Warriors Shift Focus to 'Process' Amidst Lowered Expectations

Steve Kerr, head coach of the Golden State Warriors, is recalibrating the team's objectives for the upcoming season, moving away from explicit championship goals towards a focus on "process" and improved execution. This strategic shift was evident during media day, where the conversation centered on foundational improvements rather than the pursuit of a title.

"Last year I think I told the team in our first meeting, ‘we’re trying to win the championship,’" Kerr said. "What’s our goal? They all said, ‘championship.’ I think I even told them, we want a home court advantage in the playoffs." This year, Kerr stated, "I am 100% locked in on the process on how we’re teaching every single day. I firmly believe that if we do that from the beginning without even mentioning anything about expectations, then we’re going to have a good season, and that’s how I’m approaching things."

A key element of this new approach involves demanding cleaner, crisper basketball, addressing the team's standing as fourth from the bottom in giveaways last season. Kerr indicated that the previous season's leniency, where stars like Stephen Curry and Draymond Green were allowed more turnovers, will be tightened.

"Our team was built in such a way that I literally told everybody, all of you guys have to take care of the ball, they’re allowed to turn it over six times,” Kerr said. “We’ve got to tighten things up.”

This philosophical adjustment comes as the Warriors face an aging roster and increased competition, with many outlets placing them outside the top contenders. DraftKings, for example, lists 14 teams with better NBA title odds.

The team's general manager, Mike Dunleavy Jr., expressed a more tempered outlook. "First and foremost," he said, "we’re humbly optimistic about the prospect for this team."

Adding to the challenges, key players like Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody are expected to miss the initial part of the season due to injuries. Furthermore, starting center Kristaps Porzingis has been ruled out indefinitely due to health issues and will not join the team for training camp in Hawaii.

Despite these hurdles, Stephen Curry has committed to the team, signing a two-year contract extension and even taking a pay cut to provide the team with more financial flexibility. "Without knowing the answers to the test, it was my best way to study for it, if that makes sense," Curry said about his decision. "This is home. This is what we’ve built. This is a community that I’ve played in front of my entire career, and being able to finish the story the right way is a big part of I think what I can control."

Curry appeared surprised by the low external expectations, reacting with "Damn!" when a reporter suggested nobody expected them to make the playoffs. He questioned, "That’s how bad it is?"

Kerr, conversely, embraces the underdog narrative. "I don’t mind the fact that everyone is picking us to miss the playoffs. You know, that’s not a bad spot to be in as a team, as a coach," he stated. "For me what it means is we get to focus on the process."

Even before recent injuries, the Warriors struggled, holding an 8th seed in the Western Conference with a 25-19 record when Butler went down. The team's vision for the year involves improving execution in crucial moments and minimizing late-game errors. "We lost too many close games. We gave too many games away in the margins,” Kerr noted. “So the vision for this year is to clean that stuff up and build some momentum and then we get those guys back."

Draymond Green also echoed the "process" theme, drawing parallels to the team's 2022 championship run. "I hate to be cliche, but in 2022 nobody walked into that season like, ‘Hey, here’s the beginning of a championship year.’ Our process was great, which then allowed us to grow over the season and become a championship team."

Green is also expected to adapt his game, focusing more on perimeter play and taking open three-point shots. "Shooting, crashing, you know, spreading the floor for other people, dribble hand-off stuff," Kerr described. Minimizing turnovers is also a key directive for Green.

As the team navigates these changes, the emphasis on "process" appears to be the unifying factor, a controllable element as the Warriors look to redefine their season.