After five straight trips to the Finals and three titles to show for it, the Golden State Warriors struggled this season, failing to make the playoffs and posting the worst record in the entire NBA.
Perhaps the biggest factor in their downfall was the injury to Steph Curry, who was only able to suit up for 5 games all season.
Many still believe that had Curry been fully healthy, the Dubs would have still ran things in the West. But, according to head coach Steve Kerr, that would’ve been unlikely.
“Well, to be honest, I think it still would’ve been a struggle. I think there were just too many factors that were going against us.
Obviously, we would’ve won a lot more games. Steph is so talented that he would’ve undoubtedly won plenty of games on his own,” Kerr said in the “Damon, Ratto & Kolsky” podcast on 95.7 The Game.
The “factors” Kerr speaks of include injuries to Klay and Draymond, the offseason departures of Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala, and Shaun Livingston, and the midseason trade of D’Angelo Russell.
With these major and complicated changes to the roster, Kerr’s assessment seems like the correct one. It would have been hard for them to find much success, even had Curry been playing.
But he’ll be back next year, as will Klay, to join Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green. Things may have been rough this go-round, but they should be ready to go next season.
