Steve Kerr blasts the Warriors after choking a 15-point lead against the Nuggets - "We had several mindless possessions"
Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr was upset with his team following their dismal performance against the Denver Nuggets on Sunday night.
While addressing the loss to the media, Kerr voiced his concerns after Golden State botched a 15-point lead. The Nuggets caught fire at the right time to edge out a 112-110 win.
"In the second-quarter, we had total control of the game and we stopped playing. We just lost our focus at both ends. Gave up a ton of offensive rebounds, missed box outs.
"Offensively, [we] had several mindless possessions as well. Throwing the ball away, bunch of shot turnovers, just bad shots."
Steve Kerr says the Warriors were "mindless" from the middle of the second quarter until the final few minutes https://t.co/ebUZXHREYP
The Dubs have looked a lot better as of late. Since climbing their way out of the play-in bracket, they have made a steady rise up the ranks in the West.
An element that has facilitated this rise has been their performance in away games. After a season of disappointment on the road, the Dubs seem to have turned a corner right around the playoffs. Unfortunately, Sunday night saw the team return to familiar patterns.
The importance of every game hasn't been lost on head coach Kerr. Given the situation, it was evident that he was quite disappointed with his team's performance.
Kerr's statement referred to the shift in momentum late in the second quarter. Golden State was still humming from their offensive output in the first and carried the momentum early into the second period.
However, as Kerr mentioned, costly turnovers and bad shots gave Denver a chance to claw their way back into the game. By halftime, the scores were practically level.
The loss to the Nuggets sees the Warriors tied for fifth with the LA Clippers. With only three games left in the season, they will be looking to secure a better place in the standings ahead of the playoffs.
The loss on the road is a bad omen for the Warriors
The Golden State Warriors have been atrocious on the road this season. With a 9-30 away record, the Dubs do not inspire much fear away from Chase Center. They've managed to cover this up with an amazing home record so far, but Golden State could be in some trouble in what remains of the regular season.
The Warriors are due to play two of their remaining three games on the road - against the Sacramento Kings and Portland Trail Blazers. While both games would be winnable in any other circumstance, the Dubs' dismal away record will give their opponents some hope.
Golden State could realistically finish the season sixth in the West, which would see them through to the playoffs. However, given the LA Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans' (both hold 40-38 records) recent surge, they can't afford to slip.
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