“Golden State Warriors Left to Lament Missed Opportunities in Heartbreaking Loss”

The Golden State Warriors’ tumultuous 2022-23 season is over with a Game 6 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, leaving the defending champions lamenting over a disappointing year filled with missed opportunities. Head Coach Steve Kerr pinpointed the missed chances in Games 1 and 4 that ultimately cost them a chance to force a Game 7, while also citing missed leads in Games 3 and 6. Although the Lakers deserved the win and advanced to the Western Conference Finals, the series might have gone differently had the Warriors capitalized on their chances.

While Kerr was vocal that this Warriors team was not a championship team, it’s worth noting that the roster was riddled with both internal and external issues. Yet, it still boasted key players like Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Kevon Looney, and Jordan Poole. The optimism surrounding this Warriors team came from its external potential. This NBA season has been erratic and unpredictable, with the seventh and eighth seeds both making appearances in the Conference Finals. So, the team that wins doesn’t necessarily have to be an all-time great. You simply have to win when it matters most.

Although this was a flawed roster, Curry’s performance never wavered, driving the team towards its potential. He remains top of the league’s pantheon, a top-five player at a minimum, despite being 35 years old. Regardless of the season’s shortcomings, one can’t help but think that the franchise has wasted a prime season from their greatest-ever player.

The Warriors must re-evaluate and address the issues caused internally and externally to build a more robust and unstoppable franchise that can exploit every opportunity available. As they head into to the off-season, the Golden State Warriors need to raise their level of play, staying unbeatable in situations where they’ve had difficulties winning. Ultimately, the best team will win the championship, but winning is all that matters.