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00:00Out to the River Islands guest line we go. Time for Steve Kerr, presented by Great Clips in Sports Success.
00:06It is about team effort, and the same is true for your hair. Great Clips. It's going to be great.
00:12Hey, Coach, how you doing? Good to talk to you.
00:15Yeah, you too. I'm doing well, thanks.
00:18What about one of those Pat Spencer jerseys? You have family members calling you to get their hands on one of those now?
00:24Well, everybody wants one of those. You know what? I'll tell you what has happened over the last week.
00:31Everybody with a friend who played lacrosse is texting me.
00:36Like, hey, does Pat want to meet my friend? He played lacrosse at Stanford.
00:41I'm like, yeah, I think Pat has plenty of friends right now, but thanks.
00:45I mean, it's just a phenomenon, and I wonder if you can put it into any sort of perspective.
00:50I mean, you've been around the association for so long.
00:54Have you seen anything like this?
00:57I know that Jeremy Lin, the Lin Sanity in New York and all the rest of it,
01:00but to have a player do what he did and has done in a week, is there any comp you can make?
01:07Well, one of our coaches mentioned Jeremy Lin the other night.
01:11I couldn't really think of any others, but yeah, it's not unprecedented, I'm sure,
01:19but it's just a wonderful story.
01:21I mean, any time you get a guy who has put in the work like Pat has and has the story,
01:29the journey that Pat has, I mean, you can't help but pull for the guy.
01:33But it only really becomes a great story when the guy is legit, and, you know, there are guys who are flashes in the pan,
01:44but that's legit.
01:48You can see it out there.
01:49You can see the competitive desire, the fight, the intelligence, his ability to run pick and roll.
01:58This guy's a real player, and he's finally getting his opportunity, and he's making the most of it.
02:03So, Steve, I think I know the answer to this next question, but I'm going to ask it anyway so that we can set up the rest of the conversation.
02:09Pat has been nice, but he hasn't made you forget about Steph Curry, has he?
02:17I'm actually kind of looking forward to getting them on the court together.
02:21That could be fun.
02:24Okay.
02:24So, actually, because that is kind of what I think everybody wants to know.
02:28By the way, possibly Pat, too.
02:30I don't think he's going to ask you, but I do think he's curious.
02:33Like, what do you see as his role once Steph is back?
02:39Well, we'll have to find out.
02:40I mean, I'm not going to take away all of his minutes.
02:44I can tell you that.
02:45I'm definitely going to play him with Steph some, and we'll see.
02:50Some of it will depend on matchups, how well we can hold up defensively.
02:54You know, the three guys we put with them, all of that has to be determined.
02:58But the way Pat is playing, the way he's impacting winning,
03:03the way he's impacting just the competitive spirit of the team,
03:08I have to keep playing him.
03:10I mean, we're winning.
03:12We're, you know, and he's a huge part of that.
03:14So, what happens between now and Friday, not only with Steph Curry,
03:18but with, you know, you as a coach and the team?
03:21You've always wanted to have all these practices,
03:23and now you've got days to go out there and practice.
03:25So, what's the plan, Steve, between now and Friday?
03:29Well, we gave them today off yesterday and today.
03:32They needed a couple of days.
03:33And so, we'll practice tomorrow and Thursday.
03:38So, two good practices before the Minnesota game.
03:41And we'll scrimmage.
03:43You know, it'll probably be one of our only scrimmages of the season
03:48during the main schedule tomorrow.
03:53And it'll be great.
03:55You know, we're getting Steph back, hopefully.
03:59That seems to be where this is all heading.
04:01So, you know, to get the whole group together and scrimmage will be a really
04:07good thing for us.
04:08When you do a scrimmage like that, is it starters against the second team?
04:12Do you kind of divvy it up?
04:13Do you let the guys kind of pick teams like the old schoolyard days?
04:16What's that like?
04:18Well, at this point, I don't even know who our starters are.
04:21So, that would be difficult to determine.
04:24But, yeah, it just depends.
04:26I mean, we generally will do that, you know, starters against the second team
04:30and, you know, mix in some of the reserves.
04:33But we have a legit 13, 14 guys now who, you know, who could all play.
04:41And so, we've got a major puzzle to figure out and a lot of mouths to feed,
04:48as I said.
04:49So, this is not going to be easy.
04:50But it's a good problem to have because it's because of the depth that it gives us.
04:55Steve Kerr with us on Wither and Dibs, as he is every week.
04:57That's definitely what I wanted to ask you next.
05:00It's a puzzle you need to figure out.
05:02Is there a time frame on that?
05:04Like, is there a spot in the schedule where you do want to know who your 10 or 11 guys are
05:10and then you're kind of doing your thing night to night?
05:14Well, not really.
05:16I mean, if you find something, then you stick with it.
05:18And then, you know, during the 82-game season, eventually things are going to change.
05:24Either you're not playing well or you get an injury or something, and then you adapt.
05:28But, you know, what's happened here, I would say, over the last week,
05:33even though we let that Philadelphia game slip away,
05:37but you think about the way our guys fought and played in that second half of OKC
05:43and then Philly and Cleveland-Chicago, that's four games in a row where we've seen a lot of good things.
05:50And obviously Pat Spencer in the middle of it, but really good defense, you know, is part of that.
05:56And, you know, we just have to keep going and carry that momentum forward.
06:02And that's what I'm looking for the most is, you know,
06:06can we find a little momentum from this stretch and carry it forward to a more consistent level of playing?
06:13Is it fair to say that that is a challenge for Jonathan Kaminga?
06:18And we always joke on the show that all roads lead to Kaminga, but he got a DNP last time out.
06:23And is it as simple as those little things like the effort and the want to
06:29that maybe has been missing from his game of late?
06:33Yeah, yeah, for sure.
06:35You know, he has not played well lately, and that's why I went away from him, you know, last game,
06:40because, you know, Guy Santos came in and really made a huge impact in both Philadelphia and Cleveland games.
06:49And, you know, the energy and the passing, the connection, all those things that Pat and Guy can provide,
06:56that's what our team needs right now.
06:59And so, you know, I said this the other night.
07:02I mean, it's no different from any other player on the team.
07:05It's just that, you know, J.K. always gets the most attention from you guys.
07:09But every player, you know, other than the obvious, you know, Steph, Draymond, and Jimmy,
07:15those guys are going to play no matter what because they've established that, you know,
07:20they are who they are, you know.
07:23I know what I'm going to get from them every night.
07:27And so the rest of the group, it's up to each individual guy to deal with his own set of circumstances
07:37based on, you know, how the team is playing.
07:39And then we have to sort of figure out what combination is going to help us win.
07:45Steve, there's no doubt that we're guilty of what you just said.
07:49Guilty.
07:49Yeah, absolutely.
07:51The media, the fans, the obsession with Jonathan Kaminga, it is what it is.
07:56However, I would say this, like when you bring up that idea of whatever his struggles are,
08:02whether it be energy, whether it be, as people often say, the way you guys want him to play,
08:08I think one of the things that's really at the core of this is it feels like this is a conversation
08:13that's been going on for at least three years.
08:18What's your response to that?
08:20Like, it feels like this is something that's been going back and forth for a really long time
08:25and we're still here.
08:26I think that feels concerning to fans.
08:30Yeah, I don't argue with that.
08:33It has been a discussion for many years with the fans.
08:41His role has fluctuated over the years.
08:44That's all part of it.
08:46I can't argue with any of that.
08:48But, so, it is what it is.
08:51I mean, as a coach, you know, you try to help each of your players get the best of his abilities
08:57and succeed and you have to put together the best groups that are going to help you win.
09:03And, as I said, there's never kind of a linear path for any of these guys.
09:09And so, you just keep working.
09:11Keep working with the player.
09:13Keep working with the team.
09:14So, I guess what's head-scratching to fans right now is we saw those first five games.
09:19You know, you started him and he was really doing some good things.
09:23What happened?
09:24What did you see happen to Jonathan?
09:27Obviously, the injury was in there, too.
09:29But, what did you see that kind of knocked him off course?
09:31Well, the injury, for sure.
09:36But, his play tailed off.
09:39I mean, there's no denying that.
09:41He, you know, he didn't play as well as he had.
09:45Our team didn't play as well.
09:46And so, we decided to make a shift.
09:48And, as I said, I mean, that's my job all the time.
09:52If things aren't going well, I have to find a different solution, a different combination.
10:00And, I think it's as simple as that.
10:03You know, Jonathan was playing really well those first, whatever it was, eight or ten games.
10:07And then, the last few weeks have not been nearly as good.
10:11And so, we make a shift.
10:13And that's, you know, it's not that complicated, actually.
10:17Pat Spencer joined Steining and Guru earlier today.
10:19And, he talked about being part of the Stay Ready Crew, where you just never know when you were going to tab them to come in and play.
10:27Is Jonathan Kaminga cut out to be one of those Stay Ready guys in case that he happens to fall out of the rotation?
10:35Well, you know, he's obviously a guy with a lot of ambition, which I love.
10:43He wants to be a star.
10:44He's got the ability that, you know, that gives him that hope and gives us that hope.
10:53But, there has to be, you know, a consistent level of play in order to achieve that.
10:58And, you know, you've seen Jimmy really take him under his wing this year.
11:03And, I love what the veteran players have done, Draymond and Steph.
11:08You know, they're all really fighting for him in his corner.
11:11So, the potential is there.
11:14But, there has to be a level of consistency, especially at this level.
11:24I mean, we're talking about the best basketball league in the world.
11:27And, so, the consistency has to be there for us.
11:32And, you know, if it's not there, then it makes it much more difficult for me to just to give him consistent minutes and give him starts.
11:41So, that's what we're asking for is a more consistent level of production.
11:47Steve Kerr with us here on Willard and Dibs.
11:50And, Steve, it's interesting.
11:52With the constant Jonathan conversation and then the Pat Spencer story, which has kind of gathered the imagination,
11:59I feel like the most under-discussed thing of the last week is the return of DeAnthony Melton.
12:05Can you put into words what the really important skills are that he brings to this
12:11and what you sort of envision for his role going forward?
12:14Well, he's a two-way player.
12:18He's fundamentally sound.
12:21You see it with his passing, his ball handling, his footwork.
12:26The defense, the on-ball defense, is a game-changer for us.
12:30You saw the last play of the Philly game.
12:33He forced Tyrese Maxey into a really tough shot.
12:38And it was, you know, he even blocked it, which caused the air ball, which led to the putback.
12:45But that sequence alone tells you everything you need to know about why DeAnthony is so important to us.
12:52The ability to stay in front of these quick guys, these great players.
12:56And then at the other end, to fit in next to any four guys, you can put DeAnthony in any lineup combination
13:04because he can dribble, pass, shoot, and process.
13:08And when you can do those things, that makes you a two-way player, and that makes you playable at the highest level.
13:14I'm talking, you know, playoffs, finals, it doesn't matter.
13:17That's why DeAnthony is so important to us.
13:19Yeah, it's great to see him, you know, getting his footing coming off of a year after the ACL.
13:23And I just wonder how soon you might have your full complement.
13:27And Draymond Green's a guy we haven't asked you about.
13:30How close is he to coming back, and how's he going about getting better?
13:35Yeah, he's scheduled to practice tomorrow.
13:38And with the scrimmage, we'll have a much better feel afterwards for how close he is.
13:44But I don't have an answer yet as to whether he'll play on Friday.
13:48But I'm excited to get him back and pair him with DeAnthony.
13:54You can think, you know, you can see the defensive capabilities.
13:58And by the way, I think we're up to fourth or fifth in the league in defensive rating.
14:04So he's contributed to that the last few games, and we are doing better as a team,
14:12just containing the ball and helping.
14:14So that part's really exciting.
14:16And as we get our full complement of players, you get Steph back.
14:20It gives us a chance to put our best foot forward.
14:24Steve, that's interesting that you bring that up, because I think it speaks to maybe why a couple weeks ago you were like,
14:29the defense is fine.
14:31I think it's the offense.
14:33And so did it catch you maybe off guard?
14:35Why did you feel like, in your press conferences, it was like, we're thinking offense.
14:41And then Jimmy and Draymond are in the locker room going, we're not guarding anybody.
14:46What was with that communication?
14:51Well, I don't think they were wrong.
14:53We were not good defensively in those games.
14:56And I love when players turn to the defense first, you know, when it comes to, hey, look, we've got to right the ship.
15:03Let's get stops.
15:04That's the right attitude.
15:06I think their focus was the frustration of not playing well defensively in those losses.
15:11And my focus was more big picture, recognizing that our defense in general was pretty good.
15:17Even as they were saying that, you know, I think we were ranked 10th or 11th in the league defensively.
15:23And then I think part of it, too, is the modern game.
15:26You know, the rankings almost feel skewed, you know, because of the pace and the three-point shooting.
15:34You have some of these games where, as a coaching staff, you look at the film and you go, well, we actually played pretty well.
15:40But we gave up 120 points, you know, and so I think the players even have to get used to this modern game
15:47and really assessing, you know, the defense on a different scale than we used to just because of the style of play.
15:55And the offense is now kind of a copycat thing where everyone's doing what you guys used to be the best at.
16:00And you've shot the second most threes in the association, yet you're bottom five in percentage.
16:05What would you attribute that to, the shooting woes you guys have gone through?
16:10Well, we have to get better with our offensive connection, our rhythm.
16:15I think we're going to get better.
16:17I think we're 23rd in the league in efficiency right now, and that obviously has to get better.
16:22But I think we can create better shots for each other.
16:25I do think the turnovers are part of that offensive rating, part of the fact that we haven't found a great rhythm.
16:34Because you can kind of feel it this last week.
16:38We've taken much better care of the ball overall, and our offense looks better.
16:45Now, we're not always making shots, as you said, but when we get shots on goal, I think Jimmy has put it that way.
16:52You know, just get shots on goal.
16:54Don't turn it over.
16:55Good things happen, because you can see our offensive rebounding has improved.
16:59One of the reasons I play Guy, you know, the crashing on the offensive boards is something he does incredibly well.
17:06And it's a huge part of the modern game.
17:09If you can cross and get extra opportunities, it goes a long way towards winning.
17:14Steve, is returning to Chicago still a thing for you?
17:17Like, what's that like when you go back into that building?
17:21It's still special just to be in the hallways, you know, outside the Bulls locker room.
17:26So many memories of going through those hallways and emerging onto the court, looking up at the banners.
17:33And the fact that we only go there once a year.
17:35I do look forward to that trip every year.
17:38And what about Jimmy?
17:39Like, it's funny, you know, people make so much about that Miami thing.
17:43He's got a handful of former spots, but do you notice anything sort of different in him when he goes back to one of them?
17:51Not really.
17:52Jimmy doesn't show his hand very often.
17:56If the Chicago visit is a special one, he kind of hides it pretty well.
18:03I think he loved that game, though.
18:05I think he loved playing with that group of guys, you know, kind of the underdogs, you know, the Pats and the Geese, you know, and getting Meltback and, you know, Moses' buddy.
18:20I mean, I think when he's out there with a group like that that can really connect and play two-way basketball and he can kind of lead the group, I think he's really good at it, first of all.
18:31And I think he really enjoys it, too.
18:33All right, Steve, you were pretty busy over the weekend, but around America, it was make-the-playoffs day.
18:39How did that fantasy team thing end up for you?
18:43I got to tell you guys, ever since my rant, my guys have won five in a row.
18:51Yeah.
18:52You're in.
18:52The beach work.
18:54I think they read the, you know, my guys read the Internet, so they were well aware of my anger and they responded.
19:01Okay.
19:01That's big.
19:02Were you grinding?
19:03Like, did you have anybody in last night's game that you were grinding on?
19:08No, I dropped a major bomb on my opponent this weekend.
19:14I had it wrapped up by, like, the afternoon games on Sunday.
19:17Ottoman games.
19:18I love that.
19:19All right, so what seed are you?
19:21What seed are you here, Steve?
19:23No, no, we don't do playoffs.
19:25We do like the Premier League.
19:28Like, just whoever has the best record at the end of the 18 weeks is the champ.
19:34So, unfortunately, one of our guys is running away with it right now.
19:39But, you know, I'm in the hunt for second.
19:42But you know me, guys.
19:44I don't care about second.
19:45No, no.
19:46Second is the first loser, as you all know.
19:49That's right.
19:49Now that you mention the Premier League, you had talked to Grandy and I earlier about your
19:54coaches' Zoom with Mikel Arteta.
19:57Any other coaches' names that you can drop on who joins you in that monthly Zoom of heavyweights?
20:02I don't want to drop any more names.
20:05It's kind of, you know, kind of a private thing.
20:09But some of the names you'd know, some you don't.
20:12You know, but it's a really awesome program.
20:15The company is called Aleda.
20:17It's A-L-E-D-A.
20:19And they do these Zooms with coaches.
20:23They also do it with young players.
20:25So, you know, Moses Moody, last year I recommended that he get into one.
20:29And he got into one and there were, you know, other athletes from other sports so that they
20:35can all connect and kind of share stories and thoughts.
20:39And it's a great idea, though, because, you know, when you're in this business, there aren't
20:44a lot of other people out there who can really relate to what you're going through.
20:49But fellow coaches in different sports, you'd be amazed at just how many things we all have
20:54in common.
20:55And it's a really, really fun exercise, and I've learned a ton from it.
21:00Yeah.
21:00You know what?
21:00I bet that works for just about anybody.
21:03Because, for instance, I bet you could talk to other coaches.
21:06And when you guys go on the travels that you've gone on so far this year, they probably can
21:12commiserate.
21:12Because you know how it is for fans.
21:14Fans are like, oh, I bet your first class plane ticket is really, really tough, Steve.
21:22It's all relative, right?
21:24Isn't it?
21:24Yeah.
21:25Yeah.
21:25Yeah.
21:26We are all well aware of how lucky we are and how good we have it.
21:30So that's, you know, that's a different conversation.
21:34The life we lead is insane and never anything any of us could have imagined.
21:40But the reason we all get into it is because we're competitors.
21:45And losing and struggling, it affects us in a big way.
21:49So we're not talking about life struggles.
21:52We're talking about job struggles.
21:55And there's a lot to learn from each other.
21:59I think it's a great exercise.
22:02Love it.
22:03Steve, keep that win streak going, even if it's a race for second.
22:07And get it.
22:09Yeah.
22:10Enjoy it.
22:10What about you?
22:12That's a sore subject there, Steve.
22:15Hey, here's all I'll tell you, Steve, because we already knew where my season was going to end.
22:20But I will ask my partner here what happened in our head-to-head matchup over the weekend.
22:26Ah, okay.
22:27Before I answer that, Steve, when you go into someone's house and it's a rainy day, where do you wipe your feet before you go in the house?
22:36On the mat outside.
22:38On the doormat.
22:39Yeah.
22:40That's right.
22:40That's my partner.
22:42And he got me.
22:43And then, yeah, is that what happened?
22:45I mean, I'm going to the playoffs and he got me in a meaningless, I'll be honest, Steve, I kind of threw him a bone.
22:52I played my bench.
22:53Ah, so you're heading to the playoffs and he's not.
22:55Right, right, right.
22:57But I have a ring and he doesn't, Steve.
23:00You know about rings, don't you?
23:03You're that rings culture guy, huh?
23:05Yeah.
23:05That's right.
23:06That's right.
23:06I doubt Steve even knows where all nine of his rings are.
23:10He's probably lost a few of them.
23:11Do you, Steve?
23:12Oh, do you know where your rings are?
23:15I'll admit I do not.
23:17See?
23:18Do you know where any of them are?
23:20I do.
23:21I do.
23:21I've got some in a safe deposit box down in San Diego.
23:25And then I've got some here, but I don't know that I could, you know, sort of get them
23:32all together and know exactly what I would do.
23:35Yeah, that's got to be nice, right?
23:37So next level.
23:38Yeah, it's a real problem.
23:40It's so next level.
23:41You're just like, they're pieces of metal, whatever.
23:43Whatever.
23:46You know, sometimes I'll just be looking, you know, for a spice or something.
23:51Like, where's the cumin?
23:52Oh, wait.
23:53Where's my ring from 97?
23:57That might be the flexiest flex we've ever had.
24:01Where's the cumin?
24:02Oh, wait.
24:03There's a ring.
24:04There's my bull's ring.
24:06Oh, my God, Steve Kerr.
24:07We're definitely stopping right there.
24:09That's the best walk-off we've had in a while.
24:11All right, Steve.
24:12We'll talk to you next week.
24:13All right, fellas.
24:14Thanks, Steve.
24:15Sounds good.
24:15See you later.
24:16All right, there you go.
24:16Where's the cumin?
24:18I mean.
24:18Oh!
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