“I have failed” – Curry reliance hits new high in Golden State Warriors low

It was hard to envisage the Golden State Warriors leaning any more on Stephen Curry than what we’d witnessed over the first few weeks of the season. The team’s position looked alot more optimistic when the two-time MVP played second fiddle to Jordan Poole in a blowout 37-point win against the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night.

But just as more even contributions looked forthcoming, the Warriors hit a new low against the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night. Another absurd performance from Curry was all for nothing — his 50 points, nine rebounds and six assists unable to prevent an eighth straight road loss to start the season.

The Golden State Warriors’ reliance on Stephen Curry hit a new high, his virtuoso display a simultaneous joy and horrific watch in Wednesday’s 130-119 loss.

Watching Curry at his unstoppable best is a privilege to watch, but the reliance on him also makes for frightening viewing. This team’s months removed from winning a championship, but despite having the same core group of six players, they look more like the 2020-21 squad that failed to make the playoffs.

Speaking in the aftermath, head coach Steve Kerr acknowledged his responsibility in the team’s disappointing 6-9 record to open the season.

"“That’s what being the coach is about — it’s not just about drawing up plays, it’s about really getting to know your players, building relationships with them, trying to give them a vision to collectively shoot for. Clearly I have failed at that to this point, this year.”"

Curry shot 17-for-28 from the field and 7-for-11 from three-point range, his form better than ever despite advancing towards 35 years of age. Yet while the Suns were perilous to stop last season’s Finals MVP, Golden State’s defense was simply non-existent in what resembled more of a low-intensity scrimmage.

The Warriors defense was locked in against the Spurs, but that seems an anomaly to the lackadaisical efforts they’ve commonly put in otherwise. This was the second time Phoenix have destroyed the Warriors defense in the last month, although this time they did it without two key starters — Chris Paul and Cameron Johnson.

The Suns shot 51.2% from the field and 52.5% from three on 40 attempts — they shoot 37.9% on an average of 33.7 attempts across the season. Golden State inexplicably allowed Cameron Payne to have 29 with six threes, while Mikal Bridges flirted with a triple-double in his 21-point, nine-rebound, nine-assist performance.

Golden State may have had worse team losses this season (they lost to the Suns by 29 in their first meeting), but wasting Curry’s 50-piece is as demoralizing as it gets for a team that looks miles away from their championship-winning best.