Perk believes distraction-free Warriors have found an identity originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Kendrick Perkins likes what he has seen from the Warriors this season.
The outspoken ESPN analyst believes that Golden State is playing without any distractions and with a lot of energy.
“The Jordan Poole-Draymond Green situation was a distraction for the Warriors,” Perkins said Wednesday on “NBA Today.” “Last year, the whole up-and-down rollercoaster with Klay Thompson was a distraction. For the first time in a long time, Steve Kerr has entered the NBA season without any distractions. And a team full of vets and guys who look like they’ve lost themselves in the team.
‘That’s what you want. Again, if you want to go 13-deep and it works for him, I’m not going to question him…. It’s okay to have competition in the locker room. As long as it’s good competition and it’s healthy. Look, I like the way the Warriors are playing right now. Their energy is contagious in a wonderful way.”
With an improved offense and punishing defense, the 4-1 Warriors are one of the surprises in five games of the 2024-2025 NBA season. Much of that win happened without Steph Curry, who remains sidelined with an ankle injury.
Offseason additions Buddy Hield, Lindy Waters III and Kyle Anderson are the difference makers for the team, able to unleash a barrage of three-pointers at will.
Golden State’s front office was confident entering the season that it had built a deep roster full of role players who would excel in coach Steve Kerr’s system, and that’s what happened. The bench is averaging 59.0 points per game, the highest in the NBA.
Based on how well the bench has played this season, Perkins is right to say Golden State has found its identity. Timely shooting and suffocating defense will be a necessity for the team to make a deep playoff run in the rugged Western Conference.
Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast
