In the midst of the Golden State Warriors’ heart-wrenching 114-110 defeat against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the spotlight intensified on head coach Steve Kerr’s decision-making. Kerr Benches Curry, opting for a strategic move that added layers of intrigue to the already tense matchup.
Kerr Benches Curry: “We Are Trying to Get Him As Much Rest As We Can”
The iconic Stephen Curry, renowned as one of the NBA’s most lethal shooters, found himself on the bench for a substantial portion of the fourth quarter, a decision that stirred considerable intrigue among both fervent fans and inquisitive journalists.
In an exclusive dialogue with Anthony Slater of The Athletic, Kerr elaborated on his tactical move, shedding light on the meticulous balance between pushing Curry’s performance limits and ensuring adequate rest to stave off exhaustion. “We are trying to keep him around 30, trying to get him as much rest as we can. He played for 35 minutes two days ago… We wanted to limit the minutes a little bit, not limit them but not overplay [him],” Kerr articulated.
When pressed on the conspicuous absence of Curry in the final quarter and its potential impact on the game’s outcome, Kerr swiftly refuted any correlation between Curry’s absence and the defeat. “No,” Kerr retorted emphatically. “We got Chris Paul out there. We got Klay [Thompson]. We got Draymond [Green]. We got great players out there. So, we can’t expect to just ride Steph game after game after game…”
In a moment tinged with a hint of irony, Kerr acknowledged the immense pressure Curry shoulders as the franchise’s linchpin for over a decade, jesting, “These last few weeks have been really tough on him. We’ve [placed] the burden of this franchise on his shoulders for fifteen years,” before reiterating the necessity to preserve Curry’s stamina amid a grueling schedule.
“We got 5 games in 7 days of road trip. If you want to say (Steph Curry) playing 30 or 32 minutes was the difference in a win or a loss, I totally disagree. We are trying to win the game; we’re trying to keep him fresh, too,” Kerr emphasized, underscoring the team’s holistic approach to securing victories while safeguarding Curry’s vitality.
Despite Curry’s valiant efforts, notching an impressive 31 points along with 4 rebounds and 3 assists, the Warriors succumbed to the Timberwolves, relegating their season record to 36-34, amplifying the frustrations of fans and pundits alike.
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