Are We Sure That The Warriors Are Fine?
From Steph’s nightmarish shooting to the impact of Draymond Green, here’s everything you need to know about Golden State’s struggles.
After a blazing 18-2 start to the season, the Warriors were on top of the world. Steph Curry was playing some of the best basketball of his career, breaking records in the process. The stout defense was the heartbeat of a team destined to win their 4th title in the last eight seasons.
But, the Warriors have slowed down significantly in recent weeks. Stephen Curry’s shooting touch has vanished. An injury to Draymond Green has led to sloppier play. The return of Klay Thompson changed rotations that had been set in stone for months.
Two nights ago, Golden State lost to the Pacers, a team missing four of their starters. It took a Steph Curry buzzer-beat to beat the lowly Rockets last night.
I haven’t been that concerned with the Warriors during this slump. ‘They’ll get things together,’ I thought. ‘Steph Curry will turn the ship around,’ I presumed. It’s still not panic time for the Warriors, but these last few games have been the opening of Pandora’s box. It’s up to the Warriors to try and slam that box shut.
The Immense Value of Draymond Green
We all know that Draymond Green is valuable. He was the heartbeat of the Warriors that won three titles over five years. Those teams won an astounding 322 regular-season games from 2015 to 2019. Around the league, the fiery competitor doesn’t get the credit he deserves.
It’s easy to stray your eyes away from all that Draymond does. With the three superstars that have played with Draymond, he doesn’t get that much attention. These last ten games, where Golden State is a mediocre 4-6, have shown Draymond’s value.
Draymond’s absence has revealed an offensive meltdown. The Warriors have the 29th ranked offense over the past ten games. It’s like the opposite of the Rudy Gobert effect, where one side of the ball completely goes away when he’s gone. There’s less ball movement, more turnovers, and overall unhappiness on that side of the ball.
The defense has remained elite, but it’s showing its cracks. Losing to the Pacers and nearly losing to the Rockets has shown us that the defense has grown sloppy. It’s the same thing as the offense, increased sloppiness.
No Heartbeat, No Life
| Golden State Warriors With Draymond | Golden State Warriors Last Ten Games |
| 110.9 points per game | 104.2 points per game |
| 15.1 turnovers per game | 14.8 turnovers per game |
| 100.3 points allowed per game | 104.1 points allowed per game |
| 100% focus | Something less than 100% focus |
| 28-6 record | 5-7 record |
Numbers thanks to the great people at Statmuse
The focus factor has decreased without Draymond. The Warriors have great leaders like Steph and Iguodala. But without Draymond, without their fiery leader, the level of focus hasn’t been the same. There’s no one in the locker room there to fire them up as he can. Nobody to berate them for a bad defensive rotation. Nobody to yell at the officials for a bad call.
Draymond Green is the king of unquantifiable’s. There isn’t a stat for leadership or focus. There’s no basketball reference page for how his yelling impacts teammates. But you don’t need stats to see how much the Warriors miss their heartbeat.
A Compilation of Bad Defense/Turnovers
The end of this play, after Wood dunks, sums things up. A lot of finger-pointing and exasperated looks.
Maple “Jordan”
Was Andrew Wiggins guarding anyone on this play or was he disrespecting Josh Christopher that much?
The Warriors’ level of focus & play has steeply declined without Draymond. The fact that this game was remotely close tells us all we need to know about how much they need their leader back on the floor.
What Is Going On With Steph Curry?
Steph Curry Through 31 Games (Christmas Day)
27.9 points – 5.3 rebounds – 5.9 assists – 1.6 steals – 61% TS
Steph Curry Since Then (11 games)
21.7 points – 5.4 rebounds – 7.0 assists – 1.0 steals – 53% TS
Curry has run himself out of the MVP race with his recent stretch of games. Without Draymond Green for the majority of the past two weeks, he’s not getting the same looks he normally gets. His telepathic twin isn’t out there with him on the court, meaning Curry has to hit tougher shots more than usual.
I’m not one to be concerned with Curry’s play, but I am interested in one thing. Are all of Curry’s struggles tied to Draymond Green? Or is there something we’re missing?
Curry’s buzzer-beater last night must have felt good, perhaps a sign that things are trending upwards. With Utah, Dallas, and Brooklyn next on the schedule, will we see a return of the Baby Faced Assassin?
Jordan Poole Is Getting Squeezed
Jordan Poole is having a career season. After a solid second season that saw him become a reliable bench piece, Poole became the full-time starter in 2022. His mix of elusive ball-handling and shooting made him another spark plug for the offense, someone who could create his own shot.
Not bashful, Poole was turning in a great season when starting;
Jordan Poole As A Starter This Season (32 Games)
17.9 points – 58% TS – +196 plus/minus
Poole was playing great, effective basketball. The return of Klay Thompson drove a fork into the road in terms of his season. Poole returned to the bench, where his effectiveness has dropped considerably.
Jordan Poole Off The Bench This Season (8 games)
11.6 points – 56% TS +4 plus/minus
Thompson didn’t play against the Rockets last night, meaning Poole was back in the starting lineup. He finished with 20 points. Steve Kerr said this after the win;
“Part of the message for Jordan is the same message the whole team gets. It doesn’t matter what your role is — play your ass off every night. Yes, it is hard to change your role in the middle of the season. But who cares? It’s your job. I thought he responded well tonight.”
I have a few problems with this quote. Kerr mentions that Poole ‘responded well tonight,’ referencing Poole’s 20 points. Do you want to know why Poole was good last night? It’s because he was starting! Poole (probably) didn’t play well because he’s a good teammate, he played well because he was more comfortable.
I don’t think Poole will ever be as effective off the bench. You’ve seen a similar thing in Brooklyn with Patty Mills. Thrust into a starting role due to injuries, he thrived. Going back to the bench is a lot harder than it sounds. Poole is not going to have fun off the bench for the rest of the season.
Kerr’s quotes also mean that NO MATTER WHAT, Thompson will start. And I think that’s the wrong mentality to have. Thompson is a great player, but let’s not mince words here. He’s changed this offense for the worse with his shot selection. With him on the floor, it’s less passing and more dribbling & shooting.
A Caged Bird
I empathize with Poole. You had the feeling this was going to happen, but now he’s a caged bird. I’m sure he’ll become more comfortable in this role, but you get the sense the Warriors are better with him starting.
As the great Red said in Shawshank Redemption, “Some birds aren’t meant to be caged. Their feathers are just too bright. And when they fly away, the part of you that knows it was a sin to lock them up DOES rejoice. But still, the place you live in is that drab and empty when they’re gone.”
Moral of the story: Watch Shawshank Redemption and start Poole!
What’s Next?
The Warriors are still second place in the West. When healthy, I’ll take over anybody else. These last few games have shown us they are human, but there are some obvious fixes. If Steph Curry was playing like an MVP, the Warriors would be winning more. If not for injuries, the offense wouldn’t be sluggish without Draymond.
I just want them to start Jordan Poole instead of Klay Thompson. I don’t think I’m asking for too much.
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