Stephen Curry was straight up outraged at Warriors Media Day, and his reaction to Steve Kerr’s comment tells you everything you need to know about the team’s outlook this season. Kerr dropped a bomb, saying he didn’t even mind that “everyone is picking us to miss the playoffs.” Curry’s face? Shocked. “That’s how bad it is??” he fired back. “To make the playoffs… We went from championships to… Damn!” He even got up and ended his interview session in a faux huff, smile on his face, but the underlying truth hit hard. The expectations? They’re basically non-existent, and Monday just hammered that home.
Injuries, Old Faces, and Low Hopes
Hours before the team even left for training camp in Hawaii, GM Mike Dunleavy confirmed starting center Kristaps Porzingis is out with an unspecified medical issue and won’t make the trip. Remember, the guy just signed a multi-year contract in June, but he’s been fragile his whole career. This is a punch to the gut after last season’s 37-45 record, missing the playoffs, and losing a play-in game to the Phoenix Suns. Curry, at 38, missed serious time with a knee injury. Jimmy Butler, 37, and Moses Moody? Both lost to season-ending injuries last year and won’t be back for months. The offseason? They chased free agents, came up empty. Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg is the “primary exception” on a roster that basically looks like last year’s squad. Dunleavy admitted they “are well aware of how people feel about this team,” but tried to spin it as a “united” group.
Kerr’s “Process” and the Lack of a Championship Push
So, what’s the plan for a team that’s aging, injured, and “light years removed” from the 2022 championship? Coach Kerr, who’s been under pressure for 12 years, actually thinks these lowered expectations aren’t necessarily a bad thing. “For me what it means is we get to focus on the process,” Kerr said. They’re talking “reimagining” the team, cutting down turnovers, getting more efficient, winning “on the margins.” He wants them to “lock in on what we’re trying to accomplish right from day one.” It’s a far cry from a year ago when he told his players to go for home-court advantage and a championship. This season? The goals are “a bit less.”
The team meets Tuesday morning on the north shore of Oahu, and that’s where Kerr and his staff will officially lay out this new vision. Can they really develop into that team “under the radar”? As Kerr said, “Those things are only going to happen if we have a solid process day after day.” We’re about to find out, starting with this new, less ambitious “process.”
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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