Story of the season: Same issues continue to afflict Dubs initially appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
After investing a couple months looking for defense and hearing Draymond Green send out the group into the All-Star break with an immediate plea for it, the Warriors infiltrated the best chance Thursday night.
Trailing the majority of the very first half, a midrange jumper by Klay Thompson13 seconds into the 2nd half pulled them within one point of the Lakers
One stop, perhaps 2, might alter the energy inside Crypto.com Arena.
One stop, possibly 2, might enable the Warriors to take that evasive element called momentum and possibly ride it cathartic triumph.
But no. Los Angeles scored 17 seconds later on for a 62-58 lead and invested the next 5 minutes slicing through the Golden State defense.
A couple of blinks after being a pail far from the lead, the Warriors were tracking by 16 on their method to a 124-111 loss that dropped them listed below.500(29-30) for the 5th time because New Year’s Day.
” There were numerous essential stretches where we had an opportunity,” coach Steve Kerr stated. “We had actually gotten ourselves back in the video game, and after that we simply could not put it together. Could not link the video game.
” It’s all right there for us on tape. We’ll reveal them and keep training and keep attempting to improve.”
If these beliefs appear familiar, it’s due to the fact that they are. And have actually been for the majority of this fitful season.
” Unfortunately, we’re battling with the very same problems,” Kerr stated.
” We’ve simply got to be much better,” stated Kevon Looney, who was fantastic, getting 15 rebounds in 20 minutes. “All year, we’ve been stating we play excellent in stretches and after that we have a bad stretch.”
The most important bad stretch came when the Warriors’ defense went comatose, permitting open 3-balls from the corners as the Lakers scored 20 points in less than 5 minutes– while the Warriors scored 5– to take control.
Golden State never ever got closer than 7 in the 3rd prior to falling back by as much as 28 (110-82) midway through the 4th.
When the Warriors frantically required their defense to appear, to provide a factor to think they can make the late-season run needed to prevent the feared play-in competition, they were reversed by the aspect that is threatening to take their season.
” We’ve got to be much better,” Looney stated for the 3rd time in 3 minutes. “We understand what we require to do. We have proper energy and the skill to win. We’ve simply got to put all of it together.”
The Lakers blasted the Warriors while franchise gamers LeBron James and Anthony Davis integrated for 25 points on 8-of-25 shooting from the field. LA offered Golden State 19 points off turnovers, which was rather balanced out by the Lakers’ 34-21 benefit in totally free tosses.
Yes, the Warriors were guilty of extreme fouling. Once again.
” We’ve got to stop reaching,” stated Ty Jerome, who came off the bench to rating 20 points. “We get many inexpensive fouls. We stress it a lot, like “keep our restore,” and we keep doing it.”
That has actually been the story of this season. Discuss the issues. Review the issues. Highlight the options. And the very same issues continue.
This being the very first video game out of a weeklong break, the Warriors remained in position to make a declaration. To show the protecting champs are not the lot that wobbled through the very first 58 video games. The last 24 would show they are much better than that.
Now, the count is down to the last 23 video games. It’s “go” time. Or “no” time.
” As a group, we understand that,” Looney. “We have a sense of seriousness. We understand every video game is going to matter for us down the stretch. We can’t press too difficult and gamble excessive and get overzealous. We’ve got to adhere to the tactical plan, remain disciplined and perform what the coaches are attempting to get done.
” We’ve got another (video game) tomorrow. We’ve got to proceed and attempt to repair all the important things that we’ve been ruining on.”
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That video game, versus the Rockets Friday night at Chase Center, is why with the deficit grown to 20 (102-82) and 10: 01 staying, Kerr called timeout, pulled his last 2 beginners, and waved the white flag of surrender.
On the night– not the season.
Not.