Steph Curry says losing constantly is new territory for Golden State Warriors: ""We’ve been accustomed to learning by winning"
Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors find themselves in an unfamiliar position to start the season. Over the past decade, when healthy, the Warriors have been one of the winningest teams in the NBA to start a season. The Dubs are 3-6 through nine games and have lost four consecutive games.
Here's what Curry told reporters about the team's current situation after the Warriors' 130-129 loss against the Orlando Magic (via NBA Interviews on YouTube):
"We’ve been accustomed to learning by winning and you find ways to dig it out even if you don't have it or you're building chemistry whatever it is. We haven't been in this position in a while where you understand you have to play better and you're losing and it's just not a good feeling all around."
The Dubs got off to a 11-1 start last year, despite Klay Thomson's absence. Hence, they came in with great expectations entering this season. They had all their key players available, and as the defending champions, they were a feared team around the league.
However, the Warriors are evidently far from where they want to be at this stage. The majority of their struggles have been on defense, one of their biggest strengths over the years. Steph Curry and Co. are 26th in defensive ratings (116.8) and last in opposition points per game (122.2) so far.
As Curry mentioned, this is unfamiliar territory for the defending champions. Nevertheless, it's still a young season, which bodes well for them. They have tremendous talent at their disposal, so they could come out of this slump and be a much better team than their potential.
Steph Curry suggests lack of communication on the floor is leading to Warriors' defensive woes
Steph Curry believes the Golden State Warriors lack communication on the floor without players like Draymond Green and Kevon Looney, their defensive anchors. Green and Looney's substitutions during games have caused issues as the Dubs don't have an experienced frontcourt as their backup.
Curry highlighted this as the biggest problem for the Warriors, saying (via JER - Sports Journal on YouTube):
"When it's quiet out there, it's tough to have confidence that you're doing the right thing, that you're in the right spot, and then you're one step behind, you're rotating late, then you're fouling. ... Collectively, if we talk more, we'll be in much better positions to defend."
They are missing the services of players like Gary Payton II, Otto Porter Jr. and Nemanja Bjelica, who left the team in free agency. The Golden State Warriors have also had to rely on younger and inexperienced players as backups this season.
The Warriors are one of the best teams in developing prospects. However, they don't have the cushion to deploy players like James Wiseman, Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody in their third-string lineups like last year.
However, Steph Curry and the Warriors are only nine games into the 82-game season. There is plenty of time to help their young stars learn the tricks of the trade from the veteran group.