The Golden State Warriors, a franchise that has long been synonymous with success and dominance in the NBA, experienced a stark reminder of their vulnerability in the 2024 season. One of the most talked-about moments came during a late-game collapse against the Sacramento Kings, which sent shockwaves through the NBA community. This stunning loss prompted NBA fans, analysts, and even former players to criticize the Warriors’ performance, especially pointing fingers at head coach Steve Kerr. The collapse was more than just a regular-season loss; it was a symbolic representation of several issues the Warriors were grappling with, from coaching decisions to player performances.
In the aftermath of the Warriors’ defeat, social media was flooded with memes, gifs, and mocking commentary directed at Steve Kerr, a coach who, until recently, had been widely regarded as one of the best in the league. As the Warriors’ head coach, Kerr had been instrumental in orchestrating the team’s rise to prominence, leading them to multiple championships and fostering a culture of ball movement, defense, and unselfish play. However, in the game against the Kings, things went terribly wrong, and fans were quick to place the blame squarely on Kerr’s shoulders.
The Collapse: A Breakdown of the Game
To fully understand why Steve Kerr became the target of so much ire, it’s important to first revisit the events of the game itself. The Warriors entered the contest with high expectations, looking to extend their playoff positioning and continue their hunt for a higher seed in the competitive Western Conference. They were facing the Sacramento Kings, a team that, while improving, had often been regarded as an underdog in recent seasons.
However, things quickly took a turn for the worse. Golden State was up by a comfortable margin late in the game, but inexplicably, they lost their composure. In the final few minutes, the Warriors made several costly turnovers, missed critical shots, and failed to execute defensively. On the other side of the court, the Kings, led by their explosive backcourt and motivated by the chance to claim a statement victory, capitalized on every mistake. The result was a heart-wrenching collapse that saw the Warriors lose the game in dramatic fashion.
The Kerr Factor: Fans and Critics Lash Out
In the aftermath of the game, social media quickly became a battleground for NBA fans, with many laying blame at Kerr’s feet. Some of the criticism was rooted in the Warriors’ failure to execute the fundamentals—such as closing out games with poise and discipline—while others pointed out specific coaching decisions that seemed to exacerbate the team’s issues.
1. Late-Game Decision-Making
One of the most commonly cited reasons for the Warriors’ collapse was Kerr’s late-game management. In high-pressure situations, the best coaches are often judged by how they manage rotations, call plays, and adjust to the opposing team’s strategies. Kerr, who had a reputation for making the right decisions in crucial moments, seemed to miss the mark in this game. The decision to leave key players on the floor for too long, or to fail to make timely substitutions, drew the ire of fans who felt that Kerr should have known better.
Kerr’s reliance on certain veteran players, despite their obvious fatigue or subpar performances, was particularly scrutinized. Fans pointed to Stephen Curry, who had played significant minutes without much rest, as an example of Kerr’s reluctance to give key players a breather when it mattered most. While Curry is undoubtedly one of the best players in the league, asking him to carry the load for an entire game, especially down the stretch, was seen as a poor strategic decision.
2. Defensive Adjustments
Golden State’s defense, once the hallmark of their dynasty, has been inconsistent in recent seasons. In this game against Sacramento, the Warriors’ defense seemed to unravel when it mattered most. De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk—two of the Kings’ most dynamic offensive players—took advantage of the Warriors’ lack of defensive intensity in the final minutes. Kerr, known for his defensive strategies in the past, was once again under fire for failing to make the necessary adjustments.
Fans were especially critical of Kerr for not calling for tighter defensive schemes or making changes to how the Warriors defended pick-and-rolls, which had been exploited repeatedly by Sacramento. The Kings were able to create open looks in critical moments, and the Warriors’ inability to close out on shooters and defend the rim contributed to the collapse.
3. Lineup Choices
The Warriors’ lineup decisions also came under scrutiny. Kerr had used a somewhat unconventional rotation throughout the game, opting to give certain players extended minutes in critical moments. With the game slipping away, Kerr’s inability to find the right combination of players was seen as a failure of coaching. Fans pointed to the fact that players like Draymond Green and Klay Thompson, despite being key contributors over the years, weren’t able to elevate the team in these final moments. Kerr’s hesitance to make quicker substitutions or take certain players off the floor added fuel to the fire of frustration.
4. Missed Opportunities for Development
Another angle of criticism that emerged after the collapse was Kerr’s failure to give younger players more opportunities. The Warriors had invested in some promising young talents, but Kerr’s reliance on the veterans, especially in a game that was clearly slipping away, left some questioning whether he had fully embraced the team’s evolving dynamic. Fans argued that Kerr should have used this loss as an opportunity to develop younger players and create future stars, even if that meant sacrificing the game’s outcome in the short term.
Fan Reactions and Mockery
As is typical with any loss in the NBA, especially one involving a team of Golden State’s stature, fans across the league wasted no time turning the collapse into fodder for humor. Memes, jokes, and commentary flooded social media platforms, with many fans mocking Kerr’s coaching decisions and the Warriors’ inability to execute down the stretch. The phrase “Steve Kerr’s late-game coaching” became a running joke, with users comparing Kerr to a variety of characters known for poor decision-making.
Some fans even took to mocking the Warriors’ entire style of play, which, for all its success, can sometimes appear reliant on the brilliance of Stephen Curry rather than a more balanced team approach. The Warriors’ collapse against the Kings became emblematic of the idea that while Golden State’s offense can be explosive, there are still critical moments when they struggle to close out games effectively. Kerr, often associated with the team’s success, found himself as the main target of these criticisms.
Is Steve Kerr to Blame?
Despite the waves of mockery, it’s essential to take a step back and consider whether Steve Kerr was truly to blame for the Warriors’ collapse. While the late-game execution was certainly a concern, the overall issue was likely more complex than simply pointing fingers at Kerr.
The Warriors have struggled with depth in recent seasons, and their aging core, while still talented, isn’t as dominant as it once was. The injuries to key players like Andrew Wiggins and the inconsistency of role players have placed more pressure on Curry and the others to carry the team. Kerr, as a coach, is ultimately tasked with making the best out of these circumstances, but there’s only so much he can do when the team’s roster is thin and players aren’t performing at the level they once did.
Additionally, Kerr has faced criticism for sticking to certain schemes even when they no longer seem as effective. This has led some to question whether Kerr, who had been lauded for his adaptability in the past, had become too rigid in his approach.
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