The Golden State Warriors had a remarkable NBA title run in 2022, but their 2022-23 season was challenging. They ultimately exited the playoffs in the second round, defeated by LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. They came close to being eliminated in the first round by the Sacramento Kings if it wasn’t for Stephen Curry’s 50-point performance in Game 7.
Still recovering from the disappointment, the Warriors made significant changes in the offseason, the most notable being the addition of veteran point guard Chris Paul in exchange for Jordan Poole. So far, the transition has been smooth, according to Curry, and Paul brings a fresh approach to the team’s offense.
Giving some thought to the postseason letdown, head coach Steve Kerr stated on Friday that the team needs to be more adaptable when things are not going their way.
“The Lakers exposed us,” said Kerr. “Last year, we did not have a well-rounded team. So, when I think about that series and watch it, they were able to limit us defensively and we did not have an effective response. This year, we need to have better strategies.”
During the regular season, the Warriors averaged more than 115 points per 100 possessions, but in their six-game series against the Lakers, they only managed to score 110 points per game. Curry, who averaged just under 27 points per game in the series, struggled with shooting percentages of 44% from the field and 34% from beyond the arc. The only other players on the team to score double-digits were Klay Thompson (16.2) and Andrew Wiggins (15).
Poole’s performance in the series was particularly disappointing, averaging 8.3 points on shooting splits of 35/25/75 in nearly 21 minutes per game. The Warriors hope that replacing him with the experienced Chris Paul will provide a reliable solution when the offense is struggling.
Another challenge the Warriors faced against the Lakers was their lack of size. LeBron James and Anthony Davis had little trouble dominating inside the paint, as the Warriors allowed an average of nearly 50 points and over 14 second-chance points per game during the series. Draymond Green, who often plays as the undersized center in the playoffs, addressed the need for more size during media day.
“The Lakers are huge. That’s who we lost to,” said Green. “So if you analyze the team we lost to, it’s clear that we need to improve our size. It doesn’t mean we’ll definitely lose again if we don’t address this, but it could help. We’ll see what happens.”
As of Friday, the tallest player on the Warriors’ roster is offseason acquisition Dario Saric at 6-10, followed by Kevon Looney, rookie Trayce Jackson-Davis, and veteran Rudy Gay, all standing at 6-foot-9. The Warriors have often been discussed in relation to acquiring a big man, but they have typically opted against it. However, with the new management under general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr., they may take a different approach and actively seek to add more size.
Regardless, it is evident that the loss to the Lakers prompted the Warriors to reflect and make changes in their player personnel and potentially their tactics.
