The Golden State Warriors fell behind early and never recovered in a 129-101 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night at Chase Center, and head coach Steve Kerr did not mince words afterward.
“I thought they were great,” Kerr said. “They played a fantastic game. They came in here having lost three straight. They were locked in.”
Golden State dropped to 31-29 and remained eighth in the Western Conference standings, now 4.5 games behind the sixth-seeded Lakers with 22 games left.
Kerr pointed to the opening stretch as decisive after his team allowed Los Angeles to start 12-of-21 from the field and build a 33-16 lead.
“Getting off to the slow start hurt us because for us to win right now, it’s got to be about energy and winning extra possessions, crashing, forcing turnovers,” he said. “We just fell behind like that and they were playing with the lead the entire game and we just couldn’t climb back in it.”
The Warriors shot 41-of-91 overall and 12-of-44 from three-point range, despite recording 32 assists against just 10 turnovers.
“We got some good looks,” Kerr said. “It wasn’t like we played poorly. We shot poorly and like I said, we never made a defensive stand in the game. It was just a night where they totally outplayed us.”
Without Stephen Curry, who missed his 10th straight game with a knee injury, and Kristaps Porzingis, sidelined by illness, Golden State lacked offensive firepower.
“A defensive mentality is the most important thing,” Kerr said when asked about recent slow starts. “We have to come out with some pop and some energy at that end of the floor and just didn’t feel like we were as engaged defensively as we needed to be.”
Draymond Green finished with seven points and six assists while playing both forward and center, and Kerr explained the structural differences when he anchors the five.
“When he plays the five position, we’re going to have him set a lot of screens and roll,” Kerr said. “He’s more of a playmaking center. When we bring in Al at the five, he’s more of a shooter, pick-and-pop player.”
Kerr emphasized Green’s broader value during a stretch without key veterans.
“Draymond’s competitive desire and his brain is what is so important for us,” he said. “He’s a genius defensively and his competitiveness is off the charts. Not easy for him right now playing without Jimmy, without Steph, but I’m really impressed with the way he’s hanging in there and continuing to fight.”
Despite the setback, the four-time champion coach struck an optimistic tone.
“I’m enjoying the season,” Kerr said. “Our guys have competed and really done a good job of finding ways to win. Obviously tonight was not our night, but these guys are great. It’s a fun group to coach and we got to sweep this one away and get ready for Monday. We have a huge game Monday night.”
