The Golden State Warriors are having trouble finding their winning form, and their recent 136-131 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers proved it. Stephen Curry scored 48 points, but the team still lost. Coach Steve Kerr explained why the Warriors can’t play like they did at the end of last season: they’re not using Jimmy Butler correctly in their offense.
Last season, the Warriors finished strong with a 23-8 record and looked nearly impossible to beat. Now, they only show that same energy once in a while. When Curry scores 48 points, and the team still loses by five, something is clearly wrong with how they’re playing.
According to Basket News, Kerr says the main problem is control. The Warriors aren’t using Butler properly, especially when Curry is resting on the bench. The smart game plan that made them so dangerous last year has disappeared. Right now, the team is playing in what Kerr calls a “random flow.” This is a major issue because the Warriors need both Curry’s scoring threat and Butler’s organized half-court play to win. Without that mix, they look messy and unorganized on the court.
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The Warriors are playing without structure and it’s costing them games
Kerr knows exactly what needs fixing. The team must take back control of the game by getting Butler the ball more often, especially when Curry isn’t playing. They need to be more careful about creating plays specifically for him. Despite Curry’s ability to make history with impressive performances, the team can’t rely on individual brilliance alone.
The coach said the team needs better organization. “We need to be more particular with getting to some sets where we know we can get him the ball,” Kerr said. Last year, they did a much better job using Butler’s skills. Kerr remembered how well things worked before, saying, “I thought we did a better job last year putting in a position to attack and create shots for people.”
Kerr gave a clear example from their 127-120 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Butler didn’t touch the ball for four straight plays when Curry was off the floor. That’s terrible use of a player who should be leading the offense when Curry sits. The frustration is evident, as one Warriors star recently spoke about unfair expectations placed on individual players.
Butler is still playing well individually, averaging 19.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in about 31 minutes across 23 games. He’s putting up solid numbers, but the team isn’t using him to help everyone else succeed. When the Warriors don’t use Butler to slow down the game and create structure, they struggle in fast-paced games like the one against Portland. They need to fix their half-court offense to become the strong team they were last season.
Published: Dec 15, 2025 05:15 pm