Title: The Hidden Impact: How Stephen Curry and Steve Kerr Contributed to the Golden State Warriors’ Struggles
The Golden State Warriors’ success over the past decade is often associated with the duo of Stephen Curry and Steve Kerr. Their dynamic relationship has led the team to multiple NBA championships, and Curry’s revolutionary style of play has reshaped the game. However, behind the brilliance and triumphs lies a more nuanced story. The very elements that contributed to the Warriors’ greatness also played a role in their struggles during the times when things haven’t gone according to plan. The connection between Curry’s leadership and Kerr’s coaching has not always been a perfect equation for success. In fact, both have been part of the Warriors’ underperformance at times, whether due to personal shortcomings, tactical missteps, or changes in team dynamics.
The Challenges of Relying Too Heavily on One Player: Stephen Curry’s Overreliance
Stephen Curry is, without a doubt, one of the most gifted basketball players to ever step onto the court. His shooting range and skillset revolutionized the NBA and helped the Warriors become a dynasty. However, as the team’s centerpiece, Curry’s importance sometimes became a double-edged sword. His scoring and leadership were so essential to the Warriors’ success that when Curry faced injury setbacks or struggles in his shooting form, the team often lacked the versatility needed to stay competitive.
Curry’s early injuries, including the 2019 thumb injury during the season, exposed the Warriors’ over-reliance on him. The Warriors were a team built to maximize Curry’s unique talents, but in doing so, they failed to develop other areas of the roster to be as consistent. His absence from the 2020-2021 season led to a significant downturn in team performance. The lack of a second star who could take on a similar role as Curry meant that the Warriors, in the absence of their MVP, were unable to remain as competitive.
Moreover, Curry’s penchant for playing a fast-paced, perimeter-oriented game at times could lead to too many long-range attempts, especially when they weren’t falling. His shooting brilliance was celebrated, but on nights when Curry missed several shots, the Warriors would often find themselves unable to recover. The lack of a diversified offense during such slumps proved detrimental, as the team had not developed an alternative go-to strategy in his absence.
Curry’s ability to stretch defenses with his shooting was incredible, but it sometimes led to the team focusing too much on isolating his skill rather than developing a multi-faceted offense. In high-pressure moments, when other players like Klay Thompson or Draymond Green couldn’t replicate Curry’s brilliance, the Warriors’ offense could feel stagnant.
Steve Kerr’s Coaching Strategy: The Good and the Bad
As one of the most successful coaches in recent NBA history, Steve Kerr’s philosophy has been instrumental in the Warriors’ success. His system emphasizes ball movement, spacing, and player versatility. However, Kerr’s coaching decisions, particularly in high-stakes games or tough series, have been questioned at times, and his tactical mistakes have played a role in the Warriors’ losses.
One of Kerr’s biggest strengths is his adaptability, but at times, his coaching decisions have been puzzling. His loyalty to certain players and reluctance to make swift lineup changes during moments of struggle can be seen as a hindrance to the team’s performance. During playoff series where the Warriors were facing adversity, Kerr sometimes relied too heavily on his veteran core of Curry, Thompson, and Green, even when it was clear that the team’s energy and efficiency were lacking. For example, in the 2019 NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors, Kerr failed to make enough adjustments when the Warriors were down multiple key players due to injury. Despite a valiant effort from Curry, Kerr’s inability to adjust his rotation or provide a suitable defensive counter to the Raptors’ offensive flow left the Warriors vulnerable.
Kerr’s insistence on keeping the team’s system intact at all costs can also backfire. While his philosophy is a large part of the Warriors’ brand, it has sometimes felt rigid when facing new challenges. Against more physical teams or those with a clear tactical advantage, Kerr’s game plans appeared less effective, especially when the Warriors’ shooting wasn’t clicking. His approach of “not changing what works” has its drawbacks when situations call for flexibility. A lack of tactical shifts during critical moments or series could be a reason why the Warriors have faltered at times.
Leadership Dynamics: Curry and Kerr’s Relationship Strained at Times
Curry and Kerr are often seen as the perfect pair—Curry, the player who lights up the court, and Kerr, the coach who fosters that success with his vision. However, like any partnership, there have been moments of tension. Kerr, as the coach, is responsible for the direction of the team, while Curry, as the player, is the leader on the floor. But at times, their philosophies have clashed.
Curry’s leadership on the court is based on his unorthodox style of play—focusing on shooting and spacing, while Kerr’s strategy often leans on a system-based approach that requires players to adhere to specific roles. Curry’s free-flowing style could sometimes conflict with Kerr’s more structured playbook, leading to friction between the two.
In the 2020-2021 season, for example, as the Warriors struggled to get back into championship contention, tensions were noticeable between the two. While Curry was doing everything in his power to carry the team, Kerr’s reliance on certain rotations and gameplans that did not seem to work led to frustration on both ends. Curry’s desire for greater freedom on the court to maximize his talents sometimes didn’t align with Kerr’s structured offense. Kerr’s coaching, too, sometimes felt too mechanical, leaving little room for adjustments in the middle of tough games.
Overreliance on the ‘Splash Brothers’
While Curry and Klay Thompson are arguably the best shooting duo in NBA history, the Warriors’ strategy often revolved around their ability to shoot the three-pointer. The team built its identity around the “Splash Brothers,” but this focus on two players to dictate the team’s success created an imbalance in the roster. During stretches where Thompson faced injuries or when the team was forced to play without him for extended periods, the Warriors struggled to find a reliable second option in offense.
Curry’s evolution as a leader and player certainly helped cover for some of the gaps, but in the absence of a healthy Thompson, the Warriors were forced to depend too much on a scoring load that could be unpredictable. Moreover, the Warriors’ system was predicated on the duo’s three-point shooting abilities, leaving them vulnerable to teams that could defend the perimeter efficiently. While Kerr made several moves to optimize the team’s offensive spacing, there were times when the team fell into predictability, and opposing defenses adjusted accordingly.
Conclusion: An Inescapable Dynamic
While it’s easy to blame one individual or another, the struggles of the Golden State Warriors cannot solely be pinned on Curry or Kerr. In many ways, both are the product of a larger dynamic that relies on a delicate balance between star power and coaching philosophy. Curry’s excellence cannot be understated, but when his shooting struggles, his inability to impact the game beyond scoring becomes a weakness. Kerr, on the other hand, is undoubtedly a skilled tactician, but his tendency to stick with traditional methods without enough in-game flexibility has been detrimental in certain moments.
The Warriors’ championship pedigree has been established due to their ability to overcome adversity, yet moments of struggle reveal the cracks in their approach. The impact of Curry and Kerr, while monumental, also plays a part in the Warriors’ downfall, with their reliance on system and talent sometimes hindering the team in their pursuit of success.
