Following the Golden State Warriors’ 113-103 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, Head Coach Steve Kerr shared an interesting sentiment during his postgame press conference. Addressing a certain subdivision of his roster, Kerr did not mince words.
“That’s what we’re trying to impart on our young players…We have Steph Curry on our team. So, pass the ball. Move the ball. And if Steph gets off it early, because he’s gained an advantage, now the defense is scrambling.”
Coach Kerr is not wrong in his comments. There’s a reason Steph Curry is recognized as one of the most uniquely rapturous offensive weapons the game of basketball has ever seen. As a result, it goes without saying that the Warriors’ offense, as a whole, is better off when the majority of its action is run through Stephen Curry.
One young Warriors player, in particular, did feel the need to respond with some interesting comments regarding Kerr’s rant. Brandin Podziemski, who has already been called out by Kerr on more than one occasion during the early season, this time around let his opinions be heard, with some noteworthy comments.
“When I’m out there, if I’m open — I shoot it. If not — make a play. I don’t really think too much into it — I know we have Steph Curry on the court. If he’s open, I’m going to throw the ball to him. I don’t really look too deep into those messages.”
While Podziemski’s comments aren’t quite in full-on opposition to Kerr’s, they still at least warrant an eyebrow raise.
Warriors’ Guard Brandin Podziemski Offers Interesting Rebuttal to Coach Kerr’s Most Recent Comments
Brandin Podziemski’s Perspective
Kerr’s most recent comments were not targeted specifically at Podziemski. Nevertheless, it doesn’t take too much inferring to decipher who Kerr is referring to when discussing his young players. To his credit, Podziemski has, for the most part—understandably—remained muted in response to his coach’s comments. However, following the Warriors’ Saturday night win over the Timberwolves, Podziemski felt it necessary to respond when asked about his coach’s latest comments. While Podziemski’s comments appear slightly defensive at first, they are more understandable upon further analysis. Curry needs his teammates to be aggressive and remain confident in their own abilities. Curry said so much on numerous occasions.
With Steph Curry’s comments in mind, Podziemski is right in his approach. He cannot take a back seat, he means too much to his team. Yes, Steph Curry is the end-all-be-all of the Warriors. But as a developing young player and someone who has visibility struggled with his confidence at times this year, Podziemski cannot let his confidence be altered. Podziemski must remain self-assured, regardless of the reality that the Warriors’ best option, more often than not, is, in fact, to defer to Curry.
Steve Kerr’s Perspective
Kerr’s comments certainly don’t seem to reflect that of a head coach teeming with confidence in his young guys. It’s worth pondering whether Kerr would openly admit his lack of confidence in his young players. Nevertheless, his actions, more often than not, require little explanation.
Since taking over as the Warriors’ head coach 10 years ago, Kerr has experienced an almost unparalleled level of success. It goes without saying that the nine-time champion—five as a player and four as a coach—knows what he’s talking about. Kerr knows as well as anyone that he owes a hefty deal of his nearly unparalleled success with the Warriors to Curry’s greatness. Therefore, he knows as well as anyone the importance of getting Steph Curry the ball. But things are never really quite that simple.
The sentiment by which the Warriors should be running the majority of their action through Curry and using his other-worldly gravitational pull to their advantage is surely something Kerr wholeheartedly believes in. But on the other end of the spectrum, coach Kerr has to recognize the importance of empowering Curry’s supporting cast. As currently constructed, there’s no other way the Warriors can reach their full potential.
The post Warriors’ Guard Offers Interesting Rebuttal to Coach Kerr’s Most Recent Comments appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.