Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said his team is still in the fight after a 119-103 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers at Chase Center on Thursday night. With injuries piling up and the play-in tournament approaching, Kerr said the Warriors have “some hope” as reinforcements begin to return.
Golden State was without Stephen Curry on the front end of a back-to-back, and Kerr said the team has “been through the ringer” over the last stretch. Even so, he pointed to the bigger picture and the chance to build rhythm before the postseason.
“We’ve got a chance to get into the playoffs,” Kerr said, adding that the group could use the next two games to “develop a little rhythm.”
Kerr said the focus over the final 48 hours of the regular season is simple: better communication, better energy and cleaner execution. He said the Warriors need “intensity, connection defensively,” along with more talking, more communication and more aggression.
Golden State turned the ball over 19 times, and Kerr said the offense has to tighten up once more players return. “We should be able to do a better job of taking care of the ball and executing,” he said.
One bright spot was Charles Bassey, who posted another double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Kerr called him “very impressive” and said the center has embraced the role the team promised him when it signed him.
“He’s played really well for us,” Kerr said. “Very active on the glass and nice scoring touch in the paint.”
Kerr also praised Al Horford’s growing voice in the locker room, saying veteran leadership has helped steady the group during a chaotic stretch. He said Horford’s presence stands out because “he’s a professional” who “has a sense for saying the right thing at the right time.”
The Warriors are trying to use the final two games to prepare for whatever matchup comes next in the play-in bracket. Kerr said the staff is already working to mimic different coverages so the team will be ready, regardless of opponent.
“We’ll be ready,” he said, but added that the more immediate priority is finding a cleaner, more connected version of Golden State over the next two nights.
The loss left the Warriors needing help to climb out of the No. 10 spot in the West, while Golden State also absorbed another injury scare when LJ Cryer left with a sprained ankle.
