Why Warriors’ upcoming homestand signals critical juncture in how season unfolds

There is no five-alarm fire surrounding the Warriors, but there are enough matches gathering that their upcoming five-game homestand, even in the first six weeks of the NBA season, can be a tipping point.After playing 12 of 17 games on the road, the Warriors return to Chase Center on Friday to face the Portland Trail Blazers, whose ninth-place position in the Western Conference has them only one slot beneath eighth-place Golden State. Then come the 10th-place Utah Jazz, the third-place Houston Rockets, the last-place New Orleans Pelicans and the first-place Oklahoma City Thunder.Houston and OKC present real challenges, but a loss to any of the other three would signal a troubling setback for the Warriors.With perplexing chatter emanating from their semi-successful six-game road trip – comments regarding “agendas” and the usual agitation related to Jonathan Kuminga’s role and future – the Warriors surely know their work thus far invites legitimate skepticism. They are reeling, looking to Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler III and Draymond Green to make all the necessary corrections that, perhaps, can deliver them from the fate of the play-in tournament.That’s what awaits, and what a failure it would be, if the Warriors can’t pull themselves together and begin climbing up the standings.Coach Steve Kerr, who bemoaned the lack of practice time during their six-game road trip, the upcoming schedule provides enough time for at least two, maybe three, practice sessions. There will be ample opportunity to roll out video and offer constructive criticism.“The schedule does turn our way,” Kerr told reporters Wednesday night in Miami, after a 110-96 loss to the Heat concluded the six-game road trip. “But we need to take advantage of it. We’ve got to get better.”Turnovers continue to be an issue. Despite frequent imploring from the likes of Kerr and Butler, the Warriors’ 17.1 giveaways per game are more than only the Dallas Mavericks 17.2. Golden State is dead last in turnover ratio at 16.8, roughly one of every six possessions.For the league’s least physically imposing roster, one that struggles to rebound (22nd in the league) and gain extra possessions, taking care of the ball is essential for any chance of contending.To be clear, these Warriors are not built as the great teams of yore, when they offset turnovers by pounding the glass, defending like a pack of wolves and drowning opponents in a torrent of 3-pointers.“We just got to get back to giving a damn about every single possession, which is easy,” Butler, who uncharacteristically committed nine giveaways in his last two games, told reporters in Orlando after a 121-113 loss to the Magic on Wednesday. “But it’s definitely going to start with me not turning the ball over.”Yet even a cursory glance at the Warriors is enough to know their problems go beyond turnovers. All three victories on the recent road trip required magnificent performances, with Curry scoring 46 points in one game and 49 in the next, followed by a career-high 32-point outburst from Moses Moody – the third time in four-plus seasons he topped 25 points.Where is the balanced offense? Curry and Butler combined for a highly efficient 67 points in Orlando and walked off the floor with a bitter L, largely because the bench missed 15 of 23 shots and was outscored 35-22 by Magic reserves.Brandin Podziemski over his last 10 games shot 40.2 percent from the field, including 36.7 percent from deep. Buddy Hield over his last 10 shot 39.5 percent, including 29.1 beyond the arc. Quentin Post is at 45.8 and 31.3 over his last five games. Kuminga has come off the bench only once this season, playing only 12 minutes before sore knees sent him to the bench.There is a lot that needs repair before the Warriors can emerge from the fog they’ve been for three weeks, losing seven of 12 games. From Kerr to Curry to Butler and Green, there is belief that who they have been does not accurately represent who they are.“We’re a connected team,” Kerr said Wednesday night. “We’ve got a good vibe, a good group. (But) we’ve got some improvement to make on the floor and that’s the main thing.”Both De’Anthony Melton and Seth Curry should arrive in the coming weeks. That should add a layer of proficiency to the roster.If the Warriors can’t find their best, beginning with this homestand, they could slog into the same undesirable position they were in last February, when desperation forced a major trade in hopes a late surge could salvage the season.Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Why Warriors’ upcoming homestand signals critical juncture in how season unfolds

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