Warriors report card: Group grades for declining roster to open 2025 initially appeared on NBC Sports activities Bay Space
Once we first pulled out our pink pen and handed out the Warriors’ first report card of the 2024-25 season, it got here after a irritating loss to the San Antonio Spurs the place a 17-point lead was squandered. Nevertheless, it was solely the Warriors’ fourth lack of the season of their first 16 video games.
However two nights later, within the Warriors’ subsequent sport, an 18-point lead changed into a 10-point loss to the Brooklyn Nets. Golden State’s loss to San Antonio marked the beginning of a five-game dropping streak during which the crew’s outlook hardly ever seemed shiny. The Warriors’ 12-3 begin made them seem like a gaggle that shouldn’t be taken calmly. Since then, victories have been uncommon.
The Warriors enter 2025 with a 16-16 document, good for tenth place within the Western Convention. What went nicely? And what’s fallacious? Let’s break all of it all the way down to usher in a brand new calendar yr.
Offense
5 and a half weeks in the past on the primary iteration of our Warriors report cardthey ranked within the high 5 in factors per sport, assists per sport, 3-point makes an attempt per sport and 3-pointers made per sport, whereas rating seventh in offensive score and 3-point share . Many of those numbers have collapsed.
The crew that revolutionized the offense is now experiencing nice difficulties on this facet of the ball. That is maybe their greatest downside. In actual fact, it’s.
By 32 video games, the Warriors now rating the seventeenth most factors per sport (111.5), two spots behind the Detroit Pistons. Though they take the fourth most threes per sport (41.3) and rank fifth (14.8), the Warriors additionally are available in at seventeenth in 3-point share (35.9%). . Their offensive score (110.7) dropped all the best way to twenty first and was twenty third after their ultimate sport of 2024.
Throughout their troublesome skid, the Warriors lacked layups, missed mid-range photographs and did not convert sufficient from three. They do not have gamers who can persistently create their very own shot or go for a bucket, leaving 36-year-old Steph Curry able to being guarded all 94 ft.
The Warriors have failed to attain 100 factors in eight video games and are 1-7 in mentioned video games.
Grade: C-/D+
Protection
When lively, the Warriors can nonetheless have an elite protection. However there are additionally means too many lapses in the identical points as final season, the place an excessive amount of assist turns into wide-open photographs, particularly from past the arc and from the corners. On the season, they’re now ninth in defensive score (109.7), one place forward of the Miami Warmth.
A few of their losses embrace level totals of 91, 102 (twice), 104, 105 and 107 factors. Different matches additionally noticed them give up 128, 136, 143 and 144 factors. Along with permitting 37 factors to the Cleveland Cavaliers within the third quarter of their most up-to-date lossthe Warriors gave up simply 26, 20 and 30 factors within the different three quarters to the league’s finest offense.
In that very same sport towards the Cavs, the Warriors had 5 steals, eight blocks and compelled 11 turnovers. They did not rating a single level off these turnovers. The protection is just not good. This is not the most important downside both. The very first thing the Warriors have to do is create defensive power early on and make the most of the moments after they do.
Grade: B
Stars
Father Time hasn’t utterly caught up with Curry or Draymond Inexperienced, however he is beginning to be seen on the Ring Digicam heading towards their door. Curry’s Christmas efficiency, the place he scored 38 factors and made eight 3-pointers, is the precise cause he nonetheless scares the opposition a lot. He was fascinating.
Curry was additionally implausible in his two 30-point video games towards the Minnesota Timberwolves, however he has solely scored 30 factors or extra 5 occasions in his first 26 video games. He did it 13 occasions in his first 26 video games final season. Curry has additionally already been held to lower than 20 factors 10 occasions. That solely occurred 3 times in his first 26 video games a season in the past.
Inexperienced can nonetheless put collectively masterful defensive performs. Return and watch him contest Kevin Durant’s game-winning try on him and you’ll see how phenomenal Draymond continues to be defensively. The Warriors are additionally at their finest when he is at middle, and he cannot try this for lengthy stretches proper now.
Up to now, Inexperienced has performed in 28 video games. He averaged 9.1 factors and a 42.9 p.c success fee in his first 14 video games. In his final 14 video games, Inexperienced is averaging 7.7 factors, on 37.7 p.c taking pictures from three.
Andrew Wiggins, coming into his tenth season, seems to have totally reworked right into a 3-D participant, an space during which he can excel. Wiggins is taking pictures 40.7 p.c from three, but in addition has simply 22 dunks and is taking pictures 52 p.c on layups. He is additionally solely averaged 7.7 factors in his final three video games.
Grade: B-
Additions
At first of the season, it appeared like Mike Dunleavy had gone out and located the proper actors. De’Anthony Melton earlier than his harm was the form of complement that might thrive alongside Curry. Buddy Hield was on a heater and seemed like a Sixth Man of the Yr. Kyle Anderson was the veteran Steve Kerr at all times needed.
And now Dennis Schröder replaces Melton. The Warriors are 2-5 in video games with Schröder and he is not in good condition in any respect, averaging 9.1 factors on 29.7 p.c taking pictures and 20.6 p.c taking pictures from three. Hield simply shot 30.5 p.c from behind the 3-point line in December. For the month, he had one scoreless sport, eight in single figures and solely 4 in double figures. Anderson obtained 5 DNPs (Did Not Play) in December.
The additions turned afterthoughts. The Warriors aren’t proficient sufficient for that to be their actuality. Schröder should discover his means to slot in. Hield must get his likelihood once more. As for Anderson, it is laborious to say when or if he’ll have a set spot in Kerr’s rotation once more.
Grade: D
Youth
Jonathan Kuminga’s back-to-back 34-point video games gave glimpses of a star. Then he scored 18 factors on 4-of-15 taking pictures, together with 10 from the free throw line towards Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen within the Warriors’ loss to the Cavs. Ranges.
Brandin Podziemski’s 11-rebound sport in a plus-13 win over the Houston Rockets reminded him of his rookie standing. He not too long ago had 4 straight video games with a optimistic plus/minus earlier than going minus-17 and exiting early towards the Phoenix Suns. He was beginning to come to his senses, and there was nonetheless a lot to be desired.
Moses Moody scored a season-high 19 factors within the Warriors’ ultimate sport of 2024, however his place within the rotation stays up and down when wholesome.
As Kuminga made headlines, Trayce Jackson-Davis’ latest leap was most spectacular. His 16-point, 16-rebound sport towards Cleveland to shut out 2024 is the most recent instance. Jackson-Davis completed the yr with six straight double-digit scoring video games, averaging 14.3 factors and 10.5 rebounds throughout that span.
Grade: C+
Well being
The Warriors of their first 19 video games had a wholesome Curry. Since then, he has missed six of their final 13 video games as a consequence of bilateral knee tendinitis. This looks like an harm for somebody who will quickly be 37 in March.
Gary Payton II is presently out with a left calf pressure. Podziemski is day after day with an stomach pressure and Moody missed a number of video games in December.
Grade: B
Coaching
Social media pitchforks routinely flip in direction of Kerr when the Warriors begin dropping. Is it his fault Buddy cannot purchase a bucket? This Schröder shot is much from it, even when the Warriors ran pick-and-rolls time and again in a sport the place Curry and Inexperienced sat? That their two stars are beginning to look their age?
He could also be questioned for pretending it was time for Kuminga to be a starter, just for him to return to the bench very quickly. However his public appeals from Kuminga additionally appeared to be heard loud and clear.
Kerr has shortened his rotation, however he is nonetheless in search of the proper mixtures.
Grade: B
Total
Do you have to inform me? Take Curry and Kerr at their phrase.
Once I requested them what their 16-16 document on the finish of 2024 to begin 2025 mentioned in regards to the Warriors, here is what each mentioned.
Curry: “As the youngsters say, we’re midway there proper now. We’re simply very common.
Kerr: “You might be what your document says you’re. I believe Invoice Parcells mentioned that, and I believe there’s a variety of fact to that.
Neither has misplaced religion. Neither may have any illusions. It is time to wipe the slate clear and make a recent begin.
Grade: C
