After losing four straight games, the Golden State Warriors knew something must change. Against the Clippers, two-time MVP Stephen Curry dug into his teammates on the sideline, trying to get them back into the game.
It was a passion that isn’t oftentimes seen from Curry. While the Warriors lost that game in blowout fashion, they did mount a strong performance against the West’s top team, the Utah Jazz, the very next game.
The Golden State Warriors, when they’re feeling the heat, play their best basketball, and they need to keep that edge about their game moving forward.
Teams play their best basketball when their backs are against the wall. The figure of speech is true, and while it wasn’t a must-win scenario, we saw it from the Warriors as they took on the Jazz.
Losers of four straight, Golden State had to do something to get back in the winning column. With a mixed effort from most everyone on the roster, Curry, Andrew Wiggins, and Jordan Poole combined for 78 of the team’s 131 points.
Golden State must keep that mindset moving forward. They thrived because they were able to take care of the ball. With just 13 turnovers, the Warriors were able to be -11 in free throw attempts and still secure a double-digit victory.
The edge that Golden State plays with may start with players like Draymond Green and Stephen Curry, but it really goes much further into the bench.
It’s players like Kelly Oubre Jr. and Jordan Poole that must consistently step up. A franchise can only ask so much of one player, and the team really shouldn’t be telling Curry to shoot even more and play even more.
They need more from these role players, and it seems like they’re going to be getting it. With a schedule lightening up tremendously in the next week, the Warriors have a window back to playoff contention.
With Houston and back-to-back games against the Grizzlies coming up, if the Warriors bring their best game, they’ll easily be able to get a winning streak started.
After those three, the Warriors have Philadelphia, who should be without Joel Embiid, and Sacramento, a team they should defeat easily. It’s a part of their schedule that they must do well in.
Keeping that edge about their game will be a pivotal reason why they thrive and get back into playoff position or drift further into the ninth seed.