The Golden State Warriors are a far cry from the dominant team that secured four NBA championships in the past decade despite retaining their three core players-Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green.
The Dubs are currently 8-10 for the 2023-24 season, having lost eight of their last ten games after a waxing hot 5-1 start to the campaign. A particularly rough stretch saw them drop six consecutive games, and their most recent setback marks a potential low point in the season.
The Bay Area team was recently eliminated in the inaugural In-Season Tournament by division rivals Sacramento Kings on Tuesday, November 28. To progress to the knockout round of the tournament, the Warriors needed a 12-point victory.
They initially seemed on track, leading by as much as 24 in the game. However, a catastrophic collapse unfolded in the second half, resulting in the Warriors squandering their 24-point lead and ultimately losing the game by a margin of one point courtesy of Kings guard Malik Monk's ridiculous shot.
MALIK MONK CALLED GAME.
— NBA (@NBA) November 29, 2023
KINGS WIN THE GAME AND WEST GROUP C 🏆 pic.twitter.com/GdQ0XW9iit
With their hopes of a great season potentially fading away, here are three major concerns for the Warriors.
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3 Major Concerns for the Warriors
1. Lack of size
The Dubs are seemingly stuck in the mid 2010s philosophy that initially made them dominant- small ball. Last season, center Kevon Looney was the tallest player on their roster at 6-foot-9.
This year, they added Dario Saric, who stands at 6-foot-10 but doesn't fit the mold of a traditional big man in the low post. Notably, a significant portion of their center position minutes is still occupied by the 6-foot-6 Draymond Green.
In recent years, there has been a resurgence in the importance of the center position in the NBA, as evidenced by the last five NBA MVP winners being dominant inside presences, such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, and Joel Embiid.
If the Warriors aspire to reclaim their glory, they must develop the ability to contend with these types of formidable players in the paint.
2. Drafting the wrong players
Following the conclusion of their initial dynasty run in 2019, marked by Kevin Durant's departure and significant injuries to Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, the Warriors underwent a period of temporary down years.
However, this phase provided them with high draft picks, but it appeared that they missed the mark with their selections.
The Dubs had the second overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft and used it to select center James Wiseman. However, Wiseman didn't seamlessly integrate into the team's dynamics and was essentially traded away to re-acquire Gary Payton II.
Some of the players still available on the board during that time were LaMelo Ball, Tyrese Haliburton, and Tyrese Maxey, all bonafide stars who would greatly help the San Francisco-based team right now.
In the 2021 NBA Draft, the Warriors held the 7th and 14th overall picks, opting for Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody. Although both have demonstrated their abilities as solid players, there is a contention that players who might have been better fits in the Warriors' system were available.
Notably, players such as Franz Wagner and rising star Alperen Sengun were still on the board and could have been more compatible with the team's style of play.
If the Warriors had made better draft selections in the past three years, they wouldn't face any issues now, and their needs would be met.
3. Steve Kerr
Lately, Kerr has faced criticism for a string of questionable decisions, such as substituting Moses Moody, who was performing exceptionally well during a pivotal stretch in their recent game against the Kings.
Beyond these specific choices, he has also been scrutinized for his lineup selections and delayed in-game adjustments.
Additionally, he tends to stick with veteran players even when they are going through massive struggles, exemplified by Klay Thompson maintaining his starting position despite declining performance.
Overall, the 58-year-old coach has not been at his best this year. He also fell short of winning the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup as the head coach of Team USA last summer despite having a roster with superior talent.
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