Warriors Furthering Reputation as NBA’s Most Underachieving Team

To be honest, Golden State’s season has been marred thus far by a plaguing ankle injury to star guard Stephen Curry. To be even more honest, that’s far from an acceptable excuse, and even if it was, what’s their reasoning behind last season’s unsuccessful story?

Yes, Curry is a great player and better facilitator than Monta Ellis, but at the same time, this team is much too talented, even without their starting point guard, to be playing itself out of relevancy this early on in the season.

Aside from Curry, the Warriors are fortunate enough to boast the likes of the severely underrated Ellis and David Lee, two stars in their own right. Ekpe Udoh has emerged as a defensive stalwart, Andris Biedrins is finally earning a hundredth of his paycheck on that end, Nate Robinson has provided a sorely needed offensive punch and Brandon Rush has proved to be a risk worth taking. So what’s the problem?

Golden State is fresh off an embarrassing loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, a game in which they led by 20 at one point in the second half. And yet, this young and talented team managed to blow it, allowing themselves to fall in the standings yet again, this time behind the ever imploding Sacramento Kings.

With every game, every blown lead and every failure, the Warriors are furthering their reputation as the NBA’s most underachieving team. The talent needed to win may be on the roster, yet the execution is not.

How is this possible? While it would be easy to attribute Golden States puzzlingly frustrating situation to an unknown phenomenon, the truth is that this Warriors team is simply too conscious of everything it does.

Ellis, while far from timid, seems all too aware of every shot he’s taking, as if he suddenly fears the selfish label that has been applied to him over the past six years. Curry is trying much too hard to get his teammates involved, which has led to numerous costly turnovers. And the rest of the team—sans Robinson—simply lacks the confidence needed to maintain a big lead.

The problem in Golden State is not that they are unwilling to evolve and improve, but that they are so cognizant of the criticism surrounding them that they are unable correct their mistakes. And while the recent Dwight Howard rumors aren’t helping any, this roster was too far inside its own head to begin with.

Curry and Ellis can co-exist. Lee can be a dominant low post player. All hope is not lost for Dorell Wright. And Mark Jackson is not a coaching bust. Talent doesn’t necessarily guarantee victories, and it amounts to even less when not accompanied by confidence.

Until the Warriors, as a whole, are able to ascertain a way to exude confidence, last place is a view they’ll have to get used to, and underachieving is a mantra they’ll have to come to terms with.