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Major stat proving the Golden State Warriors are yet to find their championship DNA

By Peter O'Keefe

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 18: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after Klay Thompson #11 made a three-point shot and a timeout was called by the New York Knicks during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on November 18, 2022 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 18: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after Klay Thompson #11 made a three-point shot and a timeout was called by the New York Knicks during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on November 18, 2022 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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Last year’s NBA championship wasn’t about having a loaded roster that simply overwhelmed the opposition. For the Golden State Warriors, it was their intricate knowledge of knowing how to win and the experience of having done it all before.

Throughout their four championships in the last eight seasons, Golden State have usually been a team that outplays their opponent in the critical moments. That simply hasn’t been the case so far in 2022-23, and it might be the biggest aspect holding them back from earning a top six seed in the Western Conference.

In a highly-competitive season with little room for error, the NBA’s clutch statistics prove a worrying sign for the Golden State Warriors.

Not only have the Warriors lost a number of 50-50 games, but they’ve also conceded a number in which they practically had a stranglehold on the contest. That was again evident in Sunday’s loss to the Brooklyn Nets, with the visitors finishing the game on a 22-6 run to turn a 12-point deficit into a four-point win.

Clutch time refers to the last five minutes of a game in which the margin is less than five points. Golden State hold a losing record in these games, indicative of their 23-24 record overall. Their net rating is -3.6 in clutch time, a far cry from the team who often find a way to win in the tight, pressure-filled situations.

Kyrie Irving took over with 12 fourth-quarter points to beat the Golden State Warriors on Sunday. (Photo by Kavin Mistry/Getty Images)
Kyrie Irving took over with 12 fourth-quarter points to beat the Golden State Warriors on Sunday. (Photo by Kavin Mistry/Getty Images) /

The Warriors had a net rating of exactly 4.0 in clutch minutes last season — their three previous championships yielded a clutch time net rating of 17.2, 7.4 and 8.8 during the regular season. That’s not to mention their record-breaking 2015-16 season where they had an absurd net rating of 34.1. In Golden State’s four championship seasons, plus 2015-16, they had an overall record of 111-50 in clutch time games.

Yet, despite still possessing the same core trio in Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, the Warriors have turned from an elite ‘clutch’ team to a below average one. Why? Surely Curry dispelled the myth during last year’s NBA Finals that he wasn’t a closer, that a predominantly perimeter jump-shooting team couldn’t manage the big moments.

That line of thinking is back in vogue though. The truth is that even though Curry and others can do it, the Warriors aren’t an iso-heavy team. There certainly not comfortable if the free-flowing, ball and player movement offense stagnates down the stretch — their offensive rating in clutch minutes is at 105.3, well down from their usual 112.9.

Next. Ranking the Golden State Warriors’ youngsters by trade value. dark

It’s easy to say but even if the Warriors had just turned the result of three games, then all of a sudden they’ve got a 26-21 record which would be good for equal-fourth in the West. Instead, they’re failing to close games and as a result, sit precariously in a tightly-packed conference that’s only going to heat up further towards the end of the regular season.

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