WASHINGTON — In a season filled with adversity, the Warriors are desperately trying to catch a break.
“These final six weeks or so haven't been straightforward after the nice begin that we received off to,” Kerr mentioned Sunday earlier than the Warriors’ 123-115 loss to the Wizards.
When Klay Thompson lastly made his return after lacking greater than two years with accidents, Draymond Inexperienced went down with a herniated disk. Then, when Inexperienced got here again earlier this month, Stephen Curry was sidelined with a foot damage.
As of Sunday, there’s no clear timeline for Curry’s return, although the workforce is optimistic he’ll be prepared for the playoffs.
In complete, the dynastic trio has performed solely 11 minutes collectively this season, and Inexperienced admittedly hasn’t appeared like himself in his final six video games.
“I’m taking part in horrible,” he mentioned after the Warriors’ fourth loss in 5 video games. “I’ve by no means actually been on a workforce that will get worse after I’m on the ground and that’s type of the place we're proper now. Some issues I can appropriate, some issues will include time. Simply type of is what it's.”
In his 15 season as a participant and eight as a coach, Kerr has by no means skilled something just like the playing cards Golden State has been dealt this season.
“On this specific case, with the variety of accidents and absences, truthfully, I’ve by no means been via a season like this as a participant or as a coach the place there’s simply been so many various transferring components,” Kerr mentioned. “So I haven’t actually been ready to attract on any previous experiences.”
The slew of accidents has pressured Kerr to vary the lineup so many instances it’s exhausting to maintain monitor. Nonetheless, he hasn’t discovered a solution for the Warriors’ woes.
That was evident in Sunday’s loss.
Golden State was tormented by porous protection and poor perimeter taking pictures, going 8-for-33 from three. In the meantime, the Wizards had been sizzling from behind the arc and related on 16 of their 28 makes an attempt.
“Fifty-seven % from three is inexcusable,” mentioned Thompson, who completed with 25 factors and made 5 3-pointers. “I imply, they received good shooters however that’s on us, that’s ridiculous.”
Added Kerr: “It appeared like they had been getting broad open photographs from three many of the recreation. I didn’t like our ball stress or our common physique language within the first half, I didn’t suppose we introduced it, I didn’t suppose we competed.
“After which we received significantly better within the second half however at that time, they’re already sizzling, they’re already in rhythm and a superb shooter sees the ball goes via the ring a number of instances within the first half, higher protection isn’t gonna make a lot of a distinction within the second and I believed that was the case.”
The Warriors performed with extra vitality and appeared extra in sync within the second half, placing collectively a number of rallies within the closing two quarters. After trailing by 11 heading into the fourth quarter, Golden State pulled inside 5 factors of the Wizards with simply over 30 seconds remaining, but it surely wasn’t sufficient.
Poole, who has been the Dubs’ greatest participant since Curry went down, gave the impression to be taking part in via a lower-right again damage. After the sport, Kerr admitted the third-year guard is “banged up a little bit bit” from the NBA season.
“He’s been taking part in a number of minutes,” the coach added.
Poole scored 26 factors, Andrew Wiggins had 23, and Otto Porter Jr. added 14 factors and 11 rebounds coming off the bench towards his former workforce.
With seven video games remaining, together with Monday’s tilt towards the Memphis Grizzlies to shut out a five-game highway journey, Golden State (48-27) must get its act collectively and quick.
Nonetheless, Kerr is assured that the workforce can proper the ship.
“The way in which I have a look at it — the primary 50 video games of the yr — we had been one the very best groups within the league, the No. 1 protection within the league, I do know it’s in us,” he mentioned. “We’re attempting to make it to the end line however in doing so, attempting to construct a little bit momentum on the finish, I nonetheless really feel we will try this.”