The Golden State Warriors are in a slump, and it's not for lack of effort from their superstar, Stephen Curry. But here's the shocking part: despite Curry's jaw-dropping 87-point performance across two games since his return from injury, the Warriors have dropped both matches, sinking to a 13-14 season record. This raises a critical question: What's really holding the Warriors back?
Coach Steve Kerr didn't mince words after Sunday's 136-131 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, where Curry dropped 48 points, including 12 three-pointers. 'I'm not doing my job well this year,' Kerr admitted to reporters. This candid confession highlights the team's ongoing struggles, which go far beyond Curry's individual brilliance.
And this is the part most people miss: Curry recently surpassed Michael Jordan for the most 40-point games in NBA history after turning 30 (45 total). Yet, the Warriors' defensive lapses, like surrendering 40 fourth-quarter points to blow a 10-point lead against the Blazers, are undermining his historic efforts. It's a stark reminder that basketball is a team sport, and the Warriors are failing to capitalize on Curry's greatness.
Kerr has identified turnovers as the team's Achilles' heel. The Warriors are averaging 16 turnovers per game—the sixth-highest in the NBA—and their record drops to a dismal 4-11 when they commit more turnovers than their opponents. Sunday's game was no exception, with 18 turnovers, eight of which came from Draymond Green. 'Just making bad reads, bad decisions,' Green admitted postgame. 'We’re too f---ing old to be doing that.'
These turnovers are crippling the offense, which ranks a mediocre 20th in the league with a 113.4 rating. Here’s where it gets controversial: even with one of the greatest offensive players in NBA history on the roster, the Warriors’ offense sputters when Curry sits. In the 737 minutes Curry has been on the bench this season, the Warriors’ offensive rating plummets to 107.1—worse than the league's bottom-ranked offense, the Indiana Pacers (108.2).
Last season, the Warriors managed to stay afloat without Curry thanks to Jimmy Butler’s arrival in February. But this season, the team seems lost when Curry isn’t on the court. 'I thought we did a better job last year putting him in position to attack and create shots for people,' Kerr reflected. 'We need to get back to that type of control of the game where we are going to him in the half court.'
Butler himself has weighed in, suggesting the Warriors shift to a more deliberate, isolation-based offense when Curry sits. 'The second that Steph is in the game is completely different than when Steph is out and I'm in the game,' Butler told ESPN. 'If you're still trying to run the Steph stuff, it's not going to work. Steph is the ultimate cheat code.'
Kerr acknowledged his role in this issue, citing a four-possession sequence against the Timberwolves where Butler didn’t touch the ball despite Curry being on the bench. 'That's on me,' Kerr admitted. 'But that's also on our players to understand. I can't call a play every time. We have to find a way in collaboration to make sure we are playing through Jimmy.'
The constant tinkering with lineups hasn’t helped either. Kerr has already used 15 different starting lineups in 27 games this season—a trend that continued from last season, where he deployed 38 different lineups, the second-most in the NBA. This lack of consistency makes it nearly impossible for players to find their rhythm.
Here’s a bold interpretation: Kerr’s ever-changing approach may be a symptom of a deeper issue—the lack of clear roles for players outside the Curry-Butler-Green core. Jonathan Kuminga, a fifth-year wing earning $22.5 million, has vanished from the rotation, raising questions about his trade value ahead of the January 15 deadline. Rookie Will Richard, who started earlier in the season, is also on the bench. Injuries to key players like Al Horford (sciatica) and De'Anthony Melton (ACL rehab) have only compounded the chaos.
Curry remains optimistic but realistic. 'I'm hoping we can correct that and have a sustained run of games where you know who is out there and you know what the rotations are and guys get comfortable,' he told reporters.
So, what do you think? Is Kerr to blame for the Warriors' struggles, or is this a deeper systemic issue? Should the team prioritize consistency over experimentation? Let us know in the comments—this debate is far from over.
