After an impressive win against the Cavaliers on Monday, Warriors coach Steve Kerr is getting a bit greedy.
He says the next stretch of games provide an opportunity to finally gain some momentum. Here’s Kerr’s quote and a rundown of the next few opponents’ records, per Anthony Slater of The Athletic.
After further review, it appears Slater included the Cavaliers on this list, as the first team. So consider that one in the bank. The next four teams are the Heat at home, then the Magic, Hornets and Knicks on the road. Additionally, the Warriors will close the four game road trip at Indiana (14-14).
But as for the teams Kerr is eyeing: the Heat are better than their record indicates, though they’ll be without Goran Dragic and others. The Warriors already beat the Magic in San Francisco. The Hornets are a young improving team led by rookie LaMelo Ball, and could be a bit of a wild card. As for the Knicks, Golden State lost to them at home earlier in the season.
Kerr is confident, and he should be, with Stephen Curry playing other-worldly basketball for the last dozen games or so. But these games won’t be easy. His team has yet to prove they can be more than a fringe playoff squad, failing to win even three games in a row despite multiple opportunities. They’ve wasted too many of Curry’s brilliant performances on their way to a 15-13 record.
Plus, the Warriors are still without centers James Wiseman and Kevon Looney, leaving them without an available center, at least against the Heat and maybe longer.
But Kerr is feeling good. Seeing the quality ball-movement against the Cavs must have added to the good vibes. It must be noted that Cleveland was on the last game of a long road trip and playing a back-to-back. Still, momentum has been hard to come by the year for the Warriors, and Kerr is ready to pounce.
What do you think? Is this as good of an opportunity as Kerr says? Or will the Warriors fail once again to put a distance between their wins and losses? First up, a date with the Heat in San Francisco on Wednesday night before hitting the road.
(Photo credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)
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