Steve Kerr reflects on Warriors' loss to Clippers, previews play-in matchup
Warriors coach Steve Kerr speaks to reporters after Golden State's 115-110 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night at Intuit Dome.
Steve Kerr reflects on Warriors' loss to Clippers, previews play-in matchup originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Video Transcript
Steve, what do you take away?
Do you take anything away from these four games you played against the Clippers this year?
I mean, the first two were with Jimmy, the last one was without Steph, and then this one.
Well, yeah, I mean, I, I think, each team knows the other pretty well, just from playing against them a lot over the years.
They're obviously a little different with, Garland rather than Harden.
but they know us well.
We know them well.
The games, were all quite a bit different.
so not a whole lot to take, from tonight.
And then Brandon, first quarter, did someone just, like, kneed him in the thigh?
What happened there?
I guess so, yeah.
I didn't I don't know what happened, but he was okay and obviously went back in.
And, you know, for him to play 82 games, Raymond just said one of only 18 guys in the league, it's, pretty impressive.
But, it's one of his best, you know, best qualities.
He's, he's just tough.
He's, he competes.
He's out there every night.
and, yeah, the guys just gave him a, an ovation in there for, for playing 82.
We, we always, you know, single guys out when that happens because it's, it's not an easy feat.
Do you feel like you guys accomplished what you needed to in terms of, ramping everybody up, Steph, Al, Porziis- Yeah to the minutes target that you needed to?
Yeah.
I mean, that was the best thing that came out of this was, rhythm for those guys and no injuries.
so we should be ready to go on Wednesday night.
And the Clippers, just the way their roster is, they play small a lot without a traditional, traditional center.
How much of a weapon can Porziis be against some of those mismatches in this particular matchup?
I think he's a weapon no matter what.
I mean, it's, you know, he's, he's such a skilled guy, whether they play big or, or small, doesn't really matter.
he's always a threat to score either from the perimeter or down on the block.
and, yeah, so Wednesday we'll, we'll probably see a little bit of both.
How did Steph look to you?
Steph looked good.
I think he's, you know, he, he got to blow it out a little bit, today, which was good.
you know, first time he's gotten to that many minutes and, you know, I, I asked him during the game how he was feeling.
He, he said he felt really good, so it was, that was a good step for him.
Steve, did you, did you see Jimmy Butler come on the court pregame?
I know he kind of was around the team a little bit.
I don't know how much you've gotten to see him since he's been out and had the surgery, but obviously he's here today.
what, what did you think of him?
It's great to see him.
Yeah, yeah.
We've been staying in touch via text, so I knew he was gonna be here today.
he was, in Washington DC a few weeks ago at our game there.
So we've, we've seen him, seen him a couple times.
Moses has been around as well, so it's great to have those guys, around for the rest of the, rest of the fellas.
Ob- obviously the last couple games there hasn't had to been that urgency or in, quote unquote- Yeah these games have kind of been meaningless.
How do you sort of turn that switch for this game where it is do or die?
Well, we have to.
I mean, we, we don't have a choice.
I think it'll happen naturally just with the stakes.
and Draymond will be w- well rested.
he's been playing a lot of minutes and, and a lot of games, so good for him to get a night off tonight.
he'll be ready to go.
He'll help set a tone for us defensively and, yeah, we know, it's gonna be tough.
These guys are, are really good and obviously Kawhi will be back and, we're excited about the challenge.
To follow on Draymond for a second, how valuable is he in, you know, postseason kind of situations with the ability to scheme and do different things matchup wise and whatnot?
Yeah, I mean, defensively he's obviously our guy and, you know, we're able to do more things with him out there and, he's, he's a playoff player.
You know, he's a, he's a guy who loves the challenge, loves the, situation when, when you're in a must win.
So, I know he'll play well.
Just to be clear, do you expect there to be any restrictions on minutes and playing time for, you know, Steph and, and Kristaps and, and Al on Wednesday?
Yeah, there will be, but, I don't know exactly what the number will be.
But, those guys, you know, they're not, they're not gonna play, you know, 40 minutes, I can tell you that.
Steve, Steve, you, you know Tyve very well, Ty Lue very well.
Just how, how much do you look forward to a, a one game kind of situation like that where you know both you guys like to make those kind of, in-game adjustments and make quick things on the fly?
I mean, it's, it's always fun to, to, coach against Ty.
He's a great coach.
and, you know, we coached together with USA Basketball, so I know, you know, how good he is and, how good he is at seeing the game, making adjustments and, you know, we, we have a lot of, a lot of respect for each other.
and, we'd much rather be playing in a best of seven series.
but it is what it is, so play in.
We gotta, we gotta see what we can do.
