The biggest story about the Warriors’ 5-1 start this season is the team’s strengthened chemistry.
The first weeks of the 2023-24 NBA season in San Francisco have gone smoothly compared to last year’s rough ride that began in training camp when Draymond Green famously hit Jordan Poole.
Several players talked about year-over-year improvement, including Draymond Green, who called last season’s chemistry “horrible” and “horses–t.” earlier this week. Since the Warriors’ biggest move this offseason was trading Poole to Washington for Chris Paul, there has been a lot of blame and speculation aimed at the current Wizards guard.
But Warriors coach Steve Kerr disagrees.
“I think it’s unfair that people just point to Jordan,” Kerr told 95.7 The Game’s. Mark Willard and Dan Dibley THURSDAY. “That’s not true. Last year was messed up for a lot of different reasons. Jordan was fantastic when he was here. He helped us win a championship. I hate it when he takes criticism.”
The Warriors, however, are already seeing the team’s improved chemistry pay off. They are a perfect 4-0 on the road this season after winning just 11 away games last year. Golden State didn’t win its fourth road game last season until January 13th.
So what happens ?
“Honestly, the most important thing is the experience of the veteran,” Kerr told Willard and Dibley. “Cory Joseph barely played, but he had such a dramatic impact in our locker room, on our team. We have a better balance of veteran experience and the right amount of youth, to be perfectly frank. The year Last year we were overloaded with young people and trying to develop too many people at the same time. It was unfair to all the young people that we had so many at the same time.
Poole, who was 23 last year, was one of those young people. The Warriors were in the middle of the pack last season in terms of average age in their locker room (26.0). This year, they have the second most experienced squad (average age of 28.5 years).
“I think that’s where (general manager) Mike (Dunleavy) and the front office did a good job … bringing in Chris, Dario and Cory Joseph,” Kerr said. “Even Jerome Robinson, one of our two-way players, is just a grown man. He’s a leader. Every day he brings the young guys together with Cory Joseph – those guys are leading the charge on the development front. These are important things. It’s dramatic how powerful it is.
“The balance of the roster makes all the difference.”
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