The Warriors have not played inspiring basketball as of late. A 116-107 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies Monday night was another brutal blow to the team, leaving them at 18-22.
But head coach Steve Kerr, who joined Willard and Dibs on Tuesday, said he sees cause for optimism for Andrew Wiggins. He also discussed whether the team's core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green is still enough to compete for a title.
Listen to Kerr's full interview above
On the Wiggins front, Kerr was asked about the belief that he's going to be traded by the deadline on February 8, and what's going on with him. He defended his more recent performances.
"I can tell you that watching the tape from last night, watching him in Chicago, watching him over the previous month, I think he's much different now than where he was in the beginning of the season," Kerr said. "I think he was out of rhythm to start the year after missing so much of last year. I think he got off to a slow start and it kind of snowballed on him.
"But I think over the last month or so he's played a lot better. He's had a couple games where obviously, he's struggled with his shot, but he's competing. He was into the ball all night last night, spreading the floor, attacking the rim. So I think Wiggs is playing a lot better, personally. I know it's not showing as much and I know our fans are frustrated."
Kerr said fans aren't alone in their frustration, but that the Warriors' struggles are multifaceted.
"We're all frustrated. We're losing games," Kerr said. "And so what happens is, when you lose, everybody is going to try to find one answer. Maybe it's the coach, maybe it's one of the players. The reality is, it's always a lot of things. When you're losing, when you're in a bad way it's never one thing, it's always a lot of things, and I think we all have to own it: the players, the coaches, management, like this is us. We're all in this together and we've gotta get this right."
But can the Warriors get this right? Do they still have enough?
Kerr believes they do still have enough, but that they're "more vulnerable" than they've ever been. He said they have a smaller margin for error, and that injuries have "ravaged us lately," leaving Golden State vulnerable. Still, he believes in the core three.
He also urged fans to remember the not-so-distant history of the Warriors winning a title.
"But you guys have watched all three of these guys, Steph, Klay, Draymond, they're all really capable of having big nights of playing at a really high level," Kerr said. "You've watched our team play out at a really high level and then you've seen over the last couple of weeks in particular, some real low points and so we're at a different stage in our existence as a team.
"We all understand that. And that's why you try to supplement the roster. That's why you try to bring the young guys along as best you can and you try to win along the way.
"And, look, I would say we've done a pretty good job of that. We did win a championship, in case people forgot, a year-and-a-half ago. We got to the second round last year and had a chance to get to the conference finals and lost to a really good Laker team.
"This has been a rough go this year, no doubt. But when you look at the big picture, it's been a pretty valiant run by these guys over the last three seasons, defending a championship and really trying to keep it going. So I believe in my guys, I love those guys, and we're gonna keep fighting."
Clearly, Kerr still believes in the core. But will the Warriors double down on the core to make another run at the playoffs, or protect their future going forward? A win against the Utah Jazz, currently the ninth seed, on Wednesday, would be a starting point.