When the Warriors' season came to an abrupt end with a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies in the Play-In Tournament last week, head coach Steve Kerr deemed it to be a success. Though Golden State didn't get to where it wanted to be, Kerr had seen enough positives to label it a productive campaign on the whole.
Whether or not the season was a success is a matter of personal opinion. On one hand, the Warriors finished the regular season on a high note, Steph Curry reaffirmed his status as arguably the best player on the planet, and a few players established themselves as members of the core moving forward. On the other, a team that had finalists for MVP and Defensive Player of the Year did not qualify for the playoffs.
On Monday, Warriors President of Basketball Operations Bob Myers straddled that line.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
"How you lose sometimes builds a foundation to winning," Myers told reporters via videoconference. "Doesn't excuse not making the playoffs. Doesn't mean we're happy. But I do like what that locker room looked like in a loss, and what that last month or so looked like, and those last few games. Again, shouldn't please my owner, shouldn't please our fans, shouldn't please our players, shouldn't please me. But, like you said, some positives, and certainly dealing with the truth of not making the playoffs is something we can't escape."
RELATED: Myers, Kerr confident Steph will sign contract extension
Indeed, the Warriors currently are facing a humbling reality. Even if it was a "success" in certain ways, this past season was not good enough, and they can't afford a repeat next season. Both Myers and Kerr said as much Monday, setting up a critical offseason in which Golden State figures to be quite busy.
It will require an honest assessment of where the Warriors are, and what changes are necessary to get them where they want to go. Facing the truth of how they arrived at this point is the first step in that process.
