The Warriors Stink Again!

Oh no, the Warriors stink again! For the first time since the 2012-2013 NBA Season, the Warriors look like they will not make the playoffs. The Warriors are 3-14 after the first seventeen games of the season, having 5 more losses than their 73-9 season in 2016. So, why are the Warriors so bad? Is it losing big names in the free agency? Is it because of the many injuries? Or is it because of the smell in the new stadium?

This losing streak is mostly due to the leaving of star forward Kevin Durant, who joined the Brooklyn Nets in the 2019 offseason. Durant led the Warriors to two NBA Finals wins, being the Finals Most Valuable Player for those two years.

In place for Durant, Golden State picked up one-time All-Star D’Angelo Russell from the Brooklyn Nets. Russell has not filled in Durant’s shoes, having been sitting out for already nine games, but he has been averaging 24 points per game, 3 less than Durant averaged last year. The offseason pick-up of Russell in exchange for Durant has not been the greatest move so far for Golden State.

Injuries have also been a big part in the Warrior’s downfall. All-star shooting guard Klay Thompson tore his ACL in game six of the 2019 NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors, causing Thompson to be out for the whole season.

“Losing Curry is the reason why the Warriors are not a playoff team anymore” Dylan Hartlove (’22) said.  Hartlove goes on to explain how, “Curry was the reason why the Warriors have had 5 straight NBA Finals appearances.”

Curry is arguably the greatest shooter of all time and losing him for the whole season diminished their playoff hopes down to the smallest percent. When Curry won his back-to-back MVPs in 2015 and 2016, the Warriors made the finals and won one of them. The Warriors have finally seen what life is like without the greatest shooter of all time running on the court.

Draymond Green has also had to step up for the Warriors, but the leading role for him is not a good fit. Green is only averaging a dismal 8 points and 6 rebounds per game. These numbers have not helped lead the team in any way.

The Warriors had a shot at getting a small forward in place of Durant. Carmelo Anthony, 10-time All-Star, had been in free agency for almost five months, and the Warriors had the perfect opportunity to fill in a dark hole at the small forward spot. The starting small forward right now for the Warriors is Damion Lee, whose biggest accomplishment is being on the second team all-ACC for Louisville.

Anthony would’ve been a huge addition for Golden State because of his shooting abilities and tremendous talent. The Warriors let him walk and Anthony joined their division rival~ Portland Trail Blazers. Even though Anthony would’ve filled in the gap of the Warriors’ small forward position, the Warriors, and many other teams, were worried that Anthony would not be as good as he was the previous years.

Anthony won Western Conference Player of the Week on the last week of November, and he is averaging 25 points per game, 20 more than Damion Lee. Well done Golden State!

The only good thing coming from all these hardships is that the Warriors will get Klay and Curry next year along with a probable top three pick in the NBA Draft. Maybe Golden State planned this all along?