Kerr abandoning Warriors' fundamental principles at worst time

The Golden State Warriors are staring at elimination for the first time in 2018 because of more than just a few untimely errors.

Facing a 3-2 series deficit against the Houston Rockets, the Warriors appear to have lost their identity at the worst possible moment. Head coach Steve Kerr continues to eschew Golden State's signature motion offense in favor of isolating Kevin Durant on the high block.

That strategy proved fruitless in Game 4 when the Warriors managed only 12 points in the fourth quarter while Durant shot 1-of-5 from the field. It failed again in Game 5, as Kerr halted his offense once more to feature a discouraged and disengaged Durant, who went 0-of-4 in the fourth.

Kerr was flippant on the podium after losing Game 5, asserting he "felt great" about the Warriors. He was even brasher when asked if he was sacrificing the rest of his offense to isolate Durant.

"Sacrifice for throwing the ball to Kevin Durant on the block? No, it's a good option to throw it to Kevin Durant in the post, a really good option," Kerr shot back.

But the answer obviously isn't as simple as Kerr makes it out to be, because the Warriors have scored just 94 and 92 points in their last two losses. They finished with a combined 32 assists in Games 4 and 5, after topping that total in 27 individual games this season.

Simply put, Durant hasn't been able to feast as Kerr suggested. Houston is pushing Durant out as far as possible, playing tight and physical with quick swipes at the ball so he can't put it on the floor, and sending a double when he spins toward the middle.

The Rockets are so thrilled to have Durant attack in isolation that they're inviting it by switching smaller players onto him, and the results don't lie - Durant is 17-of-46 from the field in his last two games.

Odds are that Durant will eventually make more shots, but he's running out of time. However, Houston will still be happy with isolation, since Durant doesn't create for his teammates. KD finished without an assist in Game 5, after recording only three in Game 4. There are no more basket cuts when Durant has the ball with his back to the rim, and the Splash Brothers are left spacing the floor so Durant can get his looks.

The Warriors have always been at their best when Stephen Curry is the featured player, and Kerr is making life easy on the Rockets by taking away the unpredictability and the chaos that won him two titles. Golden State excels when Curry is zooming on and off the ball, eliciting panic from a scrambling defense. Curry pushes the pace and gets open looks for shooters like Klay Thompson. His movement off the ball turns Draymond Green into an effective point forward. He invites double teams that become lobs on 4-on-3 advantages.

But all those advantageous actions have been sacrificed because Kerr suddenly wants to feature Durant, and the strategy is hurting the Warriors.