Kerr takes blame for Warriors’ struggles: ‘It’s my fault’

Kerr takes blame for Warriors’ struggles: ‘It’s my fault’ originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors hit a new low their 104-101 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Monday at Scotiabank Arena, and Steve Kerr is taking the blame.

After Golden State struggled offensively throughout Monday’s game and especially down the stretch, the Warriors coach explained what went wrong.

“Just didn’t look good, didn’t execute very well, wasn’t disciplined enough,” Kerr told reporters. “And it’s my fault. I’m the coach of the team. I have to find a way to help this team, and I’m not doing a good job of that.”

The Warriors struggled to score but still managed to lead the Raptors 86-77 with less than 10 minutes left in the game, and then their offensive woes caught up with them as Toronto outscored them 27-15 to end the contest.

While Raptors forward Chris Boucher scored 17 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, Steph CurryAndrew Wiggins and Buddy Hield missed consecutive 3-point shots to either tie the game or take the lead in the final 45 seconds. Mistakes even cost the Warriors after they made shots, like Curry’s turnover after a clear 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter.

After a 12-3 start and plenty of optimism to start the 2024-25 NBA season, the Warriors are 19-20 and the No. 11 in the Western Conference after Monday’s loss to a 9-31 Raptors team. They shot just 39.8 percent from the field and 34.8 percent from three—not nearly good enough to overcome the many mistakes they make on the floor.

“Down the stretch we don’t execute, but it happens throughout the game on both ends — missed rotations, missed coverages on defense and then bad possessions offensively,” Kerr continued. “… It’s as frustrating a night as we’ve had all season. The game was right there for us and we just let them get back into it.

“And again, it’s a lack of discipline in our coverages defensively, in our offensive execution, and I’m the coach, so that’s my fault.”

Wiggins, who finished behind Curry’s 26 points with 20 of his own, disagreed that the Warriors’ problems rest solely on Kerr’s shoulders. The onus is on the team as a whole, he said.

“I don’t think it’s on him,” Wiggins told reporters after the game. “That’s what a leader does. Steve is a leader, so he will always try to take responsibility, but it is on everyone, from the first person to the last person. Everyone can help. Everyone can do more – including myself. The only way we’re going to get over this and change the outcome is if everyone from the first person to the last person gives a little bit more.”

The Warriors are searching for an answerand has been for most of the season. And whether the solution comes from Kerr or from within the group, there is no one to ignore that time is running out.

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