- 2 minutes ago
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr joins Willard and Dibs to react to last night's loss to the Rockets, Steph Curry's oblique tear, where the team goes from here, and more.
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00Out to the River Islands guest line, it is time for Steve Kerr, brought to you by the Contra Costa
00:05County Library.
00:06Unlock free books, e-books, and family events with your Contra Costa County Library card.
00:11Visit ccclib.org today.
00:14Here he is, Coach Kerr, everybody, on Willard & Dibbs 95.7 The Game.
00:18Travel days are fun, aren't they, Steve?
00:21Yeah, they're great. Thank you.
00:23Oh, yeah.
00:24Thank you. Thank you for doing it.
00:26I know you've been through some travel delays, but we always love having you on,
00:31and obviously an interesting day to talk after last night.
00:35So tell us sort of how the team is receiving the news about Steph Curry
00:41and how you sort of think it changes the way you guys will go about your business for the next
00:45however many weeks.
00:47Well, this is part of it, and everybody understands that.
00:51So the guys are in a good frame of mind.
00:54It's hopefully not too long that Steph's out, but, you know, this is common now around the league.
01:04Everybody seems to have injuries, so it's our job to figure out a way to win some games without them.
01:10It seemed like in the postgame you expressed serious concern,
01:14and then now you get the news where it's two weeks until a re-evaluation.
01:17Did that news today make you feel better?
01:21Yeah, I mean, I think it's as good as we could have expected.
01:27You know, it could have been much worse.
01:29So it's good to know that, you know, at this stage it looks like he's going to be all right,
01:38but we won't really know.
01:40So, you know, we're all just kind of waiting to see how it all unfolds over the next week or
01:44two.
01:45Steve, how do you feel about this year's team's ability to win games without him versus last year?
01:53Well, I think it's a different year for a lot of reasons, but the number one reason would be Axel.
01:59You know, he's such a good player.
02:02He's somebody you can run your offense through,
02:04and I think we're more equipped to handle Steph's absence this year than last year.
02:10Of course, when Steph went down last year, Jimmy was already out,
02:14and so we didn't really have anybody who could kind of, you know, take over the offense.
02:20We really had to score as a team.
02:23We had to generate advantages through execution, through schemes, and we had to play great defense.
02:31Really, we had a very small margin for error,
02:33and I think Axel at least widens the margin and gives us a much better chance night to night.
02:41Who else outside of Axel might be somebody who you will look to to step up from a scoring standpoint?
02:47Well, it's not really about one person.
02:50It's sort of about the system and the way we're playing, what we're teaching this year.
02:55I feel like we have to be able to generate advantages, you know, through our execution.
03:02And when we do that, you're going to see different guys step up night to night and have a scoring
03:09night.
03:09But we have plenty of guys who are capable, but I don't think that we're counting on any one guy
03:14night to night.
03:16Steve, as a coach, do you go through, when something like this happens,
03:20because Steph isn't just your best player, I've got to imagine he's kind of the game player.
03:24So what about now?
03:26Is there a philosophical shift in terms of the identity you will try to create night to night?
03:32No, no, we're going to play the same way.
03:36You know, it's impossible to kind of change your whole style midseason.
03:42So we're going to continue to do the things we're doing.
03:45The biggest thing for us is finding the right combinations and substitution patterns.
03:51And, you know, that'll be a little bit of a work in progress the next couple of games.
03:55But, you know, we already have some ideas, some thoughts about what that'll look like.
04:01And, you know, find a way.
04:03Let's go get them.
04:05Do you envision perhaps Yaxel getting a little bit more of an extended run in that first quarter?
04:10It seems like first quarters have been a bit of a challenge for you guys this year.
04:15Well, you know, what we've tried to do is get them out early so that we can bring them back
04:20when Steph goes out.
04:22And I think now the idea would be we've got to have either BP or Yaxel on the floor at
04:29all times.
04:30So we'll change the rotation to reflect that.
04:35But I'm not sure yet what that will look like.
04:38Steve Kerr with us here on Withered and Dibs 95.7 The Game.
04:41Steve, listen, a lot of people listening to our show today have questions about the specific play,
04:48where Steph appeared to get hurt, and then obviously just the wars that everybody's been through with the Rockets.
04:55How do you feel about the physicality that they bring to the court and the way that they play?
05:04They're a big athletic team, and they're very physical.
05:09So they're, you know, using their roster.
05:14I think they're using their talent, and Emei does a great job as a coach.
05:19They've, you know, they've really become a formidable team here the last couple of years
05:24as they've added, you know, more and more size at every position.
05:28And, you know, they didn't even have Steven Adams and Capella last night.
05:33When those guys are out there, yeah, Houston might be the biggest, strongest team in the league.
05:38Do you see what they do as, like, in your eyes?
05:42Is it just good physical basketball, or is it pushing it a little bit sometimes?
05:48No, you know, I mean, there's a lot of holding off ball that goes on in the NBA these days.
05:53I think there should be more calls for holding.
05:57You know, freedom of movement is supposed to be a real thing in the NBA,
06:02and I think I'd like to see more of it.
06:05But, no, I think Houston is a physical team.
06:09I think there are a couple plays.
06:11You know, obviously the punch from Marcus Smart is going way overboard.
06:17And there were a couple of hooks and, you know, grabs and stuff that, you know,
06:23a lot of guys around the league are doing.
06:25BP had one in the first quarter to get to the line where he hooked Marcus Smart.
06:30I mean, players are really crafty in this league, and they're smart,
06:34and they're trying to gain advantages.
06:36And sometimes they get tangled up, and, you know, guys get into it a little bit.
06:40On the play where Shang-Goon and Steph got tangled, it appeared that's when Steph hurt his oblique.
06:46Did you see it, and what did you make of it in terms of the legality of that play?
06:52I didn't think it was anything dirty, for sure.
06:55I mean, you know, watching the tape today, I didn't recognize it last night, you know,
07:02at the time that it happened.
07:03And, you know, when I saw Steph starting to hold his side, you know,
07:12my thought watching the tape was I should have taken a timeout quicker,
07:16but I wasn't even really aware of it until maybe a minute or so before he came out at that
07:23first timeout.
07:23And so it was, you know, watching the tape over again, you kind of cringe.
07:29You just, you know, when you see something happen, especially with Steph,
07:34and it's just such a bummer.
07:37I mean, he's playing at such an incredible level, and our team's in such a good place.
07:41So it's really a shame, but it's part of the game.
07:44And fortunately, as we said, the tests seem to be, you know, relatively good news,
07:51but we'll see how it goes here coming up.
07:54Steve, we were just having a conversation earlier about Yaxel and, you know,
07:59the box score, the stats, and all of this stuff are obvious.
08:02I love, I don't know if you got to hear what Kevin Durant said about him last night,
08:07just gushing over the player that he already is.
08:10But I'm also struck by not just the player he is, but sort of who he is and the way
08:15he acts out there.
08:16I'm mindful of when Kevin fouled him last night, and he's like celebrating on the ground.
08:20It makes me feel like there's a chance that his name value may go somewhere really big
08:28because he's not just a good player, he's also a big personality.
08:32Has that surprised you in any way?
08:36Is there any sort of discussion with him about that as his NBA future unfolds?
08:41No, we're just, you know, thrilled to have him.
08:44And he's a great teammate, great guy to coach, really listens.
08:49And as we do with all of our players, we want his personality to come out.
08:56And, you know, he's a really fun-loving guy.
08:59He's thrilled to be in the NBA.
09:01And think about his story coming in here.
09:04It's really pretty incredible.
09:07And it's just fun.
09:10We're lucky.
09:11I mean, you just don't get players like this very often.
09:15And he sure looks like a guy who's going to be an all-star
09:19and a big-time player in this league for a long time to come.
09:24Has he shared any wow, I'm in the NBA moments?
09:27I mean, he goes from playing Giannis to Katie last night,
09:29and now he's got 7'11", Wemby tomorrow.
09:32Has he shared any of that with you guys?
09:35Maybe with his teammates, not so much with me.
09:38I mean, he's definitely wide-eyed.
09:42You know, the first couple weeks of camp,
09:46you can see that he was just sort of amazed that here he was.
09:50And what I see is a guy who is quickly realizing that he's not just in the NBA,
09:55but he can be, you know, one of the best players in the NBA.
09:59You know, he believes he's got a ton of confidence now.
10:03And he's recognizing that he's got the opportunity to not only be around for a long time,
10:10but to be a really, really good player.
10:13Hey, Steve, until Jimmy gets healthy, any plans to make him a full-time assistant coach?
10:18He was drawing up some good plays the other night.
10:21I just, I loved how he looked.
10:24I thought the outfit was chic, elegant, you know, style.
10:31What a stylish guy wearing the Nike sweater and the black Lululemon pants.
10:36He looked great.
10:37How's he doing in general?
10:39Like, what is, like, daily, weekly life for Jimmy Butler like right now?
10:46Is he on the trip?
10:47What is he doing with you guys?
10:49He's not on the trip, but, you know, he was around for our whole homestand.
10:56And he's in the weight room on the court working out.
11:02He's there in our locker room, you know, before and after games, hanging with all the guys.
11:07So he's a big part of all this.
11:09And everybody loves Jimmy.
11:12I mean, he's so fun to be around and so funny.
11:14And he gives us confidence, too.
11:18You know, it's really fun to think about what this is going to look like when he gets back.
11:22But we've got a lot of work to do.
11:24We've got to hold down the floor while he's gone.
11:26Without putting timelines on it, because nobody really knows, obviously, but is it safe to say that he's ahead of
11:33Moses Moody in terms of a return to play at some juncture?
11:37No, I wouldn't say that at all.
11:41I mean, both guys are pretty far away.
11:45So there's there's but there's no timetable for either guy.
11:48Steve, I also mindful with Steph going out that it comes at a time where for it seems like at
11:54least a week or probably more, you also won't have Brandon Williams.
11:59So, like, what what is the plan at the guard spot, at least until he gets back?
12:05Yeah, I mean, we we have to utilize our depth.
12:09So LJ Cryer will will play.
12:11And obviously, we'll lean heavily on on melt and will Richard.
12:18You know, everybody's just got to step up and and be ready for whatever happens.
12:24Draymond's been really efficient in not really scoring this year.
12:28I think he's less than four points a game.
12:29But when he's been out there, he's mostly been a positive force.
12:33Is this a time now where you go to Draymond and ask him to maybe be a little more aggressive
12:37offensively with Steph out?
12:40Well, it's it's it's really been mostly a function of him him playing the five, you know, with with Christoph's,
12:50you know, not being part of this.
12:52It really forced Dray into a full time center position.
12:56And the actual allows for that with his size, you know, next to Draymond.
13:00But Draymond really has been a great facilitator for us.
13:05And we haven't he hasn't really been in a position like he would be at the four, you know, to
13:12to to be more aggressive, shooting threes from the corners and that kind of stuff.
13:17So we'll see how the next couple of weeks play out, depending on, you know, do we play him with
13:23Charles Bassey, for example?
13:25Do we play him more, you know, as a four and in different combinations?
13:30We don't know yet. We're going to kind of experiment with a few things.
13:34But I think Draymond's playing really well and there's there's nothing I need to tell him.
13:38Steve, speaking of Bassey, I think twice already this year, postgame, he's gotten to use the the fake tough guy
13:46line that he likes to use.
13:49But it sort of made us think about the fact that this team, most nights, there's been some sort of
13:56dust up or pushing or shoving.
13:59Why do you think that has been that way so far for your guys?
14:04I don't know. We got it. We got a lot of competitors.
14:08It's, you know, best NBA, best basketball in the league, in the world, you know, just because you're highly competitive
14:16athletes and there's a lot on the line.
14:20So it's it's tough out there.
14:23Do you have discussions with your players about like last night where Marcus Smart tries to hit Bassey and clearly
14:29misses?
14:29It's an airball, Marcus. And just about the idea of not retaliating.
14:36The guys know that. I mean, as soon as there is anything on the court, everybody on the bench is,
14:43you know, security, assistant coaches and everyone is holding the players back to make sure.
14:48But at this stage, the players all know, you know, that if they leave the bench, it's just huge repercussions.
14:54So, yeah, the punch last night surprised me.
14:58I mean, guys are going to get tangled up all the time, but you don't you don't normally see someone
15:04take a swing at another person.
15:06So that was definitely surprising.
15:07And also surprising was your first step, Steve, because you got out there pretty quick.
15:12I mean, you stretch before games just in case.
15:15I mean, you got out there in a hurry.
15:17Yeah, I'm ready for whatever, you know, whatever happens.
15:20I'm right in the right in the middle of all that stuff.
15:22You know me, guys.
15:25Down for a brawl. Exactly.
15:26Down for whatever.
15:27Steve Kerr with us here on 95.7 The Game.
15:30Steve, I'm sure on some level you saw this.
15:35Jordan Poole, when he was in town over the weekend, talked at length about missing his time with the Warriors
15:42and that this feels like home and that he'd be open to a reunion.
15:47What is your reaction to all of that?
15:50Well, number one, I would never talk about, you know, another player on another team coming here.
15:56I think that's fine worthy if you start doing that.
16:00But I love Jordan and what he meant to us, you know, when he was here.
16:07His path, just the way he went from an overwhelmed rookie to a key player on a championship team was
16:16really awesome.
16:17He had a great work ethic, really put in the time to get better and become the player he became.
16:25And it's always good to see him.
16:26You know, we were together at Kevon Looney's wedding this past summer.
16:33And any time we get to see Jordan, we all enjoy it.
16:37Put aside that homecoming, what's it like for you to go back to San Antonio?
16:41I know Pop is no longer the coach, but you've got to have a lot of warm memories about being
16:45a Spurs.
16:46Yeah, I got great memories from here.
16:49You know, four seasons with the Spurs, you know, five years, six years actually living here with the family.
16:56And so lots of friends and, you know, good Mexican restaurants.
17:01And I always love coming back here.
17:04Coach, we always have a lot of questions for you.
17:06But today there was one that maybe mattered a little bit more than all the others.
17:10And I think it's time.
17:11So here it is, Coach.
17:14Did Malavine Leones have his shorts on backwards last night?
17:19He sure did.
17:20I would not have noticed.
17:23But at the end of the game, BP nudged me on the bench.
17:28And she's like, Coach, Malavine's got his shorts on backwards.
17:32So, yeah, we all had a good laugh at that.
17:35I mean, uniform violation and a fine, right?
17:39Hopefully not.
17:40We don't want to fine Malavine.
17:42He's the nicest guy on earth.
17:44But, yeah, let's take it easy on him.
17:46Okay.
17:46Do you guys have any of that in-house, like, kangaroo court stuff where maybe he's got to throw 20
17:51bucks in the pot for having his shorts on backwards?
17:54If so, I'm not aware of it.
17:56But we do have fines, you know, if guys are late and stuff like that.
18:00But we're not fining anybody for putting their shorts on backwards.
18:03We're just going to laugh at them instead.
18:05Steve Kerr is always brought to you by the Contra Costa County Library.
18:10Unlock free books, e-books, and family events with your Contra Costa County Library card.
18:15Just one book question, Steve, because we're into books.
18:18And part of the read is there's free books, e-books, and also the old library books.
18:24Which do you prefer?
18:25Do you go there and get free books?
18:26Do you have a library book?
18:27Are you a Kindle guy?
18:29What is your source of reading?
18:31I have to have a real book in my hands.
18:34I can't do the Kindle.
18:35And my wife's been trying to get me to do it because she does it.
18:39And especially when you travel, it's so easy, you know, just to have something that you can read in your
18:45bag and not have a big, big, heavy book.
18:48But I'm old school.
18:49So, there's a great bookshop near my house that I buy whatever I'm going to read.
18:57And, yeah, I like the real thing.
19:00All right, Coach.
19:02No, it's been a long day.
19:03Thank you very much.
19:04Spurs tomorrow night.
19:05Best of luck.
19:06And we'll talk to you next week.
19:08Sounds great.
19:09Thanks, guys.
19:10Okay.
19:10There it is.
19:11Steve Kerr right here on Willie and Dibby.