Despite the Warriors of the Golden State sitting on a playing field, coach Steve Kerr remains confident his team can make a deep playoff run. Kerr compared the Warriors to last year’s Miami Heat and LA Lakers, who each advanced deep into the playoffs as play-in teams. However, NBA fans didn’t see the comparison.
Golden State (35-32) sits 10th in the Western Conference with 15 games remaining. That puts him on track to finish the season with around 42 or 43 wins. Notably, the Warriors’ win total in their six NBA Finals over the Steph Curry The era varied from 53 to 73 victories.
Thus, the franchise’s regular season success has declined significantly since its last title (2022). However, according to Kerr, as long as the Warriors make the play-ins, they have a good chance of advancing and making some noise in the playoffs.
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On 95.7 The Game’s “Willard & Dibs,” Kerr discussed Miami and Los Angeles’ success in the 2023 playoffs. The Heat (44-38, eighth in the Eastern Conference) surprised more than a few one by qualifying for the final. Meanwhile, the Lakers (43-39, seventh in the West) reach the conference final.
Kerr emphasized how, if necessary, he will use his playoff run to motivate his team.
“If we end up in this place, I will remind the Miami guys that they reached the final in this place a year ago. The Lakers made it to the conference finals from there,” Kerr said.
“So we have everything in front of us. We have our goals ahead of us. Even though the season has been uneven, with a lot of ups and downs, until the season is 100% complete, I will believe in our ability to beat anyone. And as long as we have that, we have a chance.
Fans on X/Twitter strongly disagreed with Kerr, ridiculing him for his irrational confidence.
“Bro didn’t accept that his team was in free fall,” one fan said.
“He thinks he’s [Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra]said another.
Here are some of the main fan reactions to Kerr’s belief in the Warriors’ ability to make a deep playoff run as a play-in team:
Read also: Warriors’ Steve Kerr echoes LeBron James in calling Steph Curry ‘most influential’ NBA player
Steve Kerr on the possibility that the Warriors lack motivation amid a tumultuous season
Before expressing confidence in Golden State’s playoff prospects, Steve Kerr was asked if his veteran team lacked motivation. As mentioned, the Warriors have made six finals since 2015, winning four titles. So, many speculated that they had trouble getting up for regular season games.
However, according to Kerr, his team’s shortcomings probably have more to do with fatigue.
“I guess after a decade of all this, until June, with so many playoff games, sometimes there’s just fatigue,” Kerr said.
The Warriors have played in no fewer than 140 playoff games since Kerr was hired in 2014, more than any other team in that span. It remains to be seen whether their experience will pay off again come play-in/playoff time.
Read also: Savannah Bond calls Warriors coach Steve Kerr her ‘spirit animal’
