Warriors' Kerr laments lack of energy, Curry wants to stay more 'vibrant'
The Golden State Warriors are not well-studied in the art of adversity.
That's not to say things have been easy for the Warriors, but they've been dominant and they've been fortunate. They haven't had to fight through many major injuries or slumps, and other than a 2-1 hole against the Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Conference semifinals, there's been little cause for introspection.
Winning 67 regular season games, owning the No. 2 offense and No. 1 defense in the league, and going 12-3 through three playoff rounds affords that luxury.
The time for looking inward is now firmly upon them. Down 2-1 to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals, the Warriors have their backs up against unfamiliar walls. The games have been close enough and their cold shooting uncharacteristic enough that simple regression can be expected, but a seven-game series may not provide enough time for things to just balance themselves out.
Klay: "If we get our offense back, which we will, we're going to win this series."
— Ethan Strauss (@SherwoodStrauss) June 10, 2015
Turning the series around is now a matter of urgency, an urgency the Warriors feel like they've been lacking.
"I didn't like our energy," head coach Steve Kerr said after Game 3. "I didn't like our body language for much of that first three quarters."
Starting better would definitely help their cause, as first quarters have proven a problem. Golden State has waited to play their best ball until the fourth quarter in the past two games
| Warriors by Quarter | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | -10 | 0 | -4 | -14 |
| 2 | +7 | -2 | -3 | +2 |
| 3 | +3 | -1 | -10 | -8 |
| 4 | 0 | +3 | +12 | +15 |
| OT | +8 | -2 | N/A | +6 |
Kerr got more specific in his criticisms, suggesting a once-cold Steph Curry could do better to maintain a pep in his step if his shot isn't dropping.
"I just thought (Curry) lost a little energy and life," Kerr said. "We need life and emotion from everybody."
Curry caught fire in the fourth quarter in a major way, but it proved too little, too late. Up to that point, it seemed the MVP had let his frigid Game 2 shooting performance bleed into Game 3, and Curry admitted he could do better in that regard.
"Whether I'm making shots or not, I need to stay, I'll use the word vibrant," Curry said after the game.
Now facing what amounts to almost a must-win Game 4 on Thursday, Curry is once again outwardly embracing the adversity.
"I like the challenge," Curry said. "This is going to be a hard fought series and I have to have a large part in it."
If Curry's hot finish portends a hot Game 4, that will certainly help, but Draymond Green and Harrison Barnes need to play better as well - the Warriors' starting lineup has been outscored by 18 points in 44 minutes in this series. How Curry and the Warriors get better is unclear, but there's little sense in doubting a team who's been so good for so long.