”Every single game cannot be a Steph miracle bail out” - NBA analyst expresses concern about Warriors' inability to win games without Steph Curry
ESPN's Zach Lowe has expressed concerns about the Golden State Warriors relying on Steph Curry to produce positive results. The Dubs have surprisingly struggled to start the season. They are 6-8 currently. Curry has been the lone bright spot for the defending champions.
In the 13 games he has played, Curry has averaged 31.5 points, 6.6 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game, shooting at a 52/43/92 clip. The "baby-faced assassin" has single-handedly willed the struggling Warriors to wins on multiple occasions.
Zach Lowe reflected on the Warriors' inability to win without Steph Curry's brilliance on ESPN's Countdown show, saying:
"There are a lot of games where it feels like it's a Steph miracle or they lose, and that's not sustainable. Every single game cannot be a Steph miracle bail out at the end."
Unlike previous years, the Golden State Warriors don't have a veteran presence around players like Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. Their bench is stacked with prospects they have drafted over the last few years.
To make things worse for the Warriors, Curry hasn't had support from the veterans around him on the offensive end of the floor. The Dubs' next-best scorer is Andrew Wiggins, who has arguably been the team's second-best player so far. Wiggins is averaging 18.3 points on 49.2% field goal and 38.8% 3-point shooting.
The likes of Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole haven't been consistent enough. The former has tallied 14.7 points on 35.1% field goal and 33.0% 3-point shooting, while the latter has bagged 17.1 points per game, shooting 43.8% floor and 34.7% from 3-point land.
Steph Curry needs help and it must come from within the current roster
Steph Curry is in tremendous shape physically as he edges closer to his mid-30s. He has shown tremendous endurance and has also been playing through contact over the last few years. At 34, Curry may have displayed that he has a lot left in the tank.
However, Curry carrying the team on his back on a nightly basis is not sustainable throughout the 82-game season. Curry has had an excellent roster around him through 1-to-15 during the Warriors' finals runs. That isn't the case this time around. With veteran stars aging, the Dubs have shifted their focus to developing their prospects while staying competitive.
Also read: “We know this isn't going forever…We're in the final stages” – Steve Kerr acknowledges the inevitable future of Warriors’ dynasty
The Dubs seem unlikely to make moves for veteran stars moving forward. They are preparing for the future simultaneously, and trading their prospects doesn't seem like an option they wish to consider.
But that doesn't bode well for Steph Curry and his ability to stay in peak conditioning come playoff time. Golden State's bench built around their young players has been terrible through the beginning of the year, resulting in the team's poor start.
The Warriors need better contributions from everyone outside of Curry if they are to defend their title this season. It begins with the likes of Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole, who the team has relied on offensively. Meanwhile, young players like Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody need to take on more responsibility.
They had a high-level rookie year during which they played a role in helping the Golden State Warriors win a championship. They were projected to make a significant leap in their sophomore years, but that hasn't been the case.
Also read: Golden State Warriors insider makes a bold statement about team: "Warriors before last season decided we're gonna go all in on the future... I don't think it's going to lead to a championship"