The Philadelphia 76ers beat the Golden State Warriors 113-104 at Oracle Arena on Thursday night, ending the two-time defending champions' 11-game winning streak and sending them to their first loss since DeMarcus Cousins debuted earlier this month.
It wasn't a terrible loss for the home team by any stretch. The Sixers possess three foundation talents in Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and Jimmy Butler, and Brett Brown has gotten more out of J.J. Redick than any other coach throughout the 34 year old's career. The Warriors weren't blown off the floor from the opening tip, either; they actually led by seven points at halftime.
What contributed to Golden State's downfall after intermission, then? When asked by The Athletic's Anthony Slater if Embiid's size overwhelmed the Warriors, Steve Kerr acknowledged the Philadelphia superstar's greatness, but ultimately pointed to a different problem that caused his team to lose its lead for good.
Steve Kerr: “We’re just out there launching, not playing with any mindfulness at all out there. You can’t do that in this league.” pic.twitter.com/9yAsNJp2ie
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 1, 2019
“It wasn't about a matchup,” Kerr said. “It wasn't about our play. It was about our approach to the game. I thought it was a little bit of a pickup game out there. You know, we're just out there launching, not playing with any mindfulness at all, and you can't do that in this league.”
Indeed, Golden State, playing without an ill Klay Thompson, appeared strangely discombobulated at times offensively in the second half, especially in the half court. The Warriors shot just 38.1 percent overall and 5-of-21 from three after halftime, dishing 11 assists compared to eight turnovers, a substandard ratio Kerr will surely harp on while discussing the game with his team.
The good news for Golden State? Another marquee foe comes to town on Saturday, when LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers visit Oracle Arena.
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