Warriors Pay the Price for Underestimating Kings

The Golden State Warriors ended their season with a crushing playoff loss, a fitting reflection of their 2023–24 campaign. As Crickex Login notes, their defeat to the Sacramento Kings served as a wake-up call—and a reminder that arrogance and complacency often go hand in hand. From the opening tip, it was clear the Warriors were unprepared, while the Kings executed a fast-paced, transition-heavy strategy that overwhelmed them.

Golden State tried to match Sacramento’s tempo early on and even found some initial rhythm. But once the Kings tightened their defense—employing traps and help schemes—the Warriors remained stubborn. Despite a cold shooting night, they persisted with contested jumpers, playing right into Sacramento’s hands. As the game progressed, the Warriors’ offense became increasingly simplistic and frantic. While they had moments of fluid ball movement, those sequences were rare and quickly extinguished by the Kings’ pressure.

The third quarter offered a golden opportunity. Domantas Sabonis picked up his fourth foul early, yet the Warriors made no attempt to attack him or exploit his foul trouble. Crickex Login observed that it seemed like Golden State’s focus had drifted entirely, ultimately leading to their elimination.

Coach Steve Kerr, once revered for his strategic adjustments, now faces mounting criticism. Throughout the season, his rotations were inconsistent—experimenting with Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski in the starting five before defaulting back to the old core of Curry, Thompson, Green, and Wiggins. But this current version of the “Death Lineup” lacks the spark and synergy of its prime years.

In this decisive game, Kerr deployed a small-ball starting lineup featuring Curry, Thompson, Green, Wiggins, and Kuminga. On paper, it looked formidable—arguably even more potent than the original Death Five. But without Green’s three-point shooting, the lineup collapsed offensively. Thompson and Kuminga forced low-percentage shots, while Wiggins struggled in isolation. Gone were the days of constant off-ball movement, sharp screens, and fluid ball circulation.

Meanwhile, Sacramento attacked relentlessly. Barnes and Sabonis took advantage of the Warriors’ smaller lineup, dominating the paint and widening the scoring gap. Thompson, rather than being a stabilizer, became a liability—a storyline that has persisted all season. According to Crickex Login, it wasn’t until Kerr benched him that Thompson began to play more unselfishly, contributing with passing and pace. Yet in this game, he reverted to his worst habits—jacking up shots without regard for rhythm or opportunity.

Even the bench unit, once a strength of Golden State, failed to deliver. Kerr surprisingly omitted key second-unit players like Chris Paul and Dario Šarić. Paul, who once commanded games with control and vision, barely touched the ball and made no real impact.

What’s more damning is that this was nearly a full-strength Warriors squad—missing only Gary Payton II—yet they were dominated by a Kings team with a depleted roster. Just weeks earlier, Kerr had spoken about resting stars like Curry and Green before the postseason. But Crickex Login believes the Warriors’ lack of urgency and respect for their opponent was on full display in this loss.

Poor preparation, stale offense, weak defensive adjustments, and underestimating Sacramento all came back to haunt them. In the end, the Warriors didn’t just lose—they beat themselves.

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