I know it’s quite a few pages so I’m sure few will actually read them, but it’s a really interesting and unique perspective and so I wanted to share for those on here who enjoy this kind of insight.
Also, for what it’s worth, Andre’s memoir The Sixth Man is a wholly underrated gem of a source for insight and honest, thoughtful reflection on his career and the league, I highly recommend it to anyone who hasn’t already read it.
by taygads
14 Comments
This is in line with a comment Jason Timpf made regarding firing Kerr–basically that you probably only do that if you’re blowing the whole thing up for a full rebuild. Kerr is probably the best available coach for coaching Steph, Klay, and Draymond, and everyone else is meant to orbit around/play off of that for better or worse.
I think Kerr is getting a lot of heat for some things that are probably larger organizational failures and some things that are sort of inevitable faults of a sunsetting dynasty. The margins get thinner and decision making has to be ever closer to perfect (or at least lucky).
Also that last bit about the frustrating parts of the core 3’s games is very funny and still true today lol
Makes me want to read the whole memoir! I think the whole discussion around Kerr and how he doesn’t know what he’s doing is hilarious. There’s so much that goes into being a coach & Kerr is really unique in how he does things. I’ve heard plenty of takes saying he has no part in them winning their rings because he was “given” talented players – it’s that bad these days. If this take is true then it’s safe to assume that this year he wasn’t given enough talented players lol
The general idea of retooling completely around Steph, removing Draymond, Klay and Kerr, and still put the warriors in a contention mode is laughable. When did something like that ever happened. The big picture is often missed this year and honestly it’s annoying.
Kerr has often been criticized for not playing the younger players earlier on. This is somewhat a vindication. Now that his hand is forced and the younger players had to play, we are seeing these blown-up losses. If he had played them any earlier, these losses would have come even earlier.
Anyone have a TLDR?
Thanks for sharing.
we are definitely missing Andre’s voice in the locker room
People just really underestimate how Kerr got 4 rings gelling three different sub eras
I’m hindsight we can say core 3 but the young team with Bogut was very different challenge than blending in KD and the last one was a damn miracle
Too bad Kerr isn’t observant enough on who to play and who not to play.
Coach Kerr is a hall of fame level coach and did an amazing job, but I think it may be time to move on.
Coach Kerr loves the three players that he’s been with for so long and dominated the league with, as he should. His love for them and what they were has led to a weird situation that in my opinion is the cause of a large part of the struggles this year and last. There are different sets of rules for different players on the team. Different expectations and perhaps most importantly wildly different levels of accountability.
Phil Jackson, one of coach Kerr’s many incredible mentors also had this same thing of being a GOAT level coach for great players on great teams and being very average at developing young players and creating team culture where everyone feels equal and valued.
The big three’s current talent level minus Dray and Klay’s baggage no longer warrants the level of self determination and self policing they have. I appreciate that he is all in for his guys, but that’s the exact reason that he may no longer be the man for the job. I don’t know everything that goes on obviously, but that’s what I see as a passionate fan for a long time.
We need a better x and o’s assistant coach
Interesting read. I’ve never read a sports book. How’s Andre’s?
The start of this whole read cements what I thought all along. The main failure is not finding better defensive players. Sure the core is aging and not what they used to be but the league has also adapted and gotten bigger faster as well. Everything that we did well which is tall 2 way players that can switch, the league has caught up and gotten similar types on their team and sometimes even taller and more atheletic.
While we have remained smaller and our only defensive studs left is Draymond and Gp2. Cp3 is a good defender but he’s small and old. Kuminga is still really raw when it comes to defensive instincts. Moody is the same, up and down defensively. I say that even though I love both players for us. TJD and Podz show some promise defensively but they are still rookies. Wiggs being one of our top defenders but seeming falling off a cliff for whatever reason hasnt helped. This year we’ve been without our top defensive guys often. Honestly the front office needs to adapt back to the rest of the league now, get us these long tall guys that can play defense. Because at one point we were light years above the rest but that’s no longer the case.
Fascinating read, thx for posting. That last bit about Dray being their brother makes a lot of sense as to why they rally around him always.
Unfortunately, with klay jt no longer “almost always turns around.”