Got a fussy Warriors fan friend or family member who keeps saying, “We need a big man!” after every offensive rebound our squad gives up? Tired of trying to cheer him up with no results?
Introducing the Steve Kerr random pregame from Utah!
Just recite the quote from Coach below and watch as your friend’s brain finally starts cranking. Watch the light bulb flicker and flicker and finally turn on, albeit dimly!
Say goodbye to oblivious stubborn friends of the We Need A Big Man Brigade and hello to an actual knowledgeable Dubs fan!
Under-the-radar Kerr interviews, because it’s what it takes sometimes to snap people out of it and clean up the mildew in DubNation!
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Reporter in Utah: Steve, Steph’s movement half-court, is so unique, league-wide. I’m wondering, what’s the difference between teaching younger inexperienced NBA players how to play with Steph, versus someone like Buddy, or someone else that has experience and kind of has locked into an NBA way of playing, to play with Steph?
Kerr: Yeah, I mean, Steph is so unique that even vets have to get used to it. And what makes him so unique is obviously the on- and off-ball skill. And — but it’s what happens after the play that you have to recognize when you’re playing with Steph. And the biggest thing, honestly, is once he gives up the ball, you just have to be aware of his action because if he’s running towards you, just go set a screen for him. And oftentimes it’ll end up where you get a layup out of it because two guys will jump out at him. So it takes a little while for guys to get used to it because he is so unique. There’s nobody like him. But we’ve really been targeting guys who have that feel. We always feel like one of the strengths of our team in our heyday was, the IQ guys like Andre Iguodala, Shaun Livingston, David West, Zaza. These guys all had great feel and they adapted to that stuff very quickly.
I will discuss Trayce Jackson-Davis and Brandin. Podziemski’s podium visits at a later date, and include their transcript in that article. The entire transcripts are already available on our YouTube channel.
00:00 STEVE KERR (PREGAME): Our staff was just shocked by the news of Amir Abdur-Rahim at South Florida today. Brother of Shareef who was a guy I played against for many years and who’ve — I’ve known him for a long time. President of the G League and just devastating news for for that family. And so with everybody, with the Warriors, we’re sending our condolences to Amir’s family.
00:26 Tragic news.
00:27 Same starters?
00:28 Yeah.
00:31 De’Anthony good to go?
00:34 I believe so. What’d you think — what’d you think defensively the other night?
00:43 Overall or — ? Yeah, not bad. I thought energy was great. I mean, guys are really competing and trying. We made a few mistakes, but I thought the effort was there and that’s obviously the main thing about transition defense. I thought it was a focal point.
01:03 But what did you think of your defense specifically in that area?
01:05 Yeah, not bad. I mean, we’re really making a point of sprinting both ways every possession, not taking a possession off. And that’s one of the benefits of playing a lot of people, is you can demand that and and our guys responded well.
01:19 The 12-man rotation, how much can you script out pregame versus have to work on the fly in game?
01:28 Well, we scripted and then it just depends. Like the other night, Moses got three fouls right away and we would have kept him out there longer. And so we adjust it on the fly, but we always — we always have a script and then, adapt from there.
01:44 This is probably not new, but I love the statistical anomaly. So you’re the fastest team with anyone in the league in doing action, and yet your possessions are above average in length. How do you — and this may have been 10 years ago — how did you get that into the team that, like, we’re getting into it, but we’ve got a process that we’re getting through it each time?
02:04 First of all, I never heard that before. So that’s good. That’s — I’m glad that — I’m glad that that’s what we’re doing. We’re just trying to get the ball up the floor quickly. And then we’ve sort of put in some new stuff trying to generate a little more organization. I think in the past we’ve played more out of chaos and we’re trying to be a little more organized now and — but the idea is and, I mean, I think everybody knows this at this point, the quicker you get the ball up the floor, the easier it is to attack. But that doesn’t give us license to take lousy shots, unless your name is Steph, then you shoot any shot you want. But I think that’s that’s the plan, is to really push and then be more organized and more purposeful this year than we have been the last couple of years.
02:56 Steve, Steph’s movement half-court, is so unique, league-wide. I’m wondering, what’s the difference between teaching younger inexperienced NBA players how to play with Steph, versus someone like Buddy, or someone else that has experience and kind of has locked into an NBA way of playing, to play with Steph?
03:15 Yeah, I mean, Steph is so unique that even vets have to get used to it. And what makes him so unique is obviously the on- and off-ball skill. And — but it’s what happens after the play that you have to recognize when you’re playing with Steph. And the biggest thing, honestly, is once he gives up the ball, you just have to be aware of his action because if he’s running towards you, just go set a screen for him. And oftentimes it’ll end up where you get a layup out of it because two guys will jump out at him. So it takes a little while for guys to get used to it because he is so unique. There’s nobody like him. But we’ve really been targeting guys who have that feel. We always feel like one of the strengths of our team in our heyday was, the IQ guys like Andre Iguodala, Shaun Livingston, David West, Zaza. These guys all had great feel and they adapted to that stuff very quickly.
04:18 What does Lauri’s ability to space the floor and his size do for you guys’ defense, especially the frontcourt with Draymond and Trayce?
04:25 Yeah, he’s the head of the snake for sure. He’s a great, great player and we have to be in him right from the beginning. We can’t lose him. he’s too good. So that’s — he is the focal point for us tonight.
04:42 Coach, you and Will Hardy were both under Coach Pop, Olympics in Tokyo. And also, Will was there at training camp this summer as well. Are you able to speak a little on your relationship?
04:51 Yeah, Will and I have become good friends. We got really close during the World Cup ’19 and then the Olympics that were postponed to ’21. And then I wanted him back this past summer for the Vegas portion of coaches’ meetings. He’s got a lot of FIBA experience now and I’m a huge fan. I just think Will is a star and I think he’s one of the brightest coaches in the league. He’s obviously coaching a young team that — he hasn’t been able to really show what he can do yet as a coach, I think, because we’re all dependent on talent and and what we have at our disposal. And the Jazz have been in rebuilding mode since he got here. So he’s got a lot of great years ahead of him, and I’m sure things are gonna get a lot better.
05:46 You watch Klay last night?
05:48 I didn’t watch much of the game, but I saw the highlights.
05:52 I mean, number one, is it strange to see him in that uniform into what you think?
05:57 I mean, obviously, yeah, I mean, it is strange to see him in that uniform and even wearing 31 is weird. But really happy for him. I want nothing but the best for Klay, except when they’re playing us. Obviously we want to win that game, but I’m always pulling for Klay and great to see him playing well and seemingly really comfortable and happy. So it’s great.
🫶💙💛