Warriors’ Determined Quest for Redemption: Returning to the Lab for Playoff Solutions, Post Lakers Loss – NBC Sports Bay Area & California

SAN FRANCISCO – Warriors Grapple with Playoff Loss and Seek Solutions

After a disappointing exit from the NBA playoffs last season, the Golden State Warriors returned to the Bay Area with wounded pride. Losing to a lower-seeded team in the second round was a bitter pill to swallow. In the aftermath, the coaching staff and personnel executives embarked on a thorough evaluation of the postseason. Their goal was to find ways to overcome the challenges posed by the Los Angeles Lakers.

“We had some strong moments against Sacramento, showing resilience by coming back from a 2-0 deficit and winning a Game 7 on the road,” shared coach Steve Kerr on Friday. “But the Lakers exposed our weaknesses.”

The Lakers series exposed the raw numbers of key Warriors players. Stephen Curry, the focal point of the Lakers defense, struggled with shooting percentages of 43.9% from the field and 34.3% from deep. Klay Thompson had shooting splits of 34.3% overall and 38.1% from beyond the arc. Andrew Wiggins posted percentages of 45.2% and 33.3%, respectively, while Jordan Poole struggled at 34.5% and 25.0%.

Surprisingly, the Lakers, with their inferior shooters, outperformed the Warriors in field goal percentage (47.7% to 44.2%) and three-point shooting (35.7% to 35.4%). The Lakers’ defensive focus on Curry often left Thompson and Wiggins struggling to make an impact, while Poole had a poor performance.

Kerr admitted, “We lacked balance as a team last year. The Lakers stifled us defensively, and we didn’t have a counter.”

In response, the Warriors underwent a significant roster overhaul. While the veteran starting lineup remained intact, the team bid farewell to Jordan Poole and Donte DiVincenzo, the sixth and seventh men. The Warriors bolstered their roster with the acquisitions of Chris Paul and Dario Sarić, experienced players who can complement the traditional starting lineup and mentor young talents like Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody.

The ongoing training camp, which concluded its initial phase last Friday, focuses on integrating the new additions into the team dynamic. One critical development is the synergy between Curry and Paul. It took time for Curry to find chemistry with Kevin Durant in the past, and now Paul is in the early stages of figuring things out.

Paul appreciates Curry’s speed, shooting ability, and playmaking skills. He said, “I’ve played with many great players, but Steph’s combination of shooting, dribble creativity, and passing, along with the talents of the other guys, has been a lot of fun. We’ll adjust as we go along.”

Paul’s measured and deliberate style contrasts with Curry’s constant movement and acceleration. This dynamic duo creates a challenge for opposing defenses, as each player brings a unique style to the game. Curry shared that they alternate leading different aspects of their workouts to improve their synergy.

The Warriors have not had a true counter to Curry’s style as a point guard since Shaun Livingston retired after the 2019 season. Livingston, lacking Curry’s agility, excelled at finding advantageous matchups for himself and his teammates. During his tenure, the Warriors made it to the NBA Finals in all five seasons.

Although the Warriors’ formula was successful from 2015 to 2019, it fell short last season. Kerr emphasized the team’s ability to adapt on the fly, regardless of the lineup, as their strength. The front office has pinned its hopes on these adjustments to yield positive results.

The upcoming months will reveal whether the new additions and strategic changes will be the solutions the Warriors need to bounce back.

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