01 January 2024 , 17:21
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Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr has voiced his concerns about the team's performance this season.
Despite a promising start, the former NBA champions have struggled to maintain their usual form and currently sit 11th in the Western Conference. As 2024 commences, the Warriors have won less than half of their games.
The team is in the early stages of seven successive home games but after just two of those contests, they still look a shadow of the dominant force they once were. After suffering defeats to a depleted Miami Heat and the Dallas Mavericks, Kerr believes his team currently lacks the necessary toughness to improve their results.
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"We haven't found that grit that every good team needs, where you pull together and you just play for the group," he said. "We are not there yet. And that's a problem. We have great guys, but until every team connects in a way that is solely dedicated to winning each game, then we are going to be stuck in this place."
The Warriors have made several changes to their starting lineup through the course. of the campaign, including bringing in Kevon Looney and Chris Paul in their last game, to help improve their defence, but they still conceded 133 points to the Mavericks in the defeat.
"We weren't communicating," said coach Kerr, highlighting the team's recent struggles. “We had some good stretches when we were getting stops ... and then our communication broke down.”
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 28: Klay Thompson #11, Dario Saric #20 and Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors sit on the bench during the closing minutes of their loss to the Miami Heat in the second half at Chase Center on December 28, 2023 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)Draymond Green's suspension for hitting Phoenix Suns player Jusuf Nurkic has also impacted their defence. The Warriors need to get back on track quickly or they risk losing sight of the top teams in the Western Conference. "We've experimented a lot, some for forced reasons, some for us searching for an identity," admitted Steph Curry after the game.
"It's frustrating, for sure, 32 games in. We have to get to that point before it's too late."
In his return to the starting lineup, Chris Paul put on one of his best performances this season, scoring 24 points and making six assists.
The experienced player is getting used to his new team and emphasized the importance of playing well all game long, starting with their next match against Orlando Magic. "It's tough," Paul admitted. "It's a little bit new to me. But it's all about winning. Whatever we've got to do to figure out how to win, that's what I've been about my entire career.
"I know these guys are the same. ... We've got a lot of selfless guys on our team. We've got a lot of guys with grit. Now we've got to figure out how to put it together for 48 minutes."
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