NBA 2018-19: 3 Key reasons for the Golden State Warriors' recent struggles

Not so long ago, The Golden State Warriors were off to a rampant start. They were dismantling teams for fun. Steph Curry scored 51 points in three quarters, Kevin Durant scored 25 points in the 4th quarter at the Madison Square Garden and then Klay Thompson also joined the party with a historic night of his own where he made a record-breaking 14 three-pointers and that too in only three quarters.

But things haven't been going smoothly for them in the recent matches. After a 10-1 start, they have lost five of the next seven games. They have lost four of the last five matches, going 0-3 in the Texas swing, losing to the Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks and the San Antonio Spurs. They haven't looked like the champion team that we are so used to seeing. Let's have a look at the three key factors which have led to their recent struggles.

#3 Lack of harmony and team chemistry

Recently Green had a verbal altercation with Durant at the end of the Warriors-Clippers game which led to Green being banned for one game. There have been plenty of trade speculations for both Durant and Green since then.

Durant also had an argument with one of the fans in the Mavericks game, giving further indication that 'all is not well'.

There is a lack of chemistry in the team and it is also evident from the way they have played. Constantly reaching over 30 assists per game in the earlier matches, the Warriors with great difficulty managed to crack the 20 mark in the 4 games post the altercation. There has been little ball movement in these matches and the Warriors have looked like an average NBA team.

#2 Shooting struggles

Klay and KD have struggled to shoot from outside

The Warriors are the best shooting team in basketball. They have three of the best shooters in the NBA right now. But over the past three games, they have struggled mightily in the shooting department.

Against the Rockets, none of their starters managed to hit a three which has happened for the first time in a game since 2013. Part of their shooting struggles can be attributed to Klay and Durant just missing shots that they normally would make.

Some part can also be attributed to the ball movement. There have been too many isolation plays and the ball has stuck to the hands of players rather than the ball movements that the Warriors are so accustomed to. They are not looking to take the best shots, instead, their best players are trying to take most of the shots.

But it won't take long when these players start making these shots and thus restore the Warriors' advantage over the other teams.

#1 Stephen Curry

Stephen Curry has missed the last few games due to a groin injury

The Warriors play with a system. The system has been run by Steph Curry. The two times NBA MVP is quite easily the most important player on this Warriors line up.

Never in the history of NBA has any player been guarded 50ft from the basket. That's the power of Steph Curry. Teams are so scared of him jacking down those long threes that they continuously try to double team him a long way from the basket. That creates a lot of space for his other teammates to operate and thus make them an elite offensive team.

The Warriors are 10-2 with Steph and 2-4 since his injury. They averaged 122 PPG with Steph and only 104 PPG without him, further highlighting his importance.

Steph was also having a historic season of his own before the injury. He was leading the MVP race and his shooting numbers were off the charts. The Warriors are Steph's team and they will continue to dominate once Steph Curry returns from injury.