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Kendra AndrewsESPN
BOSTON — For the first three quarters of Thursday’s game between the Golden State Warriors and the Boston Celtics, Stephen Curry And the company looked like themselves. Coach Steve Kerr even said they look like a champion team.
But then, in the fourth quarter and overtime, all they had built up unleashed… again.
And now, after losing 121-118 to the Celtics, the Warriors are only 22-23 midway through the season and 5-18 away.
“We have the capability, but it’s a matter of doing it and being able to sustain it,” Currie said. [to] In terms of perfectly wrapping up 48 minutes. ”
The Warriors are in full search mode. They were all seasons. And so far they have found almost nothing.
Don’t panic or show any major concern, at least publicly. Klay Thompson Resting the idea they have been using for years: If you go to the playoffs energetically, you can beat anyone.
To some extent they still believe this to be true. But there is also the understanding that this season is different from other seasons.
“last year [we] Curry said after Golden State lost to the Chicago Bulls on Jan. 15. A game or two, but there was never a stretch where I could say I figured it out consistently. It’s because you can’t prove you have it.”
Golden State could file a game against the Celtics under the umbrella Curry was talking about.
For much of the last decade’s dynasty, the Warriors have become known for big third quarters. They made up various versions of the closing small ball line-up called the “Death Line-up”. We’ve had enough of the slogan “Strength In Numbers”.
However, everything seems to go wrong this season.
Thursday’s game in Boston saw one of the better third quarters for a while, but it didn’t let the door slam. Their bench hasn’t been as productive as it was last season.
“There has to be a sense of urgency, but I don’t think we play that way…if we don’t have a consistent level of urgency, we’re going to lose.” draymond green said after the loss in Chicago.
He continued: “The point is [where we’ll turn a corner] But you have to build towards it. You cannot take two steps forward or three steps back. Must be a constant build…that constant build has not started. ”
Golden State is far from the first team with title ambitions to stop at the halfway point of the season. Just a year ago, the Celtics were 25-25 in 50 games.
The Celtics continued their nine-game winning streak after losing to the Atlanta Hawks on January 28. They lost only six games the rest of the regular season en route to the NBA Finals.
The Warriors will now appear to follow a similar script, one they know all too well.
Two seasons ago, without Thompson, Golden State hovered around .500 before winning 15 of its last 20 games, ultimately losing the play-in tournament.
The Warriors haven’t articulated exactly what’s holding them back.
Kerr took the first step in trying to find a spark for the team by switching the starting lineup against the Celtics. jordan pool started instead Kevon Looneyjoined Thompson, Andrew Wigginscurry and greens.
“We’re past the halfway point and .500. Let’s try something different,” Kerr said.
The Warriors still have time to find themselves. And while Curry says we can’t just rest on our laurels and expect everything to suddenly click, there’s some comfort given their experience. .
And that’s what keeps them from worrying.
“We have a core group that has won titles,” said Kerr. “I have a lot of faith in all of them. They’ve been through it all together and they’ve been very successful. It’s a long road to get through an NBA season…it’s not easy.Enough. They I know how to get it done.”
