As of now, heading into Friday night’s game against Oklahoma City, the Warriors find themselves ranked 14th in offensive rating at 114.9 and 17th in net rating at +1 for the season, according to Cleaning The Glass. The team’s current standing at 10-11 places them 11th in the competitive Western Conference, raising concerns about Kerr’s impact.
In a recent 124-123 loss to the Sacramento Kings, Kerr’s questionable decision to sub out a hot-handed Moses Moody for a struggling Klay Thompson in the fourth quarter drew criticism. Moody had contributed 11 of the team’s 12 points in that quarter, prompting Kerr to admit, “Taking Moses out was a terrible move.”
Throughout the season, Kerr has been criticized for favoring struggling veterans like Thompson and Andrew Wiggins over more effective younger players such as Moody and Jonathan Kuminga. In a game against the Portland Trail Blazers, Kuminga, who played a crucial role in the victory with 13 points, was surprisingly benched until late in the third quarter.
Kerr’s lineup decisions, including frequently featuring three or four guards, have also raised eyebrows. Despite having elite point guards in Chris Paul and Stephen Curry, the Warriors rank 24th in pick-and-roll percentage at 14.2 percent. Furthermore, Kerr’s reluctance to utilize 6-foot-9 rookie big man Trayce Jackson-Davis in the rotation exacerbates the team’s lack of size, with Jackson-Davis averaging just 7.8 minutes per game.
The calls for Kerr to adapt and make strategic changes are growing louder. The Warriors, no longer enjoying the large margin for error of their dynasty seasons, need Kerr to evolve and optimize his coaching approach to secure success in the highly competitive league.