NBA players and coaches won’t always agree with every opinion out there.
That was the case with Steve Kerr. The Golden State Warriors coach even understood the point of view of his former Chicago Bulls teammate, Michael Jordan, when the idol criticized the “load management” — practice of sparing athletes in some games of the season. But, even though he respected the speech, Kerr made it clear that he thinks differently.
— In our case, four of our main players are between 35 and 39 years old — said the coach, in an interview with Nick Friedell, from “The Atletic”.
— Today we have performance teams, with data and experts. When I played for the Bulls, we had a strength coach and a strength coach. Now there are about ten people analyzing information all the time. I believe in science and keeping players healthy for the playoffs. If that means sparing them at times, that’s fine. That’s what really matters when push comes to shove,” said Kerr.
The coach acknowledged that there is no exact formula to avoid injuries, but highlighted that standards and data help to make safer decisions throughout the season.
Does Warriors have an ‘old’ squad?
In practice, Kerr admitted that the Warriors’ stars no longer have the same strength as before and that losing some games in the regular season is part of the plan. The focus is clear: reaching the playoffs with the entire squad and in good condition to fight for another title.
When names like Jimmy Butler, Stephen Curry, Draymond Green e Al Horford were at their peak, it made sense for them to play practically every game. But, as the years go by, the body takes its toll, and recovery between games becomes slower.
Kerr, therefore, seems to have found the balance: save now and decide later. After all, in the NBA, what really counts is being ready when the game counts most.
