Bob Myers would not be able to trade him because of all the emotional loyalty and history Etc but Dunleavy might.
Maybe Klay’s expiring contract will help another team move off a couple of guys they’re not excited about anymore that have undesirable contracts?
Lavine for klay ?
Thought-provoking. Not sure. I kind of lean no thanks but if he’s the only guy of that caliber you can find for Klay would the Warriors do it? Might have to if they want to compete this year.
The hope would be the following two things. Lavine can stay healthy and number two you could round him into being a great teammate. By that I mean a willing passer, good in the locker room, not a stat chaser, if he is.
No way. Klay>Levine. Not just saying that because of my name. Competitive fire. Klay at least trying to play defense. Halliburton, hindsight is 20/20
Imagine the monster backcourt Sacramento could have had, Halliburton and Heild for Sabonis? Don’t see it. Sabonis looks like a scrub against Looney
Halliburton would not be putting up the kind of stats we see now if he was playing in the same backcourt with Fox. That is why the Kings made that trade – both of those guys need the ball to be their best selves.. If the Pacers would have done Fox for Sabonis, the Kings would be better off but that’s easy to say to now.
Move Klay or Wiggs & CP3
Wiggs & Cp3 for who?
Trade C Paul and G Santos to Utah for Jordan Clarkson, K Dunn, Kelly O and a 2nd. Or trade Paul to Detroit for Bojan…. Wiseman and picks. Waive Jerome Robinson and Guruba. Sign a young PG in Jazian Gortmen or Yuri Collins and look at Kai Jones or John Butler
Or trade Paul and Santos to Chicago for N Vucevic and Alex Curuso. Waive Jerome Robinson. Sign on two ways Jazian Gortmen or Yuri Collins at PG and Kai Jones or John Butler at C.
Heild would be great off the bench too
Wiggins and CP3 for Anouby and Saskiam gs attach maximum amount of picks as well
But I don’t think they trade Chris Paul he is the one guy who doesn’t turn the ball over
Kuminga is the future? Shooting 46/28 and averaging more turnovers than assists and generally looks lost at times.
Warriors go back and forth with that. Sometimes it’s Jonathan kuminga and other times the future is Moses Moody when he’s playing well.
Neither guy can grab hold of the label and consistently play well. I guess Moody is coming close to that now though.
Kuminga is only 21 and in 3rd yr. Still has huge upside potential because of his athleticism.