It feels an awful lot like the Warriors are splitting apart at the seams. Golden State was embarrassed at home in back-to-back games by the Toronto Raptors and New Orleans Pelicans, and does not appear to have an answer in sight ahead of a road trip.
The 141-105 loss to the Pelicans featured the most points the Warriors have allowed this season. The 36-point margin of defeat is the worst home loss for the Warriors since a 37-point loss to the San Antonio Spurs on March 26, 2007.
Steve Kerr did not seem to have the answers after the game.
Kerr noted a few things, but particularly how poor the team's communication is. He said Draymond Green's return may help, adding that Green scrimmaged Wednesday and is hoped to play on the four-game road trip. He also added that Moses Moody tweaked his left calf and will undergo an MRI.
"One of the coaches on the way down said we're the quietest team ever," Kerr said. "I think without Draymond and Chris [Paul} it's really exposed there's not much chatter defensively. We do have a very quiet group of guys with this particular team that's out there now. We probably need a pick-me up. We need Draymond. We need guys who can kind of rally the troops right now."
A few follow-up questions were asked. Should Steph Curry step up as a vocal leader?
Kerr indicated that it's not Curry's job to speak up in that way.
"We look to Steph for everything," Kerr said. "We can't expect him to all of a sudden be a huge voice. I mean everybody is who they are. He's naturally a quiet person who's incredibly competitive. It doesn't become his job."
So, what does Kerr do? Does he start kicking up a storm in practice, reaming players out?
He said that's not his approach, but seemed to realize mid-answer that he may have to adjust that approach if the team continues to look as spineless as it has for the past two games. Here's his answer on how he handles this situation:
"As a coach, it's a delicate balance. When we're fragile like we are right now, I don't think that screaming and yelling at them is going to help. I'm trying to keep their confidence up. I'm trying to encourage them. But at some point, that may have to change. We can't keep going this way, two-straight games being non-competitive at home. We have to find some fight. We may have to resort to some different tactics, but more than anything, we've got to be connected defensively to give ourselves a chance."
There were some particularly revealing answers in regards to the back-to-back games with boos from the home crowd. Kerr didn't blame fans.
"We deserved it, for sure," Kerr said. "Fell behind immediately. I think we're just lacking confidence right now. You get to a stage, sometimes, where you just kind of lose your belief. And it happens. And that's what's happened right now with our team the last few days. I think we've just lost the spirit and the confidence that has to carry you against talented teams night in and night out."
Curry agreed with that assessment.
“We're obviously struggling, there's nothing to cheer about," Curry said. "I don't take it any type of certain way. Honestly, I’m booing myself, booing our team in my head because of the way we’re playing, so it is what it is. Fans are going to react the way that they want. It’s our job to give them something to cheer about and we have not done that.”
Klay Thompson's response to the boos?
“I don’t care," Thompson said. "You supposed to lose sleep over it?”
The Warriors' next matchup is a Friday night game in Chicago with the Bulls, who will induct Steve Kerr into their ring of honor at halftime. That might be a little awkward if the first half goes how it has for the past two games.