With 9.2 seconds left and the Warriors about to set up for the final play down by a point, everybody and his mother knew Stephen Curry would get the ball. All the 19,370 fans at crypto.com Arena knew it. Countless others in the comfort of their homes knew it. And, most importantly, the Clippers knew it. Never mind that he had gone an atrocious one of nine from the field to that point in the second half. As far as all and sundry were concerned, he remained the visitors’ best option in the crunch. On his feet lay the responsibility of deciding the outcome of the match.
Unfortunately, the plan proved too predictable for comfort. For Curry’s do-or-die foray, the Warriors went for a clearout. Although the design gave him free rein to attack the basket and then go for his trademark stepback shot, the Clippers were ready for it; they naturally had Kawhi Leonard, their best one-on-one defender on his grill from the get-go. And because he was covered every step of the way on his drive to the left, he had to pass to a hitherto-open Draymond Green in the corner. He didn’t get to take the final shot, which made the resulting miss harder to take. Forget that most outer superstars would have made the same decision in the same situation.
For the second time in a week, the Warriors failed to convert a double-digit lead to victory. Unlike in the loss to the Kings, however, head coach Steve Kerr seemed more disappointed this time around. The blue and yellow, he said, “deserved to win… We took care of the ball, kept them out of the foul line, showed poise when they made their runs.” From his vantage point, that they ultimately didn’t was less a reflection of their lack of preparedness and more of the Clippers’ determination. “This is the team I expect going forward,” he argued.
Perhaps Kerr’s right. On paper, the Warriors should be better than their 9-11 slate. Then again, there’s something to be said about their inability to navigate through injuries and forced absences — factors that all contenders in the league deal with constantly. Their supposed savviness and championship pedigree — the single biggest reason they opted to short-circuit their supposed youth rebuild — has been trumped by advancing age and lack of consistency. Curry remains otherworldly, but those around him — with no exceptions — have lost a step at best.
Given the stubbornness that has marked decision making behind the scenes, the Warriors are unlikely to pivot and explore the trade market for significant upgrades to their roster. For all the signs they have seen a fourth into the 2023-24 season, they’re still likely to believe in staying put. Curry is said to have expressed a preference for preserving the Big Three for as long as possible notwithstanding Green’s glaring missteps and Klay Thompson’s regression (in a contract year, no less). If nothing else, their record underscores how much of a gamble it is, and how bigger the odds keep getting.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and human resources management, corporate communications, and business development.