After the Warriors fell below .500 on Sunday as a result of a 136-131 loss in Portland, head coach Steve Kerr took the blame for the loss and the 13-14 club’s recent struggles, writes ESPN’s Anthony Slater.
“I’m not doing my job well this year,” Kerr told reporters.
Stephen Curry scored 48 points in the loss, his second-highest total of the season. However, Golden State’s offense has struggled badly when the two-time MVP isn’t on the floor. The team has scored 118.8 points per 100 possessions when Curry is in the game, compared to just 107.1 when he’s not. The latter mark would be equivalent to the worst offense in the NBA.
As Slater notes, Kerr singled out one sequence in Sunday’s game when Curry wasn’t on the floor and star swingman Jimmy Butler didn’t touch the ball for four consecutive possessions.
“That’s on me,” Kerr said. “But that’s also on our players to understand. I can’t call a play every time. Nor do I want to. We have to find a way in collaboration to make sure we are playing through Jimmy.”
Here’s more on the Warriors:
- Nick Friedell of The Athletic suggests that the Warriors need more aggression from Butler, whose 11.4 shot attempts per game this season are well below the 14.5 per game he averaged from 2014-24. Draymond Green didn’t disagree with that sentiment, though he also suggested he needs to do more to get Butler involved in the offense. “I think I got to do a better job of knowing, paying attention to the flow of the game, when he hasn’t touched the ball.” Green said. “When he hasn’t touched the ball for multiple possessions, getting him a touch and making sure he’s in the flow. … And then, as I do a better job of that, I also need Jimmy to be more aggressive and demonstrative and go take the ball. Or come get the ball. And say exactly where he want the ball.”
- As Alex Simon of SFGate.com writes, a Warriors fan who wrote an email to Joe Lacob to express his frustrations with the team and with Golden State’s usage of Butler got a candid and near-instant response from the team owner. “You can’t be as frustrated as me,” Lacob wrote in his reply to the fan. “I am working on it. It’s complicated. Style of play. Coaches desires regarding players. League trends. Jimmy is not the problem.” Asked on Tuesday about the leaked email, Kerr indicated he wasn’t bothered by Lacob’s reference to “coaches’ desires regarding players,” according to Slater. “Not a big deal,” Kerr said. “… We’re all frustrated. Joe is frustrated. I’m frustrated. Steph and (Green), everybody’s frustrated. … Joe supports me 100 percent. I support him. We have a great connection. We’ve had so much continuity here. Our stable environment in our organization is one of our strengths.”
- Seeking more continuity, Kerr said on Tuesday that he intends to keep using his current starting lineup – Curry, Butler, Green, Moses Moody, and Quinten Post – for the foreseeable future, barring an injury, tweets Slater.
- The health issue that has sidelined Al Horford for eight of the past nine games (right sciatic nerve irritation) has healed, Kerr said on Tuesday. The veteran big man is still considered doubtful to play on Thursday vs. Phoenix, but he’s nearing a return (Twitter link via Slater).
- Two-way player Pat Spencer will miss Thursday’s game for personal reasons, as Marc Stein tweets. Spencer has been active for each of Golden State’s 27 games so far and is already more than halfway to his 50-game limit. Any game he misses will give the Warriors a little extra time later in the season to convert him to a standard contract in order to keep him active.
Curry might win the scoring title this year he’s healthy. I don’t see another person on that team averaging 20 PPG for the entire year. Passive Jimmy will show up more often than not.
These are the facts: Curry is putting up numbers very close to his 2021 season, the one he should have won MVP for. He is still right in the middle of his prime, he is not slowing down at all. He will be on the Warriors for many years to come, and none of them will be official “rebuild” years. GSW would be 20-7 right now if Kerr was not the coach. These are the facts.
Dubs have lost games just about every way possible, maybe except for the buzzer-beater heartbreak. Wait. Oh that’s riiiiiight……at Philly. What, with 0.9 seconds remaining they gave up the lead? Close enough – count it.
Dubs fired the GM, and that didn’t work. Dubs bring in star players, and that didn’t work—it seems obvious the coach is gassed and an overrated player averaging triple-single digits destroyed the dynasty.
Myers didnt get fired…..and the destroyer has 4 rings. do some research
they lost games that they would have easily won during their dynasty years. A championship team wins close games. Philly game they lost when letting Spencer throw the ball in. He is horrible at throwing the ball in. Kerr lost about 4 games on his bad coaching by puting in the wrong players in certain situations. Please do not throw the ball into Curry if you are trying to tie the game because he is always double and triple teamed.
Kerr playing Podz, Buddy and GP2 too much and in clutch times too. Oftentimes together at once. Small ball is dead, Kerr refuses to believe it. Just play Moses and Steph together as the guards, with Jimmy, Gui or Kuminga -only- at the 3.
DO NOT PLAY GUARDS AT THE SF POSITION, STEVE. FORWARDS ONLY!
These guys are ONLY shooting guards, they are not small forwards:
Moody, Podziemski, Payton, Seth, Buddy, Richard
The ONLY guys who should be playing point guard:
Steph, Pat, Melton – maybe Podz if there are injuries, ideally Richard would be developed as a PG too, Seth in a pinch as well. Melton and Steph can also play at SG. Pat is a pure PG.
The ONLY guys who should be playing small forward:
Jimmy, Gui, Kuminga, Green. Dray can also play as a big, so can Kuminga. Gui and Jimmy play their best as the 3.
If Kerr just keeps these as his concrete options, GSW will stop losing because a lineup with 4 shooting guards went -20 in 6 minutes. I cannot believe I have to say this out loud…it’s like, Kerr’s mind might be going, for real. This is basic, entry-level stuff that his prior title-winning teams all followed. He literally has always tried to shoehorn in smallball, but because it never plays defense he stopped. But he isn’t stopping despite it not working, he is in vacation mode.
Sounds like the warriors will not be offering Kerr an extension unless he gets the warriors deep into the playoffs. Does sound like Lacob wants to go another way with the team. A lot of inner fighting within the warriors team.
Actually, they have already offered him a contract. He just hasn’t signed it.
they might be pulling the contract back now
Speaking of the Warriors roster needs.., the Grizzlies spanked the Clippers hard the other night.
Hmm.., Jaren Jackson Jr, Griz “BIG MAN” went off for 31 pts, 13-18 fg, and 4-5 3pt.
Hmm…, the Clippers amazing defender and rim protector, the third Lopez brother, had his usual role…,
“DNP Lopez.”
Yes, that’s exactly the guy the Warriors should target in trade !!
Genius idea from some “who know Hoops better than crybaby Golden State fans” .., especially some who “know everything about big men.”
And people wonder why their so-called wonderful ideas are never seen in real life.
Would the Clippers take Heild for Lopez is the problem. He is the only player that has that has matching money value? Only other way is Moody for Lopez and Christie.
#1, Lopez would do nothing for the Warriors. I said it last summer, he’s done, he’s finished. It’s over.
He’s a statue on defense. He can’t move defensively in the pick and roll.
You see how Looney lost weight to be a better pick and roll defender.., can you imagine a guy 7 feet and 300 pounds?
As I mentioned above, JJ Junior went off for a bunch of points and made almost every shot he took, yet the player people think is such a great defender never got off the bench for the Clippers?
Secondly, I don’t think anyone wants Buddy Hield. He was a streak shooter for most of his career, but it seems like he’s lost the ability to get hot enough to help a team.
Moses Moody sucks.
He has negative value. He’s an end of the bench guy with the Warriors and he’ll be an end of the bench guy with any new team.
Moses Moody started every game of the 24-8 run.
Brandin Podzeimski sucks. Like, he is the worst player on the team by a million miles. Does nothing. Low ceiling. Low IQ. Moody is 100000x the player Podziemski is. This is fact. You don’t know ball if you think otherwise. No one agrees with you, Gary. You are just running this Moody hate campaign on here because I said I liked his game more than Podz. Ever since you say this idiotic crap “Moses Moody sucks.” That’s true of Podz.
Moody’s problem is he is inconsistent on offense. Also needs to rebound and be agressive on the boards.
Not disagreeing with you but that is one of teh warriors problems they have about nothing to offer up in a trade. You might get a little value out of Kuminga but the only thing left is 1st round picks but those are highly valuable in teh future of the team.
Yes, I’m also not writing to disagree. Just giving my viewpoint and two cents. It’s worth what you paid for it lol.
i think there are too many warrior fans refusing to see that this year its impossible for them to win a top 6 spot. The teams is too thin on the bench with small players and will never beat a big young athletic team.
Yes, agreed. Won’t be able to crack the top six in seeding, but practically impossible for them to miss the playoffs.
If you look at the teams after the six, most of them are tanking.
The wildcard is the Phoenix Suns. Can’t quite figure them out right now.
Are they going for it, or are they destined to tank? I’m really not sure but if you look at the roster, it says they’re going for it.
Trading for Mark Williams, giving up first round pics for back up centers, and the roster is full of veterans.
But who knows? Just another team we’ll see what happens at the trade deadline.
I think they should have the exact same plan as the Warriors. .500 means go for it, and 10 games under means sell everything and start over.
they don’t need a offensive big man or wing but somebody that can rebound and play defense. It was hard watching last game seeing Portland drive and get Post out of the key and just go around players. Green has lost a step with age. too many slow guards in Podz and Spencer letting young players fly by them.
I blame Kuminga for being a trash can.
I keep saying it, but this has to be the plan. It just has to be.
At the trading deadline, if the Warriors are at least .500, they go for it. They must try to bring in seasoned contributors to a playoff team. Improve their chances at winning. Might be a big fish, might be two rotation guys, who knows. But they will go for it.
If the Warriors are 10 games under .500, they need to sell and sell everything.
Sell sell sell. Greymond, Butler, Horford, everyone who’s name doesn’t begin with a C.
They need to start over, get a first round pick from somewhere if they can, and or receive young bodies from somewhere.
This has to be the plan and if it’s not, I’ll be just as disappointed and negative as half the commenters here.
They have to do the necessary thing. They just have to.
I would say it’s more about where they are in the standings than anything else. At this usage rate Steph will miss more games this year. I would build that into your win/loss prediction model.
Because of the history and the names on the roster, in just about any other situation, losing to the blazers but putting up 40 plus points… people would view the team and their situation as non competitive and wholly dependent on one guy. Like booker in phx a few years ago or grimes on Philly last year. Those were bad, non-playoff teams.
Jimmy is doing exactly as he has done a minimum of 3 other times in his career, pout and refuse to shoot. Everyone outside the Warriors sandbox knew it was only a matter of when. Who wants that giant variable on their squad? Is he even worth anything in a trade? I’d say he’s neutral money in a best case scenario, worst case, you’re probably attaching assets to him.
So who else has value? Not Draymond, and no one else wants his baggage. Not Kuminga. Not Hield. Not Horford. Post is building value. Moody no. Podz sure, but only because he is on a rookie contract. Melton ok. So what does Post and Melton get you on the open market? I’d say very little. You going to attach picks from your team that’s already a sinking ship? Seems unwise.
That leaves one man left…
I would not trade Post because a big man that can hit 3s and plays good defense is hard to find. Melton is on a cheap contract so you need him to win. So as you mentioned there is nothing they can do but sink or swim. Trading draft picks should be a no answer since they will need those picks very soon.
Here is the problem with many warrior fan’s thinking that they need to bring in another high price allstar. You can’t win with all high price players because you need a bench too. Warriors are getting beat because there is no size but Post or always injured Harford. They need big wings and young athletic players to win. they need to put everyone on the trading blocks but Curry.
We’ll give you Dalon Terry.
he is too short to make a difference. Warriors need 6 8 and above.
Fine, we’ll let you take Patrick Williams, for the love of what’s good in basketball and in life, please f-in take him.. Give us a signed basketball from Curry that Jerry can eventually raffle off for Bulls tickets next decade upon his induction into the HOF.
:-)
Bulls are in the same spot as the warriors needing big men that can protect the rim..
I HIGHLY DOUBT YOU ARE THE IN SAME SPOT AS US (yes caps lock was needed)….lmao
You are a good guy Arc, and enjoy speaking ball with you always but no, we’re awful lmao I’ve been a fan since “the shot” in 89 and this is as lowest as I have ever felt in terms morale and spirit. I won’t say anything positive about my team until further notice.
they are the same in the rebuild is near. I must think White is traded at the trade deadline and ciould bring back some vlaue to the Bulls. Vuc may bring back a late round 1st rounder but more like a 2nd round pick. the Bulls has cap space for next year that they should not add a long contract at trade deadline.
You aren’t wrong, arc.
That said, I have always said on here Lacob’s dream is Giannis-Jimmy-Steph, or Giannis-Steph+depth. The Lacob/Kerr split is new, but Lacob’s dream is not. Kerr refusing to understand Post and TJD are better than Podz is what is killing this team right now. I mean Podz is getting top 4 minutes on the team, as the worst player on the team. Why.
You are not getting Giannis without getting rid of Butler’s contract. problem is finding somebody to give you players Bucks want for Butler. TJD is a waste and should trade him for anything they can like a 2nd round pick. Don’t listen to warrior’s broadcasters because TJD is awful. That is another problem warrior broadcasters are homers never saying the truth about warrior players.
Giannis and Thainsis for Kuminga, Green, Buddy and Podz and 3 FRP is what works.
Honestly if that trade happens, I’d then do Jimmy+ 2 FRP-Booker with Phoenix. Phoenix was Jimmy’s preferred destination and Booker played well under Kerr on the Olympic team.
If we are going to go top heavy, Giannis-Steph-Booker fits the style more than Steph-Jimmy-Dray-Kuminga
Doesn’t work unless Giannis signs a 2 year extension because that is way too much for a rental player.
I would assume Giannis would sign a max extension to become the face of the Warriors, along with Steph.
Butler is sUpEreLiTe /s
He’s on pace for a 5.0 VORP season. That is superelite. You don’t know ball.
Sure on a Warriors team that has a losing record of 13-14. Facts.
It’s December 17. Kerr has been openly losing winnable games on purpose by acting like he can only play guys under 6’5″ in the 4th quarter and 4 guards at once. You understand this team is a lot better without this handicap right? The most used rotation has a +19, so Kerr benched two of those guys in Kuminga and Richard. The good lineups are there, our 71 IQ’d coach is sabotaging the team. You don’t watch the games, if you did you would not be arguing here. Jimmy is having a great year, especially on defense, not his fault Kerr is literally playing Jimmy at center with 4 undersized SGs, that’s impossible to win with. Kerr has forgotten the point of games is to win, to him its to play as many SGs at once. Podz should never be getting top 4 mins per game. You dont know ball, silence