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OAKLAND – There are games that do not need to be immediately forgotten, as was the case on Thursday night for the Warriors, who, after being demolished by the Milwaukee Bucks, had to clean up a lot of rubble before leaving Oracle Arena.
They lost their winning streak that ended at eight o'clock. They lost one game by 23 points, 134-111, the second-worst home defeat in four seasons or more with coach Steve Kerr.
We had to dig deep enough to discover two positive aspects and two disadvantages, while excluding the loss of Stephen Curry, which goes without saying. His MRI results were clear, but he will miss at least Saturday's game against Brooklyn.
In this case, however, we must start with the bad:
NEGATIVE
They were annihilated in and in transition
That the warriors have been overwhelmed (46-38) is not a surprise. Milwaukee is the best rebound team in the NBA. But the Warriors were also outmatched and had paint on both ends.
The Bucks recorded a huge 20-4 advantage in quick points and a crushing advantage of 84-34 in painted points – the worst differential of the Kerr era. They shot 70% inside, against 54.8% for the Warriors.
Milwaukee goaltender Malcolm Brogdon acknowledged that the team had benefited from the absence of Draymond Green.
"He's the driving force, especially in defense," he said. "He is underestimated in terms of presence, value to the team, what he does in painting, his activity and his defense."
Pretty true. But the Warriors certainly expected more than they had great men, Damian Jones, Jordan Bell, who debuted for Green, Kevon Looney and Jonas Jerebko.
They lacked effort
The Warriors have lost almost all physical battles, that is, 50-50 bullets and rebounds, attack aggression or the spirit of defense, One of the great sins of basketball, to see many of their players being shoved.
"I think we've become a little complacent," Kerr said. "We have won the last eight games and we feel very good about ourselves. And it was only one of those nights.
The Warriors led by four (21-17) seven minutes after the start of the game, lost the lead 80 seconds later and never saw him again. They were 13 at the half, 26 after three quarters. Milwaukee played basketball inspired and the Warriors lowered their heads.
"The best feature of this team is that we always bounce back," Thompson said. "We are going on Saturday. I guarantee it.
A return game is necessary because the next opponent, the Nets, will win the warriors everything they have.
POSITIVE
They are not burned deep
The Bucks entered the game at the top of the league with an average of 15.6 points per game. They made 16 while they lost in Portland on Tuesday and 22 in Sacramento on Sunday.
They only managed nine, equaling their season low against the Warriors in 35 attempts.
Going 9 points out of 35 from the depth and winning by 23 points is a testament to the huge command the Bucks had in this game. Who needs 3s to own the paint and get to the edge in transition?
Cook cleans too. . . in the trash
Third-place playmaker Quinn Cook did not play a single minute in three of the first 11 games of the season, although first substitute Shaun Livingston was injured.
In 72 minutes of October, Cook had 4 points out of 12 beyond the bow. In 38 minutes of November, it's 7-on-10. He scored 15 points, with 3 shots on 5 deep, against the Bucks – all in the fourth quarter during which the Warriors never approached the 19-point mark.
A shot can be a delicate task, especially when the minutes are so sporadic. But seeing Cook's 3-balls pass through the net is a wonderful thing for the Warriors and perhaps the most encouraging sight of all on a night when nothing has gone well.
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