OAKLAND, Calif. _ Warriors coach Steve Kerr on Monday didn't necessarily agree with what Klay Thompson had to say the night before about the lack of crowd noise inside Oracle Arena in the team's loss to the Phoenix Suns. But he did recognize where his star shooting guard was coming from.
"I think I understood what he was talking about, but it's all tied together," Kerr said at the team's practice facility. "When you play well, when you play with great energy and a great pace and spirit, fans are going to be naturally more excited."
After the Warriors' 115-111 loss to the Suns on Sunday, which completed a 1-2 homestand, Thompson lamented the lack of crowd involvement, telling reporters, "I know it's not the playoffs. But it is our last go around at Oracle. Stand up or something when we make a play.
"We need that energy, especially this time of year. It's hard to conjure up energy every single night because you're looking forward to the playoffs in that run. So we expect our fans to kind of bring that from the jump."
Oracle Arena has long had a reputation as being one of the louder arenas in the NBA, particularly as the Warriors have enjoyed the best stretch in franchise history with three world championships in four seasons.
Perhaps with that success have come greater expectations among the fan base, which may be a bit nervy about the Warriors' recent play with four losses in six games. The Warriors are 24-10 at home this season after going 29-12 at Oracle last season and a combined 114-9 from 2014-2017.
"The fans were probably more excited five years ago than they are now because the journey was fresh and new, and it's different now." Kerr said. "It's different for everybody. I do know one thing: We really thrive on the energy at Oracle. The fans have helped us win at a high level, and we need them and we've got to give them more to cheer about."
On Dec. 27, the Warriors registered their 311th consecutive sellout to set a new team record, as a crowd of 19,596 saw Golden State lose 110-109 to the Portland Trail Blazers in overtime. The current sellout streak of 325 games started Dec. 18, 2012, and includes both home regular season and playoff games.
Kerr said Warriors fans have no obligation to cheer or be rowdy at all times.
"It's on the team to make it interesting, to make it compelling and I think we've done a pretty good job of that here," Kerr said. "We've been blessed to have amazing fans here in the Bay Area, so it all ties together.
"Let's put a better effort out on the floor and give our fans something to cheer for. That's how everybody gets the best of it."
The Warriors begin a four-game road trip Wednesday in Houston, and next play at Oracle on March 21 against the Indiana Pacers.
