The Golden State Warriors suffered an embarrassing 40-point loss on their home floor to the Boston Celtics on Monday, Jan. 20. The loss is the latest stumble for the Warriors, who currently sit 11th in the Western Conference with a 21-21 record.

Eliminated by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2023 Western Conference Semifinals, Golden State then failed to make the playoffs in 2024 when it was eliminated in the Play-In Tournament. Now 21-21 and 11th in the Western Conference standings, the Warriors look far from a title contender.

I spent my Monday afternoon watching the Warriors get obliterated by the Celtics — a 40-point loss, wire-to-wire domination, and a stark reminder of just how far Golden State has fallen. One thought kept creeping into my mind: The path Boston took to become the powerhouse it is today is the exact lesson Golden State needs to learn.