If you listened closely after the Warriors’ latest collapse, you could almost hear it—the sound of Steve Kerr second-guessing himself.
Because while Golden State fans were still trying to process how their team gave up 17 more rebounds, lost an overtime game they led late, and dropped into the play-in tournament, Kerr added another gut-punch: “I thought we missed Gui Santos the other night.”
It wasn’t just a passing comment. It was a coach looking back and wondering if the one player who might’ve helped clean the glass—the guy who’d been their highest plus-minus player over the last two months—should’ve been on the floor. Instead, Gui Santos watched from the bench as Ivica Zubac ate the Warriors alive inside.
This is what makes the Warriors’ current situation so uniquely tense. They’re not just one bad break away from trouble—they’re one regrettable decision away from an early vacation. The 124-119 overtime loss to the Clippers wasn’t just about size. It was about stubbornness.
Kerr, in the biggest regular season game of the year, shortened his rotation. Jonathan Kuminga—who dropped 34 and 10 against the Clippers in December—never left the bench. Gui Santos, who’s quietly turned into one of Golden State’s best energy and rebounding guys, didn’t get a look either.
The result? A 25-rebound night for the entire Warriors roster, compared to 42 for the Clippers. Zubac had 17 by himself. Draymond, Jimmy Butler, and Moses Moody combined for just three. Kerr later admitted he was chasing continuity. “Since Jimmy got here, we’ve found a group we’re comfortable with.” But comfort, as it turns out, doesn’t get you boards in April!
Worse, it left fans—and maybe even Kerr—wondering whether the Warriors’ small-ball identity is worth sticking to when the game clearly demanded something else.
The Warriors now face the eighth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Conference Play-In. Win, and they get the seventh seed and a matchup with Houston. Lose, and they’re one game from elimination, with the Thunder waiting. It’s a brutal spot to be in, especially considering the Clippers’ loss was preventable. Especially because Kerr’s post-game honesty suggested he knows it.
“I thought we missed Gui Santos the other night.”
Strong hint from Steve Kerr that he regrets giving Gui a DNP when talking about the Warriors getting outrebounded by 17 in their loss to the Clippers
— Dalton Johnson (@DaltonJ_Johnson) April 16, 2025
And the Warriors won’t just be battling their opponent on Tuesday. They’ll be battling doubt. They’ll be battling fatigue. And they’ll be battling their own decisions. Moses Moody, who was questionable with back spasms, will suit up. But just his presence won’t fix the frontcourt issue. And it won’t ease the pressure Kerr’s under.
Moody has been a steady two-way presence all season—solid from deep, reliable on the perimeter, and slowly becoming one of the few players Kerr consistently trusts in high-pressure moments. He’s earned that role. But the timing of his injury couldn’t have been worse. Back spasms are unpredictable, and while he’s cleared to play, his effectiveness remains a question. The Warriors can’t afford another step slow. Not in a one-game showdown.
His minutes, and how Kerr manages them, might just decide the game. Because the conversation around this team—and around its coach—is changing. Fast.
Kerr’s Margin for Error Is Shrinking—and Memphis Isn’t Just Any Opponent
This isn’t just about one play-in game. This is about a franchise trying to prove it still has juice—and a coach trying to prove he’s still the right one to squeeze it. Steve Kerr’s rotation choices this year have already drawn heat. His postgame admission only turned it up. Fans weren’t subtle: Why bench Gui? Why ice out Kuminga?
Sure, Jimmy Butler’s arrival reshaped the rotation. But this team’s Achilles heel—rebounding—was never a secret. So why bench your best hustle guy when you’re getting crushed on the boards?
That question doesn’t go away if they beat Memphis. It becomes louder if they don’t. And the Grizzlies are not coming in cold. Ja Morant is back. Jaren Jackson Jr. is rested. Zach Edey is a seven-foot-four rebounding machine who’ll be waiting in the paint. This isn’t a warm-up. This is a war.
The Warriors need size, energy, and clarity. And that means Kerr needs to make peace with unpredictability. Gui might foul. Kuminga might gamble. But at least they’ll give you a chance on the glass.
Oct 30, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Gui Santos (15) smiles on the bench in the fourth quarter against the New Orelans Pelicans at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images
Steph Curry will do what he does—he always does. But he can’t box out Edey. He can’t carry the rebounding load. And he can’t answer every question Steve Kerr left lingering in the Clippers loss.
The Warriors’ postseason fate rests on a single game. And with it, so might the future of Steve Kerr in Golden State. For a team with dynasty DNA, the past only buys so much goodwill. Tuesday’s game won’t just decide seeding. It could decide narratives.
For Kerr. For Gui. For Moody. For a roster that’s still figuring itself out. And maybe—just maybe—it’ll prove that regret has no place in April basketball. Stay tuned.
The post Steve Kerr Makes Regretful Confession as Warriors Hit With Surprise Blow Ahead of Play-in Battle Against Grizzlies appeared first on EssentiallySports.
