Kerr explains minutes strategy for Steph in Warriors’ loss to Nets

Kerr explains Steph’s minutes strategy in Warriors’ loss to Nets originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

in the warriors Defeat 128-120 against the Brooklyn Nets Wednesday night Stephen Curry scored a team-high 28 points in 29 minutes.

However, Golden State had major problems with Curry off the court, particularly during his regularly scheduled break during the second half.

As usual, Curry headed to the bench with 4:33 left in the third quarter and the Warriors leading by nine. When he checked back in at the 7:29 mark of the final frame, Brooklyn had taken the lead on a 25-11 run. Golden State couldn’t reverse the momentum even with Curry’s return to the court.

After the game, Warriors coach Steve Kerr. asked about Curry’s playing time; the 36 year old is averaging less than 30 minutes per game this season.

“We normally score it for 32 (minutes) and we like to keep it around that number,” Kerr told reporters at the Chase Center. “We were able to give them a good break in the first half because the second team was playing very well.

“I don’t love running with him the whole fourth quarter and I like having him around with some energy, and that means if we can give him those last eight minutes, overall, I feel pretty good about that. But at that point, “Brooklyn was rolling and we couldn’t stop them.”

After all, that’s the same strategy Kerr has used with Curry for most of the last decade, which, of course, has worked quite well.

And despite the Warriors’ current problems finishing opponents in the second half, Kerr doesn’t appear to be planning any significant changes to Curry’s substitution pattern.

However, if that trend continues, perhaps Kerr will adjust his rotations… as he did during Golden State’s 2021-22 season NBA title-winning season.

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