Kerr: Struggling Warriors have yet to reach full potential
A 25-14 record looks great on paper for the Golden State Warriors, but there's more than meets the eye for a team not playing up to the standard they've set for themselves in recent years.
Head coach Steve Kerr is aware of the issues plaguing the roster, but is optimistic his players will bounce back strong.
"We've got to do better," Kerr said ahead of Saturday's game against the Sacramento Kings, according to ESPN's Nick Friedell. "We know that. We've got to play better as a team. We're at the halfway point now of the season coming up, so we are going to continue to work and we're going to get to the point where we're going to reach our potential, but we haven't gotten there yet for sure."
Golden State is coming off a 135-134 overtime loss to the visiting Houston Rockets at Oracle Arena on Thursday after blowing a 20-point second-half lead. It was the Warriors' third straight home loss and sixth on the season.
Injuries have also hurt the Warriors in 2018-19, with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green missing long stretches, and DeMarcus Cousins still looking to make his debut off an Achilles injury.
"We just haven't gotten to the point where we know what to expect from our group night in and night out. It's been a little bit of a roller-coaster ride the whole first half of the season," Kerr added. "Some of that has to do with injuries, some of that has to do with the fact that we just haven't built the momentum that can come through consistent play and attention to detail. That's what we have to get to and I'm confident we'll get there."
Being the defending two-time NBA champions has placed a giant target on the back of the Warriors, which isn't lost on Kerr.
"You don't think these other teams have been planning for us for the last three years?" he asked. "And you don't think we get everybody's best shot night after night? So this is difficult and we're feeling that. The only way for us to get through all that is through our own work and execution and chemistry and just the ability to fight through everything and build some momentum, and that's the goal."
After facing Sacramento on the road Saturday, Golden State will return home for games against the New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls on Tuesday and Friday.