The Warriors seem to have little interest in starting games well. For the second-straight game, they fell into a massive deficit early, and it cost them.
The 141-105 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans sends Golden State spiraling to 17-20 before heading on the road. Here are three takeaways.
Another horrifying start
If you thought the Warriors' nightmare start to the Toronto Raptors Sunday would wake them up, you would be mistaken.
Golden State allowed 76 first-half points against Toronto, their most in a half this season. They allowed 73 first-half points against New Orleans.
They set another first Wednesday night by allowing 46 points, the most they've allowed in any quarter all season. Just like the Raptors, the Pelicans destroyed the Warriors from behind the arc, going 9-of-16 in the first quarter.
The crowd let the team hear it, booing for the second-straight game.
A 25-point deficit was eventually cut to as low as 10. But starting so slow puts the Warriors in brutal, uphill battles which they are not equipped to deal with, at least not without Draymond Green and Gary Payton II.
A glimmer of hope from a second-quarter run — which was present for a moment on Sunday, too — evaporated just as quickly.
This team just doesn't have the size and athleticism to consistently compete defensively and on the boards without those guys. And they might not have what they need even with them.
Mo Moody, please
As another example of how poor Golden State was to start, Cory Joseph —who was not impressive — was +1 in eight minutes, the only Warriors with a positive plus-minus in the first half before Moses Moody saw extended minutes.
Moody may have been the only bright spot for the Warriors aside from Trayce Jackson-Davis (19 points on 9-of-11 shooting, 5 rebounds), though the latter struggled as a rebounder and rim protector.
Moody had a season-high 21 points on Sunday, and had 21 again (8-of-18, 4-of-8 from deep) against New Orleans. He was a team-high +4 after a second quarter the Warriors won 33-27. It was the only quarter they won.
It was evident that Moody's size and strength were a substantial bonus against another team that out-sized the Warriors. He had a couple rebounds and a steal in addition to his 21 points. He seemed like the only guy who cared throughout the entire game.
The worst (... or, second-worst) part of Wednesday's game?
After a dunk in the early in the fourth quarter, Moody headed to the locker room. He rubbed the inside of his left calf/upper ankle before leaving the game. An injury to him during this resurgence would be brutal.
What's the answer here?
So... what now?
The Warriors seem to be playing six great minutes of basketball each game, but it only comes after they fall behind by 20-plus points. They look completely disinterested to start games and without anywhere near enough weaponry to fight back.
Golden State used to be able to run smaller lineups because it meant they were quicker than other teams, could run in transition and unleash a torrent of 3-pointers. The problem is that other teams are bigger, and are now athletic enough to run in transition... and out-shoot them (substantially, at times) from deep.
The Pelicans out-shot the Warriors 19-of-20 (47.5 percent) to 13-of-
So, what should they do? What trades make sense? Andrew Wiggins is the first name that comes to mind.
Wiggins is a shell of himself. He came into this game averaging career low in points (11.9 points), assists (1.3), steals (0.3), blocks (0.4) and 3-point percentage (29.7 percent).
After two-straight 3-point, 2-rebound games, Wiggins put up a whopping 5 points (2-of-8, 1-of-3 from deep), 2 rebounds and 2 assists. He seemed to fumble every pass that came his way.
He's in the first year of a four-year, $109 million deal, which is not disqualifying if a team is convinced he can get back to his old form. But he's going to need to have a remotely decent stretch of games, or the Warriors will have to attach something with him, for that to be compelling.
But even the most logical move of trading Wiggins might not make sense, because the best version of Wiggins on his current contract would still be more valuable than whatever Golden State gets in exchange.
Do they just wait for Green and Payton II come back and hope that the energy and defensive commitment returns? That seems an awfully rose-tinted assessment.
The reality setting in is that this team might just be broken. They can't play Wiggins and Jonathan Kuminga at the same time, and they really can't play Wiggins at all, even though they have to play him.
Meanwhile, Kuminga's still a developing player with uncertainty on how to fit into the offense, and he isn't a reliable rebounder, or outstanding defender.
With Stephen Curry at age 35, they can't just accept this season as a wasted one. But with Klay Thompson and Chris Paul expiring (fully non-guaranteed $30 million next season) this offseason, that is lurking as potentially enticing option.
If the Warriors could get rid of Wiggins' money, replacing his minutes with Kuminga, Moody, and Payton II, then adding this offseason, and re-setting their tax nightmare before a new set of penalties kicks in, is that maybe the best course of action?
Do they fire Steve Kerr, whose contract expires at the end of this season?
This is not advocating for anything — aside, perhaps, from trading Wiggins — because it's not clear what would help, just that whatever this is, is not working.