What’s wrong with the West?
The Warriors said all the right things after their comeback win over the Celtics last month. It was supposed to be their springboard to a run at the Western Conference title. Klay Thompson was playing better. Trayce JacksonDavis and Brandin Podziemski were promising rookies, and the Warriors were waiting for the return of Draymond Green, who remains suspended after his latest violent act on court.
But since a Dec. 23 win over Portland, the Warriors have lost four of five, including an embarrassing home loss to the Nuggets when Nikola Jokic banked in a 39-footer at the buzzer. The Warriors led by 18 points with less than seven minutes left and then melted.
The Warriors are in last place in the Pacific Division, and there’s dissension in the organization regarding how coach Steve Kerr is handling playing time for younger players, specifically Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody.
The plan for the Warriors five years ago was to continue their stellar run by cultivating younger players to help Stephen Curry, Thompson, and Green. But that plan has failed miserably. Former second overall pick James Wiseman, who was drafted over LaMelo Ball, never worked out and was eventually traded to the Pistons, for whom he is a backup center.
Jordan Poole was considered a rising star and was critical to the Warriors’ NBA Finals win over the Celtics two years ago, but he was punched in the face by Green in a practice last preseason and was never the same player. He was traded to the Wizards.
Kuminga and Moody remain, but Kerr has been erratic with their playing time. Kuminga scored 16 points in 19 minutes against the Nuggets but was benched midway in the third quarter and did not return. Reports have surfaced regarding Kuminga’s lack of faith in Kerr.
Thompson, 33, has played better of late but is not the same scorer or defensive player since missing two years because of injuries. Green has been undergoing therapy for his emotional outbursts and it’s uncertain how effective he’ll be when he returns.
Curry is still playing at an All-Star level but isn’t getting any help. Considering how quickly the Warriors have declined, it’s even more astounding they were able to overwhelm the Celtics in the Finals two years ago.
This could be Kerr’s last season, and he may not be the only one out the door with Thompson a free agent at season’s end and Green in a rapid downturn.
Meanwhile in Los Angeles, the Lakers have been a mess since winning the In-Season Tournament as they fell under .500 with a listless home loss Wednesday to the Heat. What’s distressing about the Lakers’ slump is it has happened despite the good health of LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
The superstars have combined to miss only five games.
A team that was expected to contend with the Nuggets and Timberwolves in the West looks uninterested in stretches, while the supporting cast has been disappointing at best. The Lakers are a solid defensive club that has trouble scoring, with 3-point shooting being an issue for years.
Without a quality shooter, the Lakers go through scoring droughts, and James isn’t spry enough at 39 to consistently carry his team as he did in his prime. There have been reports the players are annoyed with coach Darvin Ham regarding his rotations. Ham continues to place the blame on injuries to that supporting cast.
The Lakers signed Gabe Vincent from the Heat to be their point guard, but he’s played in only five games because of knee issues. Key defender Jarred Vanderbilt has missed 21 games because of injuries.
Patience is short in Los Angeles because of James’s age. General manager Rob Pelinka may have to move players he signed in the offseason, such as D’Angelo Russell or Rui Hachimura ,to acquire another quality scorer, such as Zach LaVine.
The Lakers were expected to thrive during their current homestand, but they face a difficult schedule and an inconsistent roster that has been a disappointment. Look for the Lakers to make a major deal over the next few weeks, with LaVine their primary target.
Layups
Nearly 29 years after he abruptly left for a $126 million (big money then) free agent contract with the Lakers, the Magic have decided to retire Shaquille O’Neal’s No. 32. O’Neal spent four dominant seasons with the Magic and took the club to the 1995 NBA Finals, but he left in his prime and the franchise suffered until drafting Dwight Howard in 2004. With O’Neal’s jersey retirement, there are only two NBA franchises that have no retired numbers — the Clippers and Raptors. The Raptors could retire Vince Carter’s No. 15 if he’s elected for August induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame, but like O’Neal, Carter departed Toronto under difficult circumstances when he asked to be traded. Carter has made amends with the franchise and was given standing ovations after returning with other teams. Carter is credited with helping popularize basketball in Canada and was the franchise’s first superstar. Since he’s likely retired, Blake Griffin could be the first Clipper to see his number raised to the rafters of their new arena. Griffin was the 2009 No. 1 overall pick who averaged 21.6 points and 9.3 rebounds in eight seasons with Los Angeles. He also made five consecutive All-Star appearances. But like O’Neal and Carter, he left under strained circumstances when he was traded to the Pistons after signing a long-term extension. Griffin played with the Celtics last season . . . The Nets were the first team to feel the wrath of the NBA’s player participation policy when they were fined $100,000 for resting several starters after the first quarter and playing second- and third-unit players in the fourth quarter of a competitive Dec. 27 game against the
Bucks. The team’s reasoning was to rest in preparation for a long West Coast trip. Despite the Nets lacking All-Stars or All-NBA players, who would need a legitimate excuse to sit out a nationally televised game, the Nets’ act was considered so egregious that it warranted a fine. The Nets pushed the Bucks deep into the fourth quarter before losing. Brooklyn entered Friday having lost five in a row and eight of 10.