LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 14: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts to a play by teammate Andrew Wiggins #22 through the first quarter towards the Los Angeles Clippers at Crypto.com Enviornment on February 14, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: Person expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or utilizing this Photograph, consumer is consenting to the phrases and situations of the Getty Pictures License Settlement. (Picture by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Pictures)
LOS ANGELES — If the Warriors thought they labored out their kinks Saturday towards the Lakers, the opposite group from Los Angeles delivered a fast course correction solely a pair nights later. The Clippers rolled Monday evening to a 119-104 win over Golden State, handing the Warriors their third loss in 4 video games with one left to play earlier than the All-Star break.
Curry flurries, then scurries
Steph Curry pulled up for a floater, then he did it once more. But it surely wasn’t till his third shot of the evening — his first from past the arc — that it was clear this had an opportunity to be one in all These Nights™. As in a patented Curry flurry. As in 16 factors by the sound of the first-quarter buzzer.
After the opening interval, although, the Clippers had different plans: Curry got here up empty on six of his ultimate 9 photographs after beginning the sport by pulling down eight of his first 9 makes an attempt from the sector. The Clippers efficiently silenced Curry, and the Warriors didn’t have anybody to choose up the slack. After Andrew Wiggins (13 factors), the Warriors didn’t have one other participant in double figures till Jordan Poole (13 factors) obtained there in rubbish time.
When the Warriors’ photographs stopped falling, the Clippers took benefit by mounting a 14-0 run that was solely snapped by the ultimate of Curry’s six first-half 3-pointers. By that time, nonetheless, the harm had been achieved. The Warriors let their final lead slip away halfway by way of the second quarter, trailed by 2 factors at intermission and by no means recovered.
After Curry’s 26-point exhibiting within the first half, he managed solely seven factors after halftime, nonetheless sufficient for a game-high 33.
“I used to be feeling good all recreation,” Curry mentioned. “Halftime didn’t actually cease it. We simply couldn’t get any stops and have been taking part in towards set defenses.”
The place’s the D?
Requested beforehand for areas the Warriors wanted to enhance heading into the All-Star break, Kerr centered on one aspect of the ball.
“Transition protection has been actually unhealthy, and we’re getting again lower very often,” he mentioned. “Persons are simply operating proper previous us for rebounds, transition buckets, again cuts.”
In brief: the Warriors actually miss Draymond Inexperienced.
On Sunday, Inexperienced was in LeBron James’ suite for the Tremendous Bowl inside SoFi Stadium. The next morning, he was being stretched out on a coaching desk throughout shoot round. Shortly after the All-Star break, the Warriors hope to lastly get again their defensive chief and level ahead.
However on Monday, the Clippers grew to become the fourth group all season to attach on half or extra of its makes an attempt from the sector, fueled by all 5 of their starters ending in double figures.
The Warriors’ dimension woes with out Inexperienced have been additionally nonetheless obvious, as they have been outdone on the glass, 49-45, for the fourth time in 5 video games, and the Clippers’ high-flyers — at occasions paying homage to the “Lob Metropolis” period groups — beat the Warriors within the paint to the tune of 54-40.
“I believe the principle factor is our protection has simply been unhealthy,” Kerr mentioned afterward. “It’s been unhealthy for six or seven video games now. … Tonight didn’t really feel prefer it had something to do with dimension. They simply went proper round us.”
Earlier than Inexperienced’s damage, the Warriors have been surrendering the fewest factors within the league — 101.4 per recreation, a full level fewer than some other group — however they've been treading water ever since. Monday was their 14th time in 19 video games with out Inexperienced that they allowed at the very least 100 factors — a determine opponents reached 21 occasions in 38 earlier video games.
In Inexperienced’s absence, the Warriors’ defensive ranking has fallen from a league-leading 102.2 factors per 100 possessions to 108.1, tied for sixth within the NBA.
“We at all times speak about a decent shell defensively. Our shell has not been tight,” Kerr mentioned. “We’ve obtained leaks in every single place. … We clearly must get Draymond again within the combine as a result of he’s such an enormous a part of our recreation at each ends.”
Prepared for the All-Star break
Rejoice: the All-Star break — and the entire week off that accompanies it — is coming.
Having misplaced dropped their third recreation of their previous 4 — and navigating the previous 19 with out Inexperienced, along with the bumps and bruises and comings and goings of Andre Iguodala, Otto Porter Jr. and different veterans — the time without work couldn’t come any sooner for the Warriors.
“I believe all people wants the All-Star break this yr,” Kerr mentioned. “It’s been a protracted couple of seasons with COVID and every part that comes together with that.”
The Warriors have yet another recreation Wednesday earlier than scattering for the break, then don’t play once more till the next Thursday. Kerr, relieved of the potential duties of teaching the Western Convention squad that fall on the coach whose group owns the perfect report, has plans to get some solar in San Diego (a sure improve over Cleveland).
When the group regroups subsequent week in Portland, they’ll be going through down the ultimate 23 video games of the season.
“These final 20 video games are whenever you really feel just like the stretch run is going on,” Kerr mentioned. “We’re proper there.”