UPDATE: The Golden State Warriors are grappling with a critical rebounding issue following a tense 127-123 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers at Chase Center on November 17, 2023. This defeat exposed the Warriors’ vulnerabilities, particularly in size and athleticism, as they struggled against the Blazers’ towering lineup.
Despite the Warriors’ reputation for skillful play, the Blazers showcased that sometimes brute strength is the winning strategy. Golden State, missing key player Al Horford due to hamstring tightness, was dominated on the boards, conceding an alarming 21 offensive rebounds and a staggering 28 second-chance points throughout the game.
Coach Steve Kerr expressed his frustration in a post-game statement, highlighting the stark reality of the situation.
“That’s the game,”
Kerr asserted.
“A lot of them turned into 3-pointers… 28-10 second chance points. So that’s the game.”
The Warriors, now holding a record of 9-9, often found themselves undersized on the court, especially as Jonathan Kuminga missed his fifth consecutive game. Kerr’s strategy of utilizing 6-7 players like Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green at power forward failed to compensate for the height disadvantage against Blazers’ 7-3 Donovan Clingan and 6-11 Robert Williams.
As the season progresses, the Warriors have ranked 21st in rebounds per game, making their rebounding woes increasingly concerning. Kerr emphasized the need for the team to adopt a more physical style of play:
“We know we’re small out there at times, but we got to play bigger than we are,”
said Steph Curry, who stands at 6-3.
With a busy schedule of five games in 12 days ahead, Kerr hopes that improved practice time will address these pressing issues. He noted that the compact schedule has limited their practice opportunities, but now they have time to focus on adjustments.
Looking ahead, the Warriors are considering shifting their lineup to incorporate Quinten Post for added size. Kerr stated, “We’ll just have to get a good gauge on our team here during this coming week, watch the film, and see if that’s something we want to do.”
As the Warriors prepare to face the Utah Jazz, Houston Rockets, and New Orleans Pelicans this week, fans will be watching closely to see if these changes can turn their season around. The urgency for improvement is palpable, and the next few games could be pivotal for the Warriors’ championship aspirations.
Stay tuned for more updates as the Warriors work to address their rebounding crisis in the coming days.
