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Steve Kerr: From Caterpillar to Butterfly

By Carlos Murillo

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Nine.

That’s how many rookie coaches have ever had the opportunity to lead the All-Star team in NBA history until now. Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr will be the tenth when he calls the shots for the Western Conference in New York. The Warriors, who boast the best record in the NBA, are on top of pretty much every statistical category on both sides of the ball. Though the Warriors were already good prior to Kerr’s arrival, it seems as if he was the missing piece.

Although the Warriors have made it look easy, Kerr has had to put in hard work from day one.

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Upon arrival in Golden State, Kerr had a lot to prove. Yes, a five-time champion who had successful careers in both an NBA front office and analyst booth joining a playoff team had an uphill battle. However, it didn’t have much to do with basketball reasons. Previous coach Mark Jackson was beloved amongst his players. In the days and weeks following Jackson’s firing, the Warriors players expressed shock and disappointment. Team leader and star Stephen Curry was clearly upset about the firing and defended Jackson on several occasions. Though Jackson did help change the culture in Golden State, leading the team to consecutive playoff appearances, his ability to actually coach seemed limited; he was more of a motivator. Kerr had to win over his new team and gain their trust.

Kerr’s first task was to put together an elite coaching staff that would surely help him where his lack of experience showed. Owner Joe Lacob opened up his checkbook and let Kerr hire the best. After last year’s coaching staff practically fell apart over the course of the season, it was evident that it was extremely important to have a strong assistants. Kerr has put together a team of coaches of veterans and newbies highlighted by great minds like Ron Adams and Alvin Gentry.

With an improved bench, Kerr has improved upon what the Warriors have built over the last few years. The defense has become stingier, but the most noticeable improvement is in the offense. Under the previous regime, the Warriors relied on a lot of isolation. In fact, the Warriors were at the bottom of the league in passes per game. Kerr has incorporated ideas from coaches that he played for, which is a great thing if you played for legendary leaders like Lenny Wilkens, Phil Jackson, and Greg Popovich. The offense is built around ball movement and motion. The Warriors already have more games with 30+ assists at this point in the season than the San Antonio Spurs, who led the league in that, had all of last year.

As a result of his coaching philosophies, the players are having career years. Curry is having an MVP season. Klay Thompson, who spent a lot of time in the post last year, has flourished into the best two-way guard in the league. Draymond Green is a borderline All-Star. Harrison Barnes and Marreese Speights have both revitalized their careers. Andrew Bogut has become a vital part of the offense.

Additionally, Kerr showed his bold nature by moving two of the highest paid players on the team and former All-Stars David Lee and Andre Iguodala to the bench. In essence, Kerr has put players in new situations and positions and the results have been amazing.

It’s almost as if the basketball gods are showing off their sense of humor with Kerr’s All-Star achievement. During the summer, all signs pointed to a Kerr/Phil Jackson reunion with the New York Knicks. In an almost last-minute move, Kerr chose Golden State. Since then, the Warriors have soared to the top of the standings while the Knicks have gone in the opposite direction. Kerr will coach a game in New York. but not in the way that most suspected.

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    • The comparisons between Kerr and Jackson will continue. It seems that everything Jackson held to be true and valid is the exact opposite of what Kerr has done. Regardless of how you feel about Jackson’s coaching style and philosophy, it’s hard to dispute that Lacob didn’t make the right choice. The Warriors have gone from playoff contenders to championship contenders, from good to elite. In doing so, Kerr has earned his All-Star appearance.

    At this point in the season, people are talking about Coach of the Year. While there are many good candidates (Mike Budenholzer, Jason Kidd), Kerr is right there with them. Being the top team in the Western Conference in your first year as coach is no easy feat, regardless of the amount of talent already on the roster. Kerr has combined elegance and grace with a feistiness and fire that wasn’t always evident during his playing days. In fact, in just a few months, he has already surpassed his 5 technicals that he received in his 16 years as a player.

    Kerr has put it all together and the Warriors have grown from a caterpillar to a beautiful butterfly.

    Next: Golden State Warriors Have to Avoid Becoming Bored With Winning

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