“It was just a humbling night all around,” said Steve Kerr after the Memphis Grizzlies mauled them. The Golden State Warriors, fresh off acquiring Dennis Schroder, hit the court Thursday night against the Grizzlies with high expectations and plenty of buzz. By the final buzzer though, those hopes had crumbled into one of the franchise’s most disastrous defeats. It was a night to forget for Schroder, Kerr, Curry, and the rest of the Warriors.
Everyone thought with Schroder, things would certainly get better. But now they’ve lost 9 of their previous 11 matches. The return to the top of the table is growing distant for the Warriors.
Amidst all this Steve Kerr and Stephen Curry still feel this one game does not paint the complete picture of Schroder.
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After the match, reporters asked Kerr about how Schroder was incorporated into the mix, to which the Warriors HC replied, “Uh, yeah, I mean, Dennis looked like a guy on a new team, you know. I mean, it’s always very difficult to get traded mid-season and, um, play with a brand new group and have different terminology and, and all that stuff.”
Curry was also of the same opinion. The 2x MVP expressed optimism, saying, “The vibes are good.” He urged fans not to let the night’s disappointing result overshadow Schroder’s abilities, adding, “You don’t want the results of tonight to kind of paint the picture of what Dennis can do for our team.”.
He also shared his excitement about integrating Schroder into the Warriors’ system and adapting to his strengths, believing the point guard will bring valuable contributions both on and off the court.
But for now, the Warriors offense seems in shambles.
Steve Kerr’s Warriors offense has been disappointing
The Warriors’ offense has been all over the place lately, and their defense is starting to pay the price. Before their disaster against the Grizzlies, they had a sixth-ranked defense, but even that can’t hold when the offense can’t back it up. Constant turnovers and missed shots mean they’ve barely had chances to set their defense. No wonder the Grizzlies handed them one of the worst nights in franchise history.
Here’s where it gets interesting: earlier this season, De’Anthony Melton quietly made a difference in the few games he played. During his first 11 games, the Warriors put up an impressive 117.9 points per 100 possessions, ranking sixth in the league.
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After sitting out due to an ACL injury, that number nosedived to 108.8, landing them at 26th. Melton wasn’t the cure-all, but his fit within Terry Stotts’ Blocker-Mover offense gave the team a sense of direction they’ve since abandoned. Why did they scrap it? Who knows? But Kerr’s read-and-react style isn’t working like it used to.
Then came Schroder, expected to be Curry’s partner in crime. The problem? Schroder thrives on a slow, half-court, pick-and-roll game—a style that clashes with Golden State’s fast-paced flow. Sure, he drives to the hoop more than anyone on the team, but his shaky finishing isn’t helping a squad already struggling near the rim (ranking 23rd in close-range shooting).
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If they don’t adapt fast—whether it’s tweaking the offense or leaning into Schroder’s strengths—this season could spiral into chaos. And honestly, who wants that?