Why Kerr remains committed to Warriors’ deep rotation after loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – Warriors coach Steve Kerr has fully embraced the idea of sink deep into his bench every evening, a formula which has worked quite well until now and which will be even more important if Two-time NBA MVP Stephen Curry suffers ankle injury marginalized him for a very long time.
That depth was a big factor in Golden State winning those first two games. This will be an even bigger factor depending on how long Curry is out.
Curry left the Warriors’ 112-104 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday after aggravating an ankle injury which he supported earlier in the match. The full extent of the injury won’t be known for certain until Curry undergoes a series of tests on Tuesday.
Obviously, the Warriors are a much better team when Curry is healthy and on the court, and they won’t be the same if he stays out for very long.
But with a roster that Kerr has previously called the most complete he has coached, the decline might not be as bad as it once was.
In the world of clichés, the Warriors are in a next-man-up mentality as they wait for news on Curry’s condition. In fact, Kerr had his players with this mentality before the season started and everyone seems to have bought into it.
“I like it. It keeps everyone cool,” Gary Payton II said. “If someone doesn’t want to go, we have another guy to come and go. If someone is hot, Steve will probably rock with them or that unit.
“You have to stay ready. You never know which direction it might go. We have 12 guys, so it could be anyone.
This is the model Kerr has used so far. The Warriors used 13 players in the loss to the Clippers, 12 of whom logged at least 13 1/2 minutes of playing time. Against the Utah Jazz on Saturday, Kerr used 14 players, with 12 of them getting at least 12 minutes of playing time. 45 seconds of playing time. In the season opener at Portland two nights before, Kerr again relied on 14 players, 12 of whom spent at least 14 minutes on the field.
While depth gives Kerr flexibility and options in his rotations, it also leads to reduced playing time for some players.
Kerr specifically pointed out how Kyle Anderson handled the game in less than four minutes. Rather than sulking or pouting, Anderson stayed engaged with the team and didn’t make a big deal out of it.
“That’s what you have to have if you’re going to do this and compete against a lot of people,” Kerr said. “Everyone needs to be on board. I couldn’t have been more impressed with Kyle’s professionalism. But every match will be a little different.
“Someone texted me like, ‘Hey 12 guys, this is a real democracy.’ I said that as soon as we lose, it will be communism. That’s the truth. Results dictate, and that’s the business we’re in. I have to do what I think is best for us. team Generally speaking, it changes throughout the year over an 82 game season. We have to be ready to adapt, but I like the commitment the guys have made.
