Since Steve Kerr's arrival at Golden State in the summer of 2014, and with the exception of an injury-ravaged 2019/20 season, Oracle Arena and then Chase Center have always been among the most popular NBA venues. difficult for opponents to conquer.
Golden State had never lost more than 12 home games in a season. This year, they have already lost 11 for a record of only 50% victories. Disappointing. Troubling even, especially since for the second time this season, the Warriors failed to capitalize on a long period without interruption at home.
After starting the season with 6 wins and 3 losses, including 7 away games, and an encouraging setback in Denver, the Warriors have had six straight home games. It was the perfect opportunity to move into the top of the Western Conference standings but they lost 5 of these 6 games.
“The quietest team in the league”
After five consecutive victories and another encouraging defeat in Denver on Christmas Day, the Warriors found themselves with a record of 15 victories and 15 defeats before stringing together 7 consecutive matches at the Chase Center, with the ambition of getting back to 6th place in their conference. They lost 5 of 7 games, ending with two defeats against the Raptors (-15) and the Pelicans (-36).
“In the last two games we were not competitive,” lamented a closed-faced Steve Kerr. “We have to defend better, we have to make stops. We cannot afford to concede 141 points. Tonight, they (the Pelicans) did what they wanted on offense. »
In those seven home games, the Warriors have the 29th defensive rating in the league. Lacking success is one thing, but playing without any intensity after being humiliated by the Raptors last Sunday is difficult to understand for Warriors fans who booed their team for the second time in a row last night. It took the entry of Cory Joseph, the third leader, to see Golden State wake up on defense.
“We are the quietest team in the league. Without Draymond (Green), and without Chris (Paul), there's not a lot of communication, especially on defense and it shows,” diagnosed Steve Kerr. “We need a Draymond, a Chris who can be the soul of the team and lead the guys. But we also need to be tougher. We don't hold drives, we're not physical enough, we lack discipline on delay screens. If we don't make stops, we have no chance. »
The defeat at the buzzer against Denver followed by the injury to Chris Paul undermined the morale of the Warriors. Fragility is the term that comes up most often in the mouths of Steve Kerr but also of Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry. The coach is still looking for a regular rotation, adding to this identity crisis and the difficulty for the players to find a rhythm.
No more time to waste
This night, the contrast with the Pelicans was striking. Winners of six of their last seven matches, Willie Green's men meticulously dissected the Warriors, without ever releasing the pressure.
“We lost confidence in ourselves. We are at a stage where we have lost faith, and that can happen from time to time and that is what we are aiming for at the moment,” described Steve Kerr. “There is only one way out of this. We all have to fight together to get our heads above water. We need to progress and we need to progress quickly because the matches will come one after another. »
The Warriors now fly to four away games against the Bulls, Bucks, Grizzlies, and Jazz. They have a negative record away from San Francisco and have only played 15 games there, the fewest total in the league. Whether at home or away, Golden State will have to find a solution, otherwise, even a “play-in” qualification risks being compromised.
“No one is going to complain about us,” said a less talkative Stephen Curry than usual. “We put ourselves in this situation, it’s up to us to get out of it. »
Comments collected in San Francisco.
