The Golden State Warriors fancied themselves as legit NBA title contenders entering this season. After a red-hot stretch last season, only technically slowed by a Steph Curry injury in the postseason, who could blame them? Usually, teams with this much ostensible depth led by one of the greatest players of all time (Curry) are, at least, in the title conversation.
Let’s just say that they have not lived up to their personal expectations.
Through 20 games at the time of this writing, Golden State is a middling 10-10. Where the Warriors can boast elite wins like a triumph over the Denver Nuggets during opening week, or overcoming Victor Wembanyama’s rising Spurs in two straight games in San Antonio, they’ve also been humbled in losses to the Giannis Antetokounmpo-less Milwaukee Bucks and the lowly, injury-battered (and honestly kind of sad) Indiana Pacers. It turns out the Warriors’ stars — Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler — having even lost a single but noticeable step, is actually enough to show how vulnerable Golden State is when its role players are forced to fend for themselves.
All of this tension came to a head after the Warriors lost to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, their fourth loss in their last five games. A terse Butler was tired of the Warriors’ recent poor efforts.
So, in vintage Butler fashion, he was as blunt as you’d think:
Phew, boy. There’s a lot to unpack here. Let’s connect the dots (outside of the Warriors being a formerly great, old team that is now clearly losing to Father Time like everyone before them).
For one, Butler pulled no punches about the Warriors’ effort. It seems more related to a lack of attention to detail, but that’s usually most closely related to one important person. I know this because he also mentioned guys apparently not paying attention to the “scouting report.” Hmm. Hmmmmmm. I don’t think Butler is trying to call out head coach Steve Kerr. I think he’s trying to be a veteran who holds younger players accountable as the guy who has been a part of a few special teams. But man, even that commentary about a lack of effort sounds like Kerr’s message might not be resonating as much right now.
This, to me, is about the Warriors’ denial of their older-aged decline in a game for young men more than anything else. As fun as it would be, quite obviously, they will never say that, though. They’re too prideful, and I completely understand why.
Could a trade fix what ails the Warriors? At a certain point, you sacrifice depth. At a certain point, you’re grasping at straws. I wouldn’t blame the Warriors for continuing to try, especially as Curry remains a top-10 player, but their search and additions will likely be fruitless. You owe that to him, even if it ultimately won’t amount to anything. You don’t just stop trying to win on a whim.
What I’m trying to say is, early as it is this season, we might be witnessing the true end of the Warriors’ era as championship contenders. When your personal expectations are so off-base with reality, that usually says something pretty definitive.