Following a disappointing 130-125 defeat to the Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry offered a candid assessment of his team’s performance, labeling them “very average” this NBA season.
Curry emphasized the competitive nature of the NBA, where mediocrity fails to suffice, highlighting the urgency for the Warriors to embark on a significant winning streak, especially in home games, and to secure some victories on the road.
“We’re very average,” Curry told reporters. “Very average doesn’t get it done in this league. We need to make a run, hopefully, we bounce back tomorrow and after the All-Star break hit a stride where we win every game [at home] and steal a few on the road.”
The Warriors hold a balanced 26-26 record, evenly split between home (14-14) and away (12-12) performances. Curry stressed the importance of restoring the formidable home-court advantage that the team has historically enjoyed.
Echoing Curry’s sentiments, Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. appeared to acknowledge the team’s need for improvement, as reports from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne revealed the Warriors’ bold attempt to acquire LeBron James from the Los Angeles Lakers ahead of the trade deadline.
The recent game against the Clippers served as a stark reminder of the Warriors’ struggles, where even Curry’s impressive 41-point performance and the home crowd’s support couldn’t prevent the team from relinquishing a 15-point lead.
The Warriors’ vulnerabilities were exposed in the fourth quarter, being outscored 44-28, including a 19-point onslaught from the Clippers in the final minutes. Brandin Podziemski reflected on the team’s lapse, suggesting a sense of self-pity and a drop in play intensity contributed to the defeat.
“It kind of felt like we stopped playing and kind of felt sorry for ourselves,” Podziemski said.
Statistically, the Warriors’ mediocrity is evident in their .500 record, a 13th place ranking in net rating at plus-1.3, and a disappointing 11-23 record against teams with .500 or better records, according to NBA.com. Their success has primarily come against weaker teams, with a 15-3 record.
With the All-Star break approaching, there’s hope within the team for a reset and a stronger second-half performance. However, based on current trends, there’s skepticism about the Warriors’ ability to elevate their game.
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