Steve Kerr responds to Kevin Durant's comments about Warriors' offense

[ProspectPark]

“I wasn’t at all offended by what Kevin said because it’s basically the truth,” Kerr told Anthony Slater of The Athletic. “You look at any system, I mean, I played the triangle with Michael Jordan. The offense ran a lot smoother all regular season and the first couple rounds of the playoffs than it did in the conference finals and Finals. It just did.

"That’s why guys like Michael Jordan and Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryant are who they are. They can transcend any defense. But defenses in the playoffs, deep in the playoffs, combined with the physicality of the game — where refs can’t possibly call a foul every time — means that superstars have to take over.

"No system is just going to dice a Finals defense up. You have to rely on individual play. I didn’t look at (his comment) as offensive. I look at that as fact.”

https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/warriors/steve-kerr-responds-kevin-durants-comments-about-warriors-offense

[Pennebaker]

Fair enough. What did Durant say again?

[Dominator83]

Kerr showing KD directions to the high road

[ProspectPark]

Fair enough. What did Durant say again?

"The motion offense we run in Golden State, it only works to a certain point," the Brooklyn Nets forward told J.R. Moehringer of The Wall Street Journal. "We can totally rely on our system for maybe the first two rounds.

"Then the next two rounds we're going to have to mix in individual play. We've got to throw teams off, because they're smarter in that round of playoffs.

"So now I have to dive into my bag, deep, to create stuff on my own, off the dribble, isos, pick-and-rolls, more so than let the offense create points for me."

[Pennebaker]

Fair enough. What did Durant say again?

"The motion offense we run in Golden State, it only works to a certain point," the Brooklyn Nets forward told J.R. Moehringer of The Wall Street Journal. "We can totally rely on our system for maybe the first two rounds.

"Then the next two rounds we're going to have to mix in individual play. We've got to throw teams off, because they're smarter in that round of playoffs.

"So now I have to dive into my bag, deep, to create stuff on my own, off the dribble, isos, pick-and-rolls, more so than let the offense create points for me."

Oh. So they agree with eachother. I agree with them too. That's why superstars make the big bucks.

But what I also see here is an opportunity for an offensive genius to come up with a system that actually can work from the first round thru to the Finals. There has to be a way.

[Danny1616]

The Golden State system would have worked fine if Harrison Barnes could hit a 3 pointer in the 2016 finals.

The last 3 games he went 1-6, 0-5, and 2-4...but I remember almost everyone being wide-open.

[dc]

Shouldn't be a surprise. Kerr isn't oblivious. He played with MJ in Phil Jackson's triangle system. It's a well known fact that MJ (and Kobe) weren't huge fans of the triangle, but they'd play within it for most the game, then go ISO ball in the 4th Q in crunchtime.

The 2 biggest shots KD hit for the Warriors were pure ISO plays, where it's just a 6'11" superstar shooting right in someone else's face. There's no defense for that.

[Danny1616]

Shouldn't be a surprise. Kerr isn't oblivious. He played with MJ in Phil Jackson's triangle system. It's a well known fact that MJ (and Kobe) weren't huge fans of the triangle, but they'd play within it.

The 2 biggest shots KD hit for the Warriors were pure ISO plays, where it's just a 6'11" superstar shooting right in someone else's face. There's no defense for that.

Warriors won 4-1 and 4-0...it's not like if he missed those shots the series would have changed, lol.

Those shots are overrated as hell...he misses them and the Warriors probably win 4-2 and 4-1 instead.

Ridiculous.

The dude cheated his way to two titles.

Not taking away from the fact that he's a great player, but KD benefited from the fact that he rarely got double teamed playing for GSW.

[ProspectPark]

The Golden State system would have worked fine if Harrison Barnes could hit a 3 pointer in the 2016 finals.

The last 3 games he went 1-6, 0-5, and 2-4...but I remember almost everyone being wide-open.

Game 5 he shot 4 for 5 from 3.

And he was what their 5th best player? That’s what role players do. Inconsistent in big moments.

Steph shot 4 for 14. Klay 2 for 10 in Game 7.

[DaPessimist]

"How many rings did KD win playing ISO ball with WB in OKC?"



That's what Kerr should have said.

[GeorgeMarcus]

It’s funny KD says they can only rely on the system for 2 rounds. Why draw the line there? What if the best defenses you play against come in the 1st and 2nd round?

But yeah basically what Dom said

[Danny1616]

It’s funny KD says they can only rely on the system for 2 rounds. Why draw the line there? What if the best defense you play against come in the 1st and 2nd round?

But yeah basically what Dom said

Yep, lol - especially in the West where the conference is stacked.

[dc]

Shouldn't be a surprise. Kerr isn't oblivious. He played with MJ in Phil Jackson's triangle system. It's a well known fact that MJ (and Kobe) weren't huge fans of the triangle, but they'd play within it.

The 2 biggest shots KD hit for the Warriors were pure ISO plays, where it's just a 6'11" superstar shooting right in someone else's face. There's no defense for that.

Warriors won 4-1 and 4-0...it's not like if he missed those shots the series would have changed, lol.

Those shots are overrated as hell...he misses them and the Warriors probably win 4-2 and 4-1 instead.

Ridiculous.

The dude cheated his way to two titles.

Not taking away from the fact that he's a great player, but KD benefited from the fact that he rarely got double teamed playing for GSW.

Let's not go into this again.

If it was so easy, then Harrison Barnes (a guy who 2 teams gave not so insignificant contracts to) would've closed the deal in 2016 and we wouldn't be having this conversation to begin with. Evidently, it's not as easy as some people think.

If you'll remember in 2017, if he missed that shot, the likely outcome would be that the series would go back to Oakland tied 2-2. The Cavs outplayed the Warriors for most of Game 3, all of Game 4, and for most of the first 2 quarters of Game 5. The series was much closer than people think.

That was a better Cavs team in 2017 than in 2016. Anyone who think the Warriors would've won in 2017 with Harrison Barnes in KD's place are pretty much on something.

[Danny1616]

Shouldn't be a surprise. Kerr isn't oblivious. He played with MJ in Phil Jackson's triangle system. It's a well known fact that MJ (and Kobe) weren't huge fans of the triangle, but they'd play within it.

The 2 biggest shots KD hit for the Warriors were pure ISO plays, where it's just a 6'11" superstar shooting right in someone else's face. There's no defense for that.

Warriors won 4-1 and 4-0...it's not like if he missed those shots the series would have changed, lol.

Those shots are overrated as hell...he misses them and the Warriors probably win 4-2 and 4-1 instead.

Ridiculous.

The dude cheated his way to two titles.

Not taking away from the fact that he's a great player, but KD benefited from the fact that he rarely got double teamed playing for GSW.

Let's not go into this again.

If it was so easy, then Harrison Barnes (a guy who 2 teams gave not so insignificant contracts to) would've closed the deal in 2016 and we wouldn't be having this conversation to begin with. Evidently, it's not as easy as some people think.

If you'll remember in 2017, if he missed that shot, the likely outcome would be that the series would go back to Oakland tied 2-2. The Cavs outplayed the Warriors for most of Game 3, all of Game 4, and for most of the first 2 quarters of Game 5. The series was much closer than people think.

That was a better Cavs team in 2017 than in 2016. Anyone who think the Warriors would've won in 2017 with Harrison Barnes in KD's place are pretty much on something.

Ummm...when did I say they would've won with Harrison Barnes replacing KD, lol?

I said with KD playing the team was so stacked that it would be very hard for them to lose. Even if KD missed those two incredible deep shots, they still likely win in 2017 and easily win in 2018.

I don't understand how you can take what I said as diminishing KD's greatnes

Both his rings are worthless to me but I acknowledge he's a generational talent.

It's because KD is so great that people despise him for being such a coward and taking the easiest route possible to a chip.

Understand the context.

[dc]

Ummm...when did I say they would've won with Harrison Barnes replacing KD, lol?

I said with KD playing the team was so stacked that it would be very hard for them to lose. Even if KD missed those two incredible deep shots, they still likely win in 2017 and easily win in 2018.

I don't understand how you can take what I said as diminishing KD's greatness...I simply said he made the team overly stacked and unfair. KD made the Warriors virtually unbeatable in 2017 and 2018.

Of course it was a stacked team, LOL. And the point was that they needed a stacked team against what was arguably Lebron's (a Top 2-3 player of all time) strongest team ever.

Yeah, KD was on a stacked team. And they were playing against another stacked team. They played against a team that had accrued 3 #1 picks over 4 years and then got Lebron back. That's a pretty formidable opponent.

It was a stacked team vs. a stacked team. It wasn't unfair. Curry had a monster series and he was at most the 3rd best player of the series (Kyrie arguably played just as well or slightly better).

[lonzo_pelota]

further proof GS would of 3peated if not for his tendon saying arrivederci

[Danny1616]

Ummm...when did I say they would've won with Harrison Barnes replacing KD, lol?

I said with KD playing the team was so stacked that it would be very hard for them to lose. Even if KD missed those two incredible deep shots, they still likely win in 2017 and easily win in 2018.

I don't understand how you can take what I said as diminishing KD's greatness...I simply said he made the team overly stacked and unfair. KD made the Warriors virtually unbeatable in 2017 and 2018.

Of course it was a stacked team, LOL. And the point was that they needed a stacked team against what was arguably Lebron's (a Top 2-3 player of all time) strongest team ever.

Yeah, KD was on a stacked team. And they were playing against another stacked team. They played against a team that had accrued 3 #1 picks over 4 years and then got Lebron back. That's a pretty formidable opponent.

It was a stacked team vs. a stacked team. It wasn't unfair. Curry had a monster series and he was at most the 3rd best player of the series (Kyrie arguably played just as well or slightly better).

The difference was that the Warriors without KD still could beat the Lebron led Cavaliers. Those teams were pretty even in my opinion. Cavaliers significantly benefited from Green being suspended for game 5 in 2016. Look how history changes if the Warriors win the 2016 series in 5 games if Green was not suspended. Lebron would be labelled as a playoff failure and out of the GOAt debate and Curry would insert himself to the top 10 of all-time debate. It's funny how one moment can change history and narratives.

Adding an MVP caliber who is arguably the greatest pure scorer ever is ridiculously unfair.

As I said KD (being one of the best shooters ever himself) benefited from playing alongside two of the greatest shooters, off-ball, and unselfish winning team players players in the NBA history.

Curry doesn't get enough credit for allowing KD to seamlessly be part of the Warriors offense. His unselfishness has been huge for KD.

KD cheated the system and faked his way to a title. That's not taking away from him being an incredible player, but I don't give his titles any value whatsoever.

[whatisacenter]

Kerr showing KD directions to the high road

/thread

[jason bourne]

Kyrie can take over, too, but that's about it. I doubt DAJ and Dinwiddie can do it. We'll have to see how LeVert develops.

[LKN]

Ummm...when did I say they would've won with Harrison Barnes replacing KD, lol?

I said with KD playing the team was so stacked that it would be very hard for them to lose. Even if KD missed those two incredible deep shots, they still likely win in 2017 and easily win in 2018.

I don't understand how you can take what I said as diminishing KD's greatness...I simply said he made the team overly stacked and unfair. KD made the Warriors virtually unbeatable in 2017 and 2018.

Of course it was a stacked team, LOL. And the point was that they needed a stacked team against what was arguably Lebron's (a Top 2-3 player of all time) strongest team ever.

Yeah, KD was on a stacked team. And they were playing against another stacked team. They played against a team that had accrued 3 #1 picks over 4 years and then got Lebron back. That's a pretty formidable opponent.

It was a stacked team vs. a stacked team. It wasn't unfair. Curry had a monster series and he was at most the 3rd best player of the series (Kyrie arguably played just as well or slightly better).

The difference was that the Warriors without KD still could beat the Lebron led Cavaliers. Those teams were pretty even in my opinion. Cavaliers significantly benefited from Green being suspended for game 5 in 2016. Look how history changes if the Warriors win the 2016 series in 5 games if Green was not suspended. Lebron would be labelled as a playoff failure and out of the GOAt debate and Curry would insert himself to the top 10 of all-time debate. It's funny how one moment can change history and narratives.

Adding an MVP caliber who is arguably the greatest pure scorer ever is ridiculously unfair.

As I said KD (being one of the best shooters ever himself) benefited from playing alongside two of the greatest shooters, off-ball, and unselfish winning team players players in the NBA history.

Curry doesn't get enough credit for allowing KD to seamlessly be part of the Warriors offense. His unselfishness has been huge for KD.

KD cheated the system and faked his way to a title. That's not taking away from him being an incredible player, but I don't give his titles any value whatsoever.