Warriors Analysis: Can Warriors Manage Without Steve Kerr?
By Paul Matli
With news of Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr taking a leave of absence due to back surgery, the question arises: can the Warriors survive without him?
First, off we don’t know if the Warriors will or need to survive without Kerr. There’s still a few weeks before the NBA season officially kicks off, so it’s possible Kerr could be back in time for the start of the season.
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Also, assistant coach Ron Adams said he only expects Kerr to gone for a couple of days. It’s hard to know what he means by this exactly, but reading between the lines it sounds like Kerr might taking the same approach LeBron James took last year, which is taking a couple of weeks off to make sure he’s completely healthy and ready to roam the sidelines again.
The Warriors are a team built to survive Kerr’s leave of absence because of the talent and camaraderie they have. The Warriors have the best roster in the NBA, and are capable of winning in spite of coaches (see Mark Jackson’s tenure).
Another reason why the Warriors can survive this is because winning in the regular season is much easier than winning in the postseason. The Warriors will still win greater than 55 games even if Kerr isn’t coaching them.
But even though the Warriors are capable of surviving without Kerr, it’s not the ideal situation for them.
Luke Walton will taking over as the interim coach. There’s no question he’s a bright basketball mind and learned under Kerr and Alvin Gentry last season. Though, watching him coach the Warriors during the Summer League makes me a little skeptical about him as a head coach.
April 18, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors assistant coach Luke Walton (left) and head coach Steve Kerr (right) react during the second quarter in game one of the first round of the NBA Playoffs against the New Orleans Pelicans at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Pelicans 106-99. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Granted the Warriors Summer League squad didn’t have Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and others, so it’s hard to completely judge Walton.
Depending upon how many games Kerr misses, the Warriors could be behind the eight ball a little bit. In a conference as difficult as the West, every game matters. If the Warriors drop a few games here or there like they did under Jackson a couple of years ago, the conclusion might be no home-court advantage throughout the postseason.
Oracle Arena is the hardest arena in the NBA to play in for opponents, as the 2015 season and the Warriors 39-2 home record showed. Kerr’s leave of absence isn’t a deathblow for the Warriors, but it makes their title defense a little tougher as his experience, basketball acumen and presence in the locker room will be difficult for Walton to replicate.
Get healthy soon, Steve Kerr, the Warriors will need you down the road.