The Golden State Warriors were leading the West Conference despite losing their last game. Heading back home last night, they were facing the Brooklyn Nets. But Steph Curry and his teammates led the Nets by 18 points early in the 3rd quarter, until Steve Kerr called a timeout.
The multiple championship-winning head coach saw his leading superstar play his part in a turnover that led to an easy Nets bucket. Frustrated with that, Kerr decided to give Curry some rest with a little over four minutes left in the quarter. But that rest went all the way up until halfway through the fourth.
By that time, the Brooklyn Nets rebounded from the deficit and took the lead—a stunning turnaround considering that they did not have some of their starters and still managed to outscore the Warriors. Then with Curry and Draymond Green back into the lineup, the game saw some normalcy.
Whenever the Nets threatened to increase their lead, Steph Curry and his teammates scored to keep it close. However, the Nets had youth, a confident bench and pace that helped them keep the lead. At the end, the Nets embarrassed the Warriors 128-120 at their home.
The home squad did not have Jonathan Kuminga and it showed in their bench production. Of late, the spark seems to be missing once the starters sit and has cost them their last game. With Steph Curry sitting for almost nine minutes, that lack of production showed its ugly side.
Warriors blew an 18-pt lead to Nets at home 😳
Entering Monday, the Warriors had won 24 consecutive games when leading by at least 18 points. pic.twitter.com/XvPhP5TFCD
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) November 26, 2024
This makes it the first time the Bay Area franchise has lost two games in a row this season. That also meant that they relinquished their lead in the West. Fans wonder what would have happened had Steve Kerr rotated his players more efficiently.
Fans unload on Steve Kerr and Warriors for humiliating loss
The rotation in the first half saw Moses Moody score 12 points in the second quarter. But all he saw in the second half was just four minutes. Then Trayce Jackson-Davis played only 17 minutes despite the need for an interior protector in that Brooklyn Nets rally. But most importantly, their biggest star sitting nine minutes was the icing on the cake.
Fans noticing this went scorched earth on social media. They felt the game was lost because Steve Kerr could not handle his rotation well. This and examples of other comments condemning the Warriors are as follows:
Warriors lead the Nets by 18 points with just over 8 minutes left in the 3rd quarter. Steve Kerr then sat Steph Curry for the next 9 minutes of game time.
Threw the game away. pic.twitter.com/22MoChYpMD
— Steph Curry Muse (@StephMuse_) November 26, 2024
Losing to Cam Thomas and friends, don’t waste Steph’s 3rd prime 💔
— Follow HeavenlyBuckets (@heavenlybuckets) November 26, 2024
This is what happens when you bench Steph and Dray for 8 minutes in the second half 😂
— benny (@bennybnb_) November 26, 2024
This was a coaching error; no way a normal staff saw that 3rd-4th quarter and didn’t put your starters back in
— abtlastnite (@abtlastnite) November 26, 2024
Kerr should definitely start Moody more instead of putting Podz in—dude just isn’t getting it done.
— Do you know? (@zazulfiqar786) November 26, 2024
Ty Lue saw the opposing team go on a 5-0 run immediately calls a timeout while Kerr let the nets take the lead and still keeps the bench in 😂
— Wardrei48 (@Wardrei67) November 26, 2024
Damn warriors blowing big leads left & right
— Edmond Hunter (@_IamDeandre_) November 26, 2024
the nets aren’t even a bad team but the warriors got to stop dropping big leads it’s so annoying https://t.co/FjkGk0pAIB
— $wi$h (@swishreacts) November 26, 2024
The Golden State Warriors have what it takes to be one of the favorites to fight for an NBA title. However, these errors of judgement, along with inefficient play, are hampering those chances. With 65 games left to play, time is on their side. But the West is competitive, and one can slip out of contention very easily.
