Kerr believes Warriors need an ‘a-ha moment’ as Steph originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – Two days after making critical postgame comments that seemed aimed at Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski, Warriors coach Steve Kerr doubled down and said his message was intended for the entire Golden State roster.
“It was really for our team, especially our young guys,” Kerr said Monday at Chase Center before the Warriors’ game against the Indiana Pacers. “I met those two guys during the game. I met other guys during the season. The message was actually for our entire team.”
The message, in its simplest form, was this: stop taking shots early in the shot clock and make it a point to keep superstar shooter Stephen Curry in the mix.
Kerr’s comments came after the Warriors’ 113-103 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday. In that game, Curry had a monstrous fourth quarter as he scored 13 of his game-high 31 points, including 11 in a row during one period as Golden State took control.
Podziemski reacted strangely to Kerr’s comments and he was forced to clarify his comments with a social media post on Sunday.
Leaning on Curry has been a no-brainer for years, but it’s something this year’s version of the Warriors has gotten rid of.
After seeing things finally come together against Wolves, Kerr felt it was the right time to address the issue.
“There has to be an a-ha moment,” Kerr said. “For example, this is our team, we have Steph Curry, he is the best shooter of all time. He thrives on off-ball stuff. That’s why we pass the ball. We just have to make sure we are purposeful in our offensive execution.”
Kerr continues to have confidence in his younger players and sees this as a stepping stone for both.
“One of the things I talked to Podziemski about is serving other players,” Kerr said. “He’s a typical second-year player, trying to figure out who he is. He’s really talented. He can do a lot, but we almost need him to do less. Just serve other people. Be that player that everyone loves to play with because you are constantly looking for him or her.”
As for Kuminga, Kerr doesn’t want the young forward to shy away from shooting. The Warriors coach just wants him to make wiser decisions in the shots he takes and when he takes them.
“It’s about figuring out what’s a good photo and what’s a bad photo,” Kerr said. “It fits within the context of the game. There are times when we’re going to get that mid-distance shot, and it’s a good one.”
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