Warriors’ Disaster Explained: The Shocking Reasons Behind Their Collapse Against the 76ers!

Seeking to move up in the Western Conference standings, the Golden State Warriors were hungry for a win against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center.

The Warriors, who were 15-14 on the road, were winners of five straight games before tonight’s showdown but it seems they still have much to improve after the latest defeat.

The 76ers were without Joel Embiid in this one, but it didn’t matter much after a 37-25 run from Philly in the second quarter. It was all they needed to take control of the game as the Warriors didn’t have enough going offensively to close the gap down the stretch.

For the Sixers, Quentin Grimes was the MVP with 44 points, six rebounds, and one assist on 18-24 shooting (75%). Kelly Oubre Jr. dropped 20 points, two rebounds, one assist, and one steal on 46.2% shooting.

NBA veteran star Paul George finished with 17 points, eight rebounds, and four assists on 46.2% shooting.

The Warriors were led by Steph Curry, who totaled 29 points, 5 rebounds, and 13 assists in 36 minutes. Young center Quinten Post scored 16 points, nine rebounds, and one assist on 6-15 shooting.

Meanwhile, Draymond Green dropped 13 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists on an abysmal 38.5% shooting.

The 76ers are not in the best of shape right now, but even without Embiid, they have enough talent to challenge the best teams in the NBA.

Tonight, they gave the Warriors a run for their money and snapped their nine-game losing streak due to a few key variables that made the difference.

Quentin Grimes Legacy Game

The Warriors tried many defenders against Quentin Grimes tonight but nobody was able to slow him down. Grimes, who joined the Sixers in a trade with the Knicks, had the game of his life today with 43 points, six rebounds, three assists, and one block in 36 minutes.

Without Butler on the perimeter, the Warriors had limited options on the wing and Grimes exploited their weakness.

As a team, Philadelphia shot 57.6% from three, led by Grimes and Guerschon Yabusele, who went 3-4 from downtown off the bench.

While Grimes was the primary force behind the Warriors’ downfall, the entire 76ers team was in a rhythm and they were long overdue for some good fortune as losers of nine straight games.

Finally, they caught a break today with hot shooting and the Warriors had no way to keep up without their second-best player.

Draymond Green Was M.I.A.

The Warriors have trusted Draymond Green to be the anchor of their defense for a decade now, but you’d hardly know it from the game tonight.

Green, who won Defensive Player of the Year in 2017, was struggling to make his usual impact and you can tell from the final score (126 points for Philadelphia) that something went wrong.

Besides giving up open shots, getting blown by on several occasions, and fouling a three-point shooter in the final minute of the game, Dray also hurt his team with poor shooting (5-13 in 36 minutes) that dragged them down throughout the game.

With averages of 8.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game this season, Draymond still has a place on the Warriors, but he’ll need to step it up on both ends of the court to help them reach the depths of the playoffs this year.

Non-Steph Minutes Are A Problem

A recurring theme for the Warriors has been Stephen Curry being the most important member of the team. Now, more than ever before, the Warriors only go as far as Steph goes, meaning that anytime he’s off the floor they struggle to keep it together.

Tonight, in 12 minutes with Curry off the floor, the Warriors were -19 and looked completely lost offensively. Young guards like Buddy Hield and Brandin Podziemski were ice cold and it put all the pressure on Steph to carry the team.

When Jimmy Butler returns to the lineup from back spasms, it should help fix the over-reliance on Curry, but it remains to be seen if it will be enough to mount a serious title run.

At 32-28, the Dubs are now seventh in the West, just half a game back from the six-seeded Clippers. As the season winds to a close, the margin for error will become slimmer for the Warriors as they fight for a spot in the top six.

With Stephen Curry healthy and playing elite basketball, the Warriors have a chance against anyone. Butler’s presence only increases their odds of making another historic title run