Our guys have to get in the gym to find our rhythm” – Steve Kerr addresses Warriors free throw struggles after loss to the Clippers

 

The Golden State Warriors suffered another loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday. The “Dubs” trailed by as many as 15 points before tying the game at halftime but losing the game due to several offensive blunders.

In a game that Golden State lost by three points (102-99), they missed 10 free throws (9-19) and gave up 19 turnovers. Postgame head coach Steve Kerr wasn’t happy with the team’s errors throughout the game

 

“So we’ve got to work on it obviously. Our guys have to get in the gym to find our rhythm, get their confidence from the line for sure,” Kerr said.

Larger problems

Despite the Warriors’ many missed free throws, Kerr didn’t think it was the biggest reason the GSW lost. In fact, the head coach argued that he’s aware the “Dubs” are dead last in the league in free throws generated per game, and the fact that they had a 10-2 record entering this one is proof that the charity stripe isn’t a significant problem.

 

Instead, the head coach said his team lost the game in the first half when they couldn’t figure out the Clippers’ suffocating defense. Not only did Los Angeles force the “Dubs” to turn the ball over 19 times, but they also shot 36.4% from the three-point line and held a top-five offense in the league to just 99 points.

“You focus on the turnovers in the first half. I didn’t feel that we started playing until the second half. I thought we lost the game in the first half, wasting a lot of possessions. I give the Clippers a lot of credit; they forced turnovers and are a great defensive team. They got into us, and we finally got engaged in the second half and made our runs, but it wasn’t enough,” Kerr added.

It also didn’t help the Warriors that Stephen Curry — who tallied 26 points on 10-21 shooting from the field — struggled in the first half, as he had 8 points after two quarters. Andrew Wiggins showed flashes of his old self by contributing 22 points, but it wasn’t enough for Golden State to get over the hump. Every time they made a rally in the second half, Clippers forward Norman Powell and guard James Harden, who combined for 35 points, had an answer.

 

The Clippers are a matchup problem for GSW

In 13 games, the LA-based squad has defeated Curry and Co. twice, once at home and on the road. They’ve been doing what most of the Warriors’ competitors have not: limiting the Bay Area team’s scoring production.