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00:00Out to the River Island's guest line for Steve Kerr, presented by Great Clips.
00:03In sports, success is about team effort, and the same is true for your hair.
00:07Great Clips, it's going to be great.
00:08And I was going to start the conversation off by just this big thank you to Steve Kerr
00:12for being such a class act and coming out and talking to everybody.
00:15And then I look up, and we've got a TV in here.
00:18We've got a few of them here in the room, Steve, and NBA TV is on.
00:21And I'm not kidding, 32 seconds ago, I don't even know why,
00:25because the sound is off, but they're showing basically your championship shot
00:32with the Bulls where Michael Jordan just can't stop hugging you.
00:36Like, that literally just happened 30 seconds ago, right before the whole thing started.
00:39So, hi.
00:41Hi. Well, that's flattering.
00:43I'll take it. I would have recorded it so I could have felt better about things.
00:50Unbelievable.
00:51But anyway, so thank you for today.
00:53That was very nice of you to come give a little bit of your time.
00:57No, I enjoyed it.
00:58I'm glad you guys got on the floor at Chase.
01:01It's pretty cool, isn't it, getting to go down there and take some shots?
01:06Well, it's not only very cool, I would say that this year it even felt a little bit different.
01:13This is the third time for some of us that we get down there to do that,
01:17but especially because of what happened there last night,
01:20I don't know if I've ever felt this way after a loss before,
01:24but to kind of just be out on that floor knowing kind of how special
01:28what had just happened the night before was, was really something.
01:33So how do you put last night into words?
01:38Well, obviously, we didn't win, which was disappointing, but I love the atmosphere.
01:46I love the vibe.
01:47I love the performance of our team.
01:49And it just, it felt right again.
01:53You know, that's the impact Steph has.
01:55He just makes, he kind of makes everything right.
01:58He makes everybody better.
01:59There, it's, there's an energy in the building that only exists when he's there.
02:06It's, he's a remarkable performer.
02:08And for him to come back after whatever, 26, 27 game absence and play that way
02:15against maybe the best perimeter defender in the league.
02:18And I'm in Thompson was just incredible.
02:21And so you see that, and obviously you knew that, you know,
02:24Steph was going to be good enough to go out there and play because he's healthy
02:27and he got cleared by the doctors as well.
02:28But is there still a degree of amazement for you when he's been out for a couple of months
02:34and he comes back in that setting against that defender and looks that good?
02:40I mean, he, he never ceases to amaze me.
02:43So yes, I mean, it's, but it's like a thousandth time that he's amazed me over these 12 years.
02:52So it shouldn't be amazing, but it continues to be so.
02:55Um, I, I guess because so much has been made about this particular injury and its process
03:02and the fact that everyone's very interested in how Steph is doing the next day.
03:06Uh, how, how is Steph doing the next day?
03:10Yeah, he was fine today at practice.
03:12We didn't, we didn't really do much, but, um, you know, we walked through some stuff and
03:16watched film and, uh, he got, got some treatment and, um, he, he seemed to be doing fine.
03:22There were, there wasn't any concern about tomorrow night.
03:26So, you know, he, uh, he really took his time with the rehab, did everything right.
03:31Um, you know, followed Rick's instructions and, and that's why we've been so adamant that,
03:38you know, if everything came together, he would be playing.
03:42I mean, this was, uh, this has been unfolding now the last few weeks, um, obviously lots
03:50of speculation and drama, but you know, the bottom line is he's, he's gotten healthy and
03:55he's healthy now and that's why he's playing.
03:57So, so we can assume if no setbacks, he is in the plans for tomorrow night.
04:02Is that correct?
04:04Oh yeah, that's correct.
04:05Okay.
04:06And do you have a plan for the back to back later this week?
04:09We don't have a plan yet, but, um, I, I think there's, uh, you know, there's a good chance
04:15that they'll miss a game in one of those two, along with several guys, just because of, uh,
04:21where we are with having so many guys banged up and finishing the season with four games in
04:27six days.
04:28So we don't have a plan yet, but, um, uh, there, there, there will be one as we, as we
04:34go.
04:35It's just, we have to do it on a day-to-day basis.
04:37And part of that, I'm sure is, you know, waiting until you actually are confirmed to
04:41be the 10 seed, because right now there's a chance that the Clippers lose out and you
04:45win out and you could possibly jump them and be the nine.
04:49Is that sort of in the back of your mind as far as, you know, how you're going to navigate
04:53these next four games?
04:55Well, had we won last night, I think it would have been, uh, more of a possibility, but now
05:00it's, it's really, um, it's, uh, that's a long shot.
05:04I don't think they're going to lose all four, but, um, well, you know, we're, we're
05:09mostly concerned about our health and our rhythm and, uh, these last four games, our
05:14approach will reflect that.
05:16And, uh, you know, we're hoping to get Al back, uh, for a game or two.
05:20We'll see how, how that pans out.
05:22Uh, he played three on three today, which was great.
05:25And, uh, but he's making some strides and biggest thing is, is health.
05:30And, you know, just, uh, going into that first play in game, you know, in a week and a half
05:35or whatever it is, um, in, in, in good shape and feeling good about ourselves.
05:40Yeah.
05:40I, I, I think Steve, that's, that's something I, I, I'd love to hear you talk about, which
05:45is you guys could be a completely different roster by next week.
05:49At the same time, back-to-back road elimination games is hard, no matter your strength.
05:56So, so how, how do you sort of feel about, about your chances?
06:01I love our chances as long as we have, um, you know, good health.
06:07If we've got, if we've got Steph, we've got Al, we've got, uh, all of our guys who are currently
06:12playing, you know, um, feeling good, playing at a high level.
06:16And I, I like our chances a lot.
06:18I think we can do it.
06:20And you've got Chris Stapps now playing more consistently just because of, uh, health and
06:24Rick Celebrini gets a lot of the credit.
06:26But when you look at a possible, you know, Steph and Chris Stapps run here, as you get
06:31into the play-in, what does that tell you about how you might be able to approach it
06:36offensively and what that might look like?
06:39Well, Chris Stapps is a really easy fit with anybody and so is Steph.
06:43So I, I, I don't think that, that there's like a long process that needs to happen.
06:49Um, you got two guys who both really shoot the ball well from deep and they create a ton
06:54of space for one another.
06:56And, um, I, I, I think, uh, it's, uh, it, you know, it should be a relatively simple fit.
07:03But Steve Kerr with us here as he is every week on Willard and Dibbs 95.7, the game,
07:09Steve, uh, I think he addressed it in the, uh, the postgame session last night, but would
07:13love your perspective.
07:14A lot has been made of Draymond kind of waving pods over to maybe do a double screen on that
07:19last shot.
07:21What what's unfolding there in your eyes and what did you want to see happen?
07:26Well, it's a little bit of a tricky situation because, um, you know, the reason you don't
07:31take the time out is to keep their weaker defenders on the floor.
07:36And, um, you know, so once they scored, our plan was to go.
07:42And, um, you know, so we wanted to get Shen Goon into the, into the screen, but also, you
07:47know, time is, is running out and Draymond is our best screener.
07:52So he's running into the screen.
07:54And I think Brandon at that point is also feeling like, well, I don't want to, you know, make
07:59everything crowded and bring too many people into it.
08:02So it's, um, it's really a read from both guys.
08:07And I, uh, you know, Draymond was trying to bring Shen Goon into it with, with pods.
08:12I think Brandon was just trying to give, give Steph some space.
08:15Um, in the end, it's a good club for us to have, you know, to, to show the guys when
08:20we
08:21get into this situation, um, what it looks like.
08:23I thought our spacing could have been a little bit better.
08:26We could have been a little bit cleaner on it.
08:29Um, but you know, Steph got a shot up and, and you, you know, you, you, you live with
08:34that.
08:34I mean, obviously Steph Curry's shooting a three for a, for the win you take any, any
08:40day.
08:40So it wasn't really, um, you know, anybody's fault or anything like that.
08:46It was that, that's kind of the way the play unfolded.
08:48Uh, speaking of, of pods, Steve, I was really struck by what you said to all of our listeners
08:54there at knockout today, when you were talking about the machine that the NBA is and how
08:59everybody has a role, even fans and the media and how sometimes that's negative.
09:04Um, it's been a big part of what our listeners have wanted to talk about today, not just Steph's
09:09return, but Friday night pods and will Richard are at the giants game and they show them on
09:14the screen.
09:15And apparently there was at least a smattering, if not more of booze when they, when they show
09:21pods up on the screen, I wonder what your perspective is on that.
09:25And, and if you see that as just one of those things, like part of the machine.
09:31Well, I didn't see it.
09:33Um, but, uh, if so, that's pretty disappointing.
09:37Um, you know, I, I know that he can be a little bit of a polarizing figure with our fans,
09:44but, um, I, you know, I would hope people recognize, um, you know, just the good things
09:50that, that he does for us and, and what a good player he is.
09:54And he's in his third year, he's growing, you know, and he, and he really only played
09:59a year and a half of college.
10:00I think he, he, um, barely got in for Illinois, transferred to Santa Clara and played one year.
10:06So this is a young guy who's growing and learning.
10:09And, you know, I think some of the reaction, uh, from, from fans, if there's booing at the
10:15Giants game or whatever, you know, some of that might just be, Hey, he, he said some things
10:20early in the year that, you know, maybe rubbed people the wrong way, wanting to be better
10:25than Steph, whatever.
10:27But look, he's a young guy and he's growing and he's maturing and he's, he's, he's really
10:32a good player.
10:32I mean, he does, he does so much for our team that I think people don't, don't recognize
10:37and don't see, um, his rebounding, his ball handling.
10:41You can put him in any spot as in, uh, when I drop a play, I can have him be
10:47the handler,
10:48the shooter, the screener, the diver.
10:50Uh, but he's, he really sees the game well.
10:54Um, but yes, he's got a lot to improve on, but that's, that's what being a young player is
10:59all about.
10:59And for fans, is it, I mean, it's hard for you to put yourself in that space because
11:04you're a former player and now you're a coach, but is there anything that, you know, fans
11:09can learn about pods that would maybe change their, the, the conception that they have of
11:14them?
11:16Well, if they want to look at the analytics and I know most fans don't really have time
11:21to, you know, get on, uh, on the basketball reference.com and look at analytics numbers
11:28or NBA.com.
11:30But, um, this guy's in, in, uh, and he has been for three years.
11:34He's, he's in all of our best lineups.
11:37Um, he has a really, uh, good way of connecting lineups because of his versatility is rebounding,
11:44you know, taking charges.
11:46He, he does, he does a lot of things that help you win.
11:49And that's kind of the point.
11:51And, um, so I, I just think that, you know, we're, we're trying to help him along in his,
11:56in his young career.
11:57And, but, but he is, uh, he's doing a lot of good things for us and, and, you know, people
12:01need to recognize both the good things and the fact that, um, when you're young, you've
12:07got to, you got to make some mistakes.
12:09You got to, you got to, you know, grow and you got to mature all that stuff.
12:13And I feel like Brandon's going through that process.
12:16Steve, I want to ask you also about Steph Curry's comments on Saturday.
12:20Uh, it really caught my ear when he referenced a quote, new normal, um, as he talks about
12:26kind of how to navigate that knee, both the rest of this year into the off season as well.
12:32What can you share with what he might be talking about there as far as the new normal for him?
12:37I don't know.
12:38You're going to have to, you're going to have to interview him.
12:41So, you know, see if Raymond can get you on the show or get, get Steph on the show.
12:46Yeah, no, fair enough.
12:48I, but you know, he, he said he wanted to look forward to a reboot in the off season.
12:54Like has this experience, this injury put any sort of a thought into the organization's
13:00mind about, about the future and just kind of his, uh, professional mortality.
13:06If you will, I mean, he's 38.
13:09So, uh, you know, it's, it's not like this is news, um, other time and beats everybody
13:17at some point.
13:18And, um, you know, I think you, you, the, the, the comps that, that you would look at
13:24for Steph would be other guys who played his position, you know, John Stockton, Steve Nash,
13:30um, you know, both guys played at a really high level, um, for a long time, kept great
13:36care of their bodies.
13:39Um, you know, they didn't have probably, uh, the, the, the, the same knowledge and wisdom
13:45that we have now in terms of ways to, to lengthen careers while you're seeing guys like Kevin
13:51Duran and LeBron and Steph playing at such a high level still.
13:54But, um, not like, you know, it's, it's, it can only go, go on even if, you know, if
14:00it's the best of circumstances, it can only go on a few more years.
14:04Um, so it's, uh, Steph's just being realistic and being honest and, and, uh, the new normal,
14:13I guess just means, you know, when you're 38, that's, it's, it's a lot different.
14:17Yeah.
14:18Reggie Miller, I'm just looking here, uh, averaged almost 15 a game as a 39 year old in his final
14:23year, he played 66 games.
14:24So it's not to say that Steph is, you know, absolutely going to hang him up, but just thinking
14:30about the rest of this year and then on into next year, are you starting to get, and I
14:35don't want to say last dance vibes because, you know, that's not what this is.
14:40And that was that when you were on the bulls, but are you starting to sense that, you know,
14:44there's urgency for this team is really coming to the forefront.
14:49Oh, we've always had urgency.
14:50You know, you, you don't win four championships without being urgent.
14:54And, and, um, you know, for the last four years since we won our last title, we've been
15:00desperately trying to win.
15:02And, uh, you know, we've, uh, we've had two playoff runs where we, we, uh, you know,
15:07got, got to the conference semis and, and had, you know, had chances to, to get further
15:13and couldn't do it.
15:14And the other year we lost in the plan, but there's never been a lack of urgency.
15:19It's, uh, it's all we have faced is, is just the reality of the rest of the league getting
15:25better and younger and, and that's getting older and, you know, trying to mitigate that
15:30with, with, uh, you know, strategic moves, roster moves.
15:34Uh, so you, you, you just, you just keep going for it.
15:38And that's what we're doing.
15:39That's why we were so adamant that Steph would play.
15:42Um, a lot of, a lot of people were talking about, you know, us just leaving him out,
15:48but, uh, you know, not letting him play the rest of the year and moving forward.
15:52I, I, can you imagine if we had done that and our fans didn't get to see that last night?
15:56I mean, the whole point of what we're doing is to, to give our fans a great product and
16:01that's, that's our focus.
16:02And the best product is, is the one that, that wins.
16:06And, uh, so that's our focus.
16:08We're just trying to, trying to win and get into the playoffs to see what we can do.
16:12Yeah.
16:12I thought last night alone legitimized everything that you all have been saying about that.
16:17Steve, I want to go back to your previous statement about how it feels kind of unrealistic
16:21to you guys that, that the Clippers are going to lose out or whatever.
16:25So what, what does that leave for the four games this week?
16:29Is it fair to say that the goal this week is maybe a little less about wins and more
16:35about just correctly getting everybody ready health-wise for next week?
16:41Well, I think, you know, we want to do both if we can, but we're, we're not going to overdo
16:47it, you know, to, to, uh, to chase every win and play, play people too many minutes and
16:52maybe not give someone a rest.
16:54Guy Santos has been really beaten up.
16:57Uh, you know, uh, Brandon's played huge minutes.
17:00So, uh, definitely I would say the priority is health.
17:04That's the best way for me to say it.
17:06Uh, Charles Bassey guy who might get more minutes, fourth team this year.
17:10He's been on six teams in five years.
17:12What do you see from his game that, uh, has you encouraged?
17:18Did a great job last night.
17:19You know, he came in and didn't know really many of our plays at all, but he, um, he showed
17:26great energy.
17:27Uh, we needed him, you know, against their size.
17:30He got out there and got, um, got a couple of hoops, couple of block shots.
17:33Uh, you felt his presence.
17:35Uh, Charles did a really good job.
17:37It was fun to see him out there.
17:39Can you take us through a day like that?
17:41I mean, somebody comes in or is he literally introducing himself to people and then playing
17:46basketball an hour later?
17:48Like how, how does that all go?
17:50Yeah.
17:50I mean, he, he arrived yesterday and, um, we didn't have a shoot around.
17:55So he basically showed up a couple hours before the game and went around the clubhouse and
18:00introduced himself.
18:01And, and, uh, I said, hi.
18:03And I, you know, one of our coaches, Seth Cooper sat with him for a couple minutes and,
18:08uh, you know, here are the three calls we're going to give you, you know, one side out
18:13of bounds, one underneath out of bounds and, and one set.
18:17And this is all you need to know tonight.
18:19This is all we're going to, all we're going to run.
18:21And, uh, and then next thing you know, you're, you're, you know, you're putting him in the
18:25game and, and, um, you, you, you, you, he wasn't even on the roster the day before.
18:30So it's, uh, it happens quickly.
18:32And so between then and the next game, is there obviously a lot more of an indoctrination
18:38for Charles or is it just, you know, trying to, when he's out there, keep things as limited
18:43as possible?
18:45Yeah, we'll, you know, get him a little more acclimated.
18:48Um, you know, I hopefully add a, a call or two, you know, um, you know, he did play in
18:56Santa Cruz a little bit with, with us.
18:58So we have some similar calls, uh, on side out of bounds and stuff.
19:02So we, we were able to, to, um, to give him a little bit more, um, not everything is exactly
19:09the same.
19:10So it's, uh, you know, you have to adapt, uh, some, but, um, yeah, he's been in the league,
19:15you know, he's played with the Spurs and, and with Boston and he's been well coached.
19:20And so he, he knows what he's doing out there.
19:22I was impressed.
19:23He took several broken plays and, and, and did exactly what he was supposed to do.
19:28So it was really encouraging and watch, watching him play.
19:31Steve Steph called playing with his brother, a dream come true.
19:35So what was it like to watch that and, and obviously have a hand in putting them in at
19:39the same time?
19:41Yeah, it was great.
19:42We've really been, um, wanting to do this and, and unable to do so till, till last night
19:48because of the injuries that both guys have, have shared, have had this year.
19:53So it's been, uh, it's been a long time coming, but it was fun to finally get it done.
19:58And I'm glad Sonia, their mom was in town and in, in, in the stands, I guess, uh, she was
20:03snapping away on her phone and, uh, and, you know, being as proud as, as only a mom can
20:09be, so it's a great moment for the family and, and for the warriors.
20:13Yeah, no doubt.
20:14And now in box scores, we have to look for the S T Curry and the S E Curry, and
20:19you got
20:19to make sure when you're going through the play by play, you know, uh, who is who.
20:23And I don't know, Steve, it's tough to get through this whole conversation without offering
20:28condolences for your Arizona wildcats.
20:30And, uh, man, the fate that befell them on Saturday.
20:35Yeah, it was a tough one, but, um, got to give Michigan credit, man.
20:39Well, they were just a juggernaut, um, dominant and felt like we were never in the game, but
20:45you know, I'm, I'm so proud of the team and the school and, you know, getting to the final
20:50four again for the first time in a long time.
20:53Tommy Lloyd's done such a great job, but, uh, you know, the NCAA tournament is unforgiving.
20:58It's, uh, you, it, it, it, it only ends well for one team, but, um, you know, to get to
21:06the final four, like I said, is, uh, it's a great accomplishment and I'm really, really
21:10proud.
21:10When, when your team gets knocked out, are you one of those that then pulls for the team
21:14that knocked them out?
21:16Like obviously Michigan's going to tip off here in about a half hour.
21:21I do not care what happens tonight.
21:24I'm not even going to watch to be honest with you.
21:27Um, I get it, I get it.
21:29Not bitter, just busy.
21:30Right.
21:31That's all.
21:31Yeah, that's right.
21:33Um, all right, Steve.
21:35Well, again, uh, not just great stuff here, uh, this afternoon, but, uh, but thank you
21:40again.
21:41You, you made a lot of people's day.
21:43Um, we got a lot of comments from people, not just that it was fun to be there, but then,
21:47uh, to suddenly get a chance to say hi to you or grab a picture or whatever really kind
21:52of made their day.
21:53So thank you again for stopping by now.
21:56My pleasure.
21:57It was great to see you guys.
21:58And, uh, thanks for, thanks for having me on.
22:00And I will, we'll talk to you next week.
22:02Okay.
22:03Sounds good.
22:03Steve.
22:03Talk to you then.
22:05All right.
22:06See you guys.
22:06All right.
22:06See.
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