The Golden State Fails to Shine

If you ask any casual NBA fan about the most dominant dynasties in recent years, one name will consistently be brought up: the Golden State Warriors. If you ask the average American about Stephen Curry, the name will probably ring a bell. The Warriors’ star power and electrifying style of play, combined with an impressive four championships in eight seasons, have skyrocketed them into one of the most well-known franchises in recent sports history. But with aging stars, off-court issues, and recurring poor playmaking, the Warriors are beginning to disappoint fans as they play like mere shells of their former selves.

Despite commendable performances in many of their recent games, the Warriors’ repeated squandering of large leads in the fourth quarter has become an unfortunate pattern, which can largely be attributed to their excessive turnovers. In their game against the Sacramento Kings on November 28, the Warriors, needing a 12-point victory to advance in the 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament, instead wasted an 18-point second-half lead as Malik Monk cemented the Kings’ comeback with a game-winning bank shot. Though the Kings had an outstanding game, the Warriors were by no means without blame, committing a total of 31 fouls and 20 turnovers. “We played well enough to win for 40 minutes, and knowing the stretch we’ve been on, we were really motivated [...] you get to the finish line and you end up losing. It’s a tough pill to swallow, it’s frustrating. We all got to look ourselves in the mirror,” Curry said. And yet, they saw a similar end product in their game against the Oklahoma City Thunder this past Friday, December 8.

After the Warriors turned over the ball 29 times, the Thunder were able to secure a total of 35 easy points beginning in the middle of the third quarter, eventually winning the game by two in overtime. With very minor changes to their roster since last season, many fans are beginning to speculate why these turnovers have seen such a dramatic and rapid rise. Without major efforts to improve the team chemistry and decision-making under pressure, these turnovers will continue to cost them significant wins moving forward.

In many ways, the decline of the Warriors could simply be due to their players being outmatched by other stars. Once again, the Warriors lost by just one point to the Los Angeles Clippers on December 2 after Clippers forward Paul George capped off a 22-point comeback with a clutch three-point shot in the fourth quarter. Both the Warriors players and coaches seemed to have nothing to blame this loss on. “To me, it felt like we deserved to win tonight. We took care of the ball. We kept them off the foul line. We showed poise when they made their runs,” head coach Steve Kerr said. Though their squad of veterans has distinguished themselves as some of the best players in NBA history, the organization’s overdependence on these select few leaders limits their number of available options in late-game scenarios. Developing a younger core of players could be the factor that revives the Warriors, as it has proven to do in many successful teams such as the Thunder and Orlando Magic.

Draymond Green, who had an unusually good three-point performance that night despite typically being a facilitator for the team, also had something to say. “I don’t feel like we did anything that bad. They made plays,” Green said. As the Warriors drop to 11th in the Western Conference, it may be time to accept that their stars are starting to show signs of their age.

One of the most pressing issues currently threatening the Warriors dynasty is that of Klay Thompson, a renowned sharpshooter and member of the original Golden State trio alongside Curry and Green. Though he has shown some improvement since his unexplained early season slump, Thompson is still averaging just 15.8 points and 2.1 assists per game on record low efficiency, the worst numbers that he has put up since his rookie season in 2011. However, many fans are concerned with not only his disappointing performance but also his seemingly indifferent attitude toward his flaws. “I don’t care what people say. It’s like, they don’t do what we do. They can’t do what we do. That’s why they talk,” Thompson said. Especially with Thompson becoming an unrestricted free agent this offseason, both fans and the Warriors organization are looking for him to take on his former role as a leader and role model for younger players. Since Thompson is a fundamental member of Golden State’s three-point-dominated offense, it is absolutely crucial that he lets go of this arrogant mentality and starts playing like the five-time All-Star that he once was.

Even with all of the struggles that the organization is already facing, personal issues are keeping key players off the court. After missing 21 games last season due to his father’s serious medical issues, Golden State forward Andrew Wiggins was expected to make a strong comeback. This was unfortunately not the case, as Wiggins was ruled out of the December 2 Clippers game after reportedly slamming his finger into a car door. He joined Chris Paul and Gary Payton II on the bench, causing a severe hit to both team morale and play. Furthermore, Green faced yet another five-game suspension during an In-Season Tournament game in November for forcefully grabbing Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert by the neck. As Green is notorious for his hot-headed nature, many fans were not surprised after learning about this physical altercation. The news comes after Green punched former teammate Jordan Poole in a preseason practice, negatively impacting the team’s season and serving as a major contributor to the decision to trade Poole to the Washington Wizards. Though his recent performances in Washington have not met his standard, Poole had undeniable potential as a shifty sharpshooter to complement Curry and Thompson, which he displayed in a stunning 2021-2022 playoff series. If Green’s short temper had not forced so many setbacks in his own career and the Warriors’ morale, the team would be a far more cohesive unit than it currently is.

Though the Warriors still have the potential to turn things around, their consistent shortcomings this season seem to be highlighting clear flaws in their team chemistry and decision-making. With around two-thirds of the season left, fans can only hope that the Warriors do not end up becoming a subpar team with a five-star name.