Clearly, the Golden State Warriors have seen better days. The Warriors currently sit in 8th position in the Western Conference with a 10-10 record. And after their most recent NBA Cup loss to the Houston Rockets, frustrations have reached an all-time high.

It is always thrilling when the Warriors and Rockets go head-to-head. The rivalry also has a recent chapter in its history, provided by their matchup in the first round of the playoffs last season. That series had gone on for seven games, with the Warriors eventually clinching it. Of course, this season’s Rockets team is stronger thanks to the addition of Kevin Durant.

However, Durant didn’t suit up in the NBA Cup game. And he wasn’t the only Rockets player who did not play. Big man Steven Adams was on the sideline as well. On paper, it seemed like the Warriors had an advantage. Instead, sophomore guard Reed Sheppard exploded on his way to a career-high 31 points and led Houston to a 104-100 victory.

The energy surrounding the Warriors was quite gloomy following the loss. The feeling of dejection was quite similar to how it was after losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder earlier this month.

Veteran Draymond Green had notably called out some members of the team after the defeat against OKC. He did the same thing again, but included himself as one of the culprits.

“The only way the team thing is gonna work is if we take on individual challenges,” Green said. “Right now, we are individually, and I know everybody likes to twist words. I said, We are f****** individually awful.”

Green wasn’t the only person on the Warriors roster to take the self-criticism route. Jimmy Butler didn’t hold back either while assessing Golden State’s effort 20 games into the season.

“We don’t box out, we don’t go with the scouting report. We let anybody do whatever they want – open shots, get into the paint, free throws. It’s just sad,” Butler said.

Steve Kerr’s post-game words just reiterated the gravity of the situation. The Warriors’ head coach strayed away from optimistic delusion. “You are what your record says you are. We’re 10-10. We’re an average team,” Kerr said.

Of course, this isn’t the ceiling the team nor Kerr thinks the Warriors are capable of. Just a few months ago, before Curry’s injury, this team seemed like a serious Western Conference Finals contender. And Kerr still sees hope at the end of the tunnel. “I think we have potential,” he sighed.

The course of action ahead is pretty clear for the Warriors. If they want to compete among the best of the West, they will need to turn things around ASAP.