OKLAHOMA CITY – Whether they were staring down the Warriors-branded microphone in front of the postgame podium, or looking into space in front of their visiting team’s locker at Paycom Arena, the Warriors veterans were united in their message following the team’s galling 126-102 loss in Oklahoma City.
The team has too many individual goals, and not enough of them include doing the things the Warriors need to win.
“You have to make the personal agenda work in the team confines,” Draymond Green said from the podium. “If it doesn’t work, then you kinda gotta get rid of your personal agenda.”
Green did not specify who possessed said personal agendas after the first game of a six-game road trip that will take the team to San Antonio next. Whether it was young players such as Jonathan Kuminga or Brandin Podziemski, older veterans such as Gary Payton II or newcomer Al Horford, or the team’s established Hall of Famers, Green would not say.
A half-hour later, Jimmy Butler said the responsibility fell upon every player in the locker room.
“Everybody might have to sacrifice something,” Butler said. “I can’t tell you what that sacrifice might be for every individual, and it may be different for every individual.”
How has that lack of sacrifice and abundance of personal agendas manifested itself during a stretch in which the team has gone 2-5 after a 4-1 start?
Head coach Steve Kerr noted that the Warriors (6-6) is not playing with the same reckless energy it did to end last season, adding that the team has not played well outside of the first two weeks of the season.
“Taking care of the ball, crashing, creating good shots for each other, winning the possession battle, we’re not doing any of those things right now,” Kerr said, before shifting blame to himself. “I’ve got to do a better job, I’ve got to find the keys that can get us back to getting some confidence and rhythm back.”
The Warriors had 21 turnovers, 18 of which happened during the first three quarters when the starters played.
While Oklahoma City had 20 of them in front of a delirious home crowd, the defending champs provided a stark counter reference to the disjointed product the Warriors put out on the floor.
Despite missing three rotation players – including All-Star and Santa Clara alum Jalen Williams – the Thunder hummed along.
No Williams, Lu Dort or Aaron Wiggins? No problem. Cason Wallace, Ajay Mitchell and Brooks Barnhizer stepped in and provided incredible energy, athleticism and team-first play on both ends of the court.
For Steph Curry, it reminded him of the good old days, when the Warriors were the model franchise for that kind of basketball.
“It starts with (having great players), and having a roster that fits together,” Curry said. “Having the identity of knowing what you’re supposed to do.”
It was a level of roster and role clarity that the Warriors do not have.
“It requires some selflessness,” Green said. “Your role won’t always be what you want it to be. Who I thought I’d be coming into the NBA, and what my role turned into were two completely, drastically different things. But you have to be a star in that role.”
Buying into that role required, in Green’s mind, a level of sacrifice. What will happen if the unnamed members of the team do not buy in?
“Eventually, the agenda is the cause of someone getting rid of you,” Green said.