There's very little optimism surrounding the Golden State Warriors right now, having failed to make any offseason moves despite the long-term injuries to Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody.
But head coach Steve Kerr has given fans a reason to believe in a bounce-back season, pointing to the natural motivation that follows a disappointing year that failed to yield a playoff appearance.
Steve Kerr gives Warriors fans reason to believe in bounce-back season
Speaking recently to ESPN's Anthony Slater, Kerr spoke of the disappointment that may fuel what would be a surprise outcome if Golden State manage to be a top six seed in the Western Conference next season.
"I think sometimes when you fail like we did last year, there's kind of a natural bounce back. Everybody's going to be really, really motivated and excited, and we've got good players. We do need some better luck health wise, but I think we'll get that," Kerr said.
Kerr isn't just misguided by some blind hope in a strong response from his team, but rather recent history also justifies his belief. The last two times they've missed the playoffs, the Warriors have bounced back to win at least one playoff series the following year.
Golden State famously responded from a Play-In Tournament elimination in 2021 to go all the way and win the championship the following season, while another Play-In elimination in 2024 was followed by reaching the second-round of the playoffs last year.
That recent history has to give fans at least some hope of a turnaround, and there's little doubt that the motivation of an aging veteran team can wax and wane not just throughout a campaign but also from season to season.
Warriors still face uphill battle to be top six team in the West
As much as recent history and Kerr's comments are reason for hope, the reality is that Golden Sate still face an incredibly challenging task to be a top six team and avoid what would be a third-straight Play-In appearance.
After missing out on LeBron James and deciding against pursuing another star via trade, the Warriors simply appear to lack firepower at least until such time as Butler returns from injury mid-season. There's too much talent in the league to only have two healthy players on the roster who've averaged more than 15 points in any season over the past decade, let alone those players being a 38-year-old Stephen Curry and an injury-prone Kristaps Porzingis.
The Warriors will be banking on continuity and chemistry, along with increased internal motivation, to spring some suprises and turn around what currently appears like a bleak outlook for the franchise.
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