Warriors’ Steve Kerr Drops Blunt Quote on NBA’s Tanking Problem

The Golden State Warriors are finding ways to win. The method, however, has been anything but clean.

Back-to-back fourth-quarter comebacks against the Brooklyn Nets and the Washington Wizards have moved Golden State to 36-38 on the season. The wins are welcome. The circumstances surrounding them have prompted some straight talk from the head coach.

After Friday’s 131-126 victory over Washington at Chase Center, Steve Kerr had something to say about the league’s tanking problem.

Kerr Addresses the Tanking Trend

The question put to Kerr after the game was straightforward. What is it like competing against teams that are holding their best players out down the stretch?

He did not dodge it.

“It’s definitely strange, but it almost doesn’t matter because these guys are all in the NBA,” Kerr said. “Jaden Hardy didn’t play the first 36 minutes and he scores 14 in the fourth quarter.”

The point landed. Golden State had to fight back from five points down in the fourth quarter against a Wizards team that was not exactly fielding its strongest lineup. The same thing happened Wednesday against Brooklyn. Both times, the Warriors found a way. Both times, it was harder than it needed to be.

Kerr went further, noting the Jazz and Bulls both beat Golden State on March 9 and 10. Utah held Keyonte George out down the stretch of that game and still got a late go-ahead three from a reserve. The losses stuck with him.

“It’s a strange phenomenon,” Kerr said. “I think it’s pretty unique to this season. I haven’t really seen this in the past. This is different. But I always remind our guys, every one of these guys is in the NBA for a reason.”

It is a measured take from a coach who has seen everything. And a necessary reminder for a Warriors team that cannot afford to take anyone lightly right now.

How the Warriors Got the Win

Kristaps Porzingis was the story on Friday. He finished with 28 points, going cold through the middle quarters before catching fire exactly when Golden State needed him. He scored 11 points in the fourth quarter alone, mixing three-pointers with interior work to help close the game out.

Gui Santos added 27 points, including 13 in the final frame. Brandin Podziemski came within three assists of his first career triple-double, finishing with 22 points and 10 rebounds in another strong performance. His March numbers tell the story of a player stepping into a bigger role and delivering. In 31 games this month, he is averaging 17.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game.

The ball movement was sharp early. Golden State had 11 assists on 14 made shots in the first quarter without a single turnover. The third quarter was a different story, with six turnovers helping Washington hang around longer than they should have. The fourth quarter belonged to the Warriors.

What the Win Means for the Standings

The Portland Trail Blazers lost to the Dallas Mavericks on Friday, cutting Golden State’s deficit in the standings to half a game for ninth place. The Los Angeles Clippers hold two games on the Warriors after edging the Indiana Pacers 114-113.

Portland holds the tiebreaker and an easier remaining schedule, which means the Warriors are still tracking toward a 10th-place finish. That path through the play-in is the harder one. Tenth place means two wins required just to reach the playoffs, with no margin for error.

Eight games remain. Every one of them matters.

Final Word for the Warriors

Kerr is right. Every one of these guys is in the NBA for a reason. The Warriors have learned that the hard way more than once this month.

The standings are tightening. The path is difficult. But Golden State has been finding ways to win through everything this season has thrown at them.

Three straight now. The time to press is now.

Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins