Kerr calls out Podz’s decision-making after Warriors’ loss to Nuggets originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
He Warriors’ 119-115 loss to the Denver Nuggets It was frustrating for Golden State, to say the least.
In addition to expressing irritation over a possible missed call at the end of the game, coach Steve Kerr publicly challenged Golden State guard Brandin Podziemski decision making in Wednesday’s defeat.
“Podz is a great player, but he needs, and I’ve told him this, he needs to be a smart player.” Kerr told reporters after the game. “He’s one of our guys that’s capable of making really good decisions. He made a lob when we were up (10) at the end of the second quarter that was frankly crazy.”
Kerr didn’t mean that in a good way, considering the turnover led to an easy basket at the other end for Denver. He also referenced a similar previous mistake, as well as Podziemski’s foul. Denver forward Michael Porter Jr. twice on 3-point attempts.
“He had the same play last week against Brooklyn when he tried to throw an over-the-shoulder lob. He can’t be that guy,” Kerr continued. “And he can’t foul on jumpers. I love Brandin. He’s a great player. He has a great future ahead of him.
“But I hope you watch this clip right now where I’m talking, because you need to hear it. You have to be a smart, tough, great decision-maker, and you’re very capable of doing that. But that’s your next step.”
This postgame press conference also wasn’t the only time Kerr expressed his obvious frustration with Podziemski on Wednesday. After the first time he fouled Porter, Kerr had an animated conversation with the second-year NBA guard from the sideline.
“It was more that he was putting pressure on me to do my job and know what I’m supposed to do out there. He said, ‘If you can’t do your job, I’ll kick you out.'” Podziemski told reporters after the game.. “He just attacked me a little bit, which I’m all for. I’m trying to get better.”
“He knows he can attack me and I’m not going to respond emotionally. I’m just going to go out and play.”
Podziemski also responded to Kerr’s outburst after the game in his own press conference.
“I mean, I agree. I played poorly,” Podziemski said. “I think there was a point defensively where I was just pushing too hard and trying too hard. I think one of the turnovers I had when I threw it to Trayce, I could have rebounded it sooner.”
Although he was disappointed by his two turnovers, Podziemski said he felt good about his overall offensive game Wednesday. After all, he had a respectable stat line of 13 points on 6 of 11 shooting with four assists.
However, Podziemski seemed to show more dissatisfaction with his defensive struggles after committing five fouls and having a -13 plus-minus, second-worst on the Warriors.
“I think I was trying too hard defensively to keep up with Michael Porter and fouling him twice was definitely not like me and definitely something I’m not proud of,” Podziemski detailed. “I know when they made their runs it was because I fouled or fumbled. So I know I have to be better. I know I’m going to be better. It just sucks that we didn’t win.”
After that open challenge from Kerr, it will be interesting to monitor Podziemski’s rotations (and perhaps whether he returns to a bench role) when the Warriors return to action on Thursday and Friday later this week.
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