Transcripts, notes, quotes and video of Steve Kerr and Wes Unseld, Jr. pregame before the Golden State Warriors at the Washington Wizards. Favorite part might have been the 2014 reference to Andrew Bogut, with Kerr reminding us that the foundation was already here by the time he arrived.
STEVE
Starters: “We’ll start the same way.”
Iguodala tomorrow? “Hopeful.”
Before playoffs: “…catch a little moment, get healthy…”
Poole: “…Really turned the corner last year…so much confidence…even if he starts out slow…”
Defense: “Transition and just maintaining our shell…Atlanta puts you in a lot of uncomfortable spots…Trae Young…they picked us apart…”
2:50 • Another level to get to elite back in 2014: “It was already in motion by the time I got there…building on the foundation…biggest thing I remember is Andre Iguodala’s sacrifice 🚨…everybody else kind of fell in line…Draymond took over the starting job, Klay…All-Star…Bogut was fantastic 🚨…great time to come in and coach the team.”
4:20 • Current situation similar to playing with Bulls or Spurs: “…in this particular case with the number of injuries and absences, honestly I’ve never been through a season like this as a player or as a coach…so many different moving parts…trying to lean on the veteran guys…help mentor the young guys…advance at a rapid pace to be ready for the playoffs…these last six weeks have not been easy…”
6:15 • Coming together during the playoffs as Andre had suggested to Slater? “…I’ve seen that before…I agree with Andre. That may be what we have to face…we’re capable of it…but it’s not something that we’re opting for…win as many games as possible…”
7:15 • Trae comparisons to Steph: “I don’t see the similarity actually…I see more Luka with Trae just in a smaller package 🚨 fifty high screen and rolls…I don’t think anybody can compare to Steph in terms of what he does for us…”
8:50 • JK and Moody: “…a lot of guys go to teams where they can make mistakes…accountable to older teammates…”
9:50 • Kuminga: “You could see the first day of camp…he hardly had any experience…that’s why he didn’t play much…improved his communication with his teammates…absorb the lessons…” 🚨
10:50 • Play-in not knowing first round opponent: “…usually the season tends to go down to the wire…once we find out we go into a deep dive…”
12:15 • Bjelica: “Yeah Beli is one of our vets for sure…players have a lot of respect for him…another lineup which pushed him further down the pecking order…just gotta stay ready. He’s gonna be needed for sure…each game is gonna provide a different challenge…matchups…”
UNSELD
Shut down Kuzma? No. Day to day.
Avdija
Aggression: “…making quick decisions…”
Starters: same as last game
Defending ball movement: “…take away the easy ones…fifth in fat break points…their defense doesn’t get enough credit…can’t relax because they do a terrific job of one action to the next…” 🚨
Porzingis: “…opens the rest of the floor…”
Patience in developing: “The league has gotten younger…or young guys are in the rotation, they’re getting on the job training…”
Defensive foundation: “Initially, no…new team…generate that identity…we felt like we coached our butts off…springboard things next season…”
Development: “…finding ways to sustain or play…confusion, complacency, whatever word you want to use…”
Porzingis only 27 minutes: “…efficient…surprising for me…that feel…”
KP gutting it out after ankle injury: “a lot of times they (moments like this) get overlooked by fans…all of that matters…”
(Inaudible about one specific player): “…consistency…studying the game”
Rui: “…physicality…playing downhill with aggression…love to see more of that…balance of those two inside out…”
(Inaudible)
👍👍💛💙