On December 31st, Beijing time, the Warriors played against the Cavaliers at home, and the game ended with the Warriors losing to the Cavaliers 95-113. In this game, the Warriors' three-point shooting was only 9 out of 38, with a shooting percentage of just 33.3%. In contrast, the Cavaliers made 18 out of 47 three-pointers, including an impressive 8 out of 14 in the third quarter. When the Cavaliers were able to execute such an offensive performance, the Warriors found it difficult to keep up. To make matters worse, the Warriors also committed 14 turnovers in the game, and despite earning 26 free throw attempts, they only managed to convert 20 of them. It can be said that in this game, the Cavaliers' offense completely overwhelmed the Warriors, so the Warriors' loss was not undeserved.
In this season, Steve Kerr's player rotation has been criticized by many, especially his use of Bjelica, which has been particularly questioned. Kerr's post-game comments have once again drawn criticism. After the game, Kerr said in an interview: "I may feel better about our young players now than ever before. I mentioned a few nights ago that I think Kuminga is making a breakthrough in terms of his understanding of things. I believe Davis is also making a leap. I love Bjelica, and I like what he brings to the table: his tenacity, his toughness, and his basketball IQ." While many did not object to Kerr praising Kuminga and Davis, his praise for Bjelica was met with skepticism.
Compared to his rookie season, Bjelica has struggled this season, not only in terms of his on-court organization but also in his shooting ability, which has become even worse. Many had hoped that Bjelica's shooting would improve this season, but instead, it has deteriorated, causing him to drag down the team's spacing on the court. Despite this, Kerr continues to rely on him, leading to much criticism of Bjelica. However, for the current Warriors, losing is not terrible; what's crucial is Curry's post-game statement. After the game, Curry said: "There isn't a huge gap in the Western Conference standings. Perhaps winning 5-6 games could allow us to catch up. Although it doesn't sound easy, it is indeed possible based on our record. What's important now is that we maintain our confidence and don't lose hope."
It is clear that the Warriors are facing such a situation, and as Curry rightly pointed out, due to the fierce competition in the West, although the Warriors' ranking is low, if they can secure a winning streak, they can improve their position. Therefore, at this moment, it is most important for the Warriors not to lose confidence after a loss, especially when Curry himself has not lost confidence. This is crucial for the Warriors, as Curry's current form is also not good, leading to many questioning his severe decline this season. However, from the current perspective, Curry has not been affected by such remarks, and as long as he remains unaffected, given his abilities, he will eventually find his rhythm again.
However, it is indeed challenging for the Warriors to emerge from their current predicament. This is not only about Curry finding his form but also about Green, Wiggins, and Hield needing to regain their own form, especially Hield, whose performance was crucial for the Warriors' victories early in the season. At that time, Hield's hot three-point shooting often helped the Warriors pull away in the bench stages, but now he has lost that magical touch. As for Wiggins, he has also struggled in the game, lacking the explosive performances of the past, and Green's outside shooting has also lost its previous accuracy. Therefore, the Warriors' overall offensive strength has declined, so if the Warriors want to win games, Hield, Wiggins, and Green also need to make efforts.
