Steve Kerr tried to warn us.
During the Warriors’ five seasons of fame, Kerr kept saying, “This is not reality.”
Kerr prepared us, the media and the fans, for that cold NBA reality, but he was he prepared? Not only did the Warriors fall back to Earth with blows, but so did Kerr.
For years, even the most picky bastards have found little error in Kerr’s coaching. Now? While the Warriors risk slipping from mediocrity to Lotteryland, critics are lining up to rip off the ingenious coach.
Does Kerr deserve the heat? Absolutely. If you give a coach recognition that his team is going to the NBA Finals for five years in a row, they will honestly criticize him when the team goes south.
Ahead of the Warriors ’lively victory over the Bucks on Tuesday night, Kerr’s report for the 2020-21 school year. She didn’t look well. I would probably give him a C for the season to date. Judging by the local chatter of professional and amateur analysts, I would be generous.
Three main red comments on Kerr’s report card in the “Improvement Needed” section:
• His inconsistent use of rookie center James Wiseman. In the starting lineup, then outside, then inside. In the doghouse, then outside. Minutes, up and down.
• Kerr’s stubborn avoidance of pick-and-roll, which is all the rage in the NBA. Stephen Curry is a great pick-and-roll guy. Wouldn’t a higher P&R accelerate the development of chemistry between Curry and Wiseman, which together were not effective? A great coach adapts his system to the players he has.
• Inconsistent passion. These warriors tend to slip into a subcompetitive disease. Like, don’t play hard.
Well, good news for Kerr’s mom: His report card looks a lot better after that 122-121 Bucks win that the Warriors treated as a playoff win. How often does Curry hug his coach after the regular season?
Wiseman played 25 minutes and rewarded Kerr’s faith with 13 points and 10 rebounds, and flashes of defensive skill.
The Warriors ran 71 (seventy-one!) Pick-and-rolls, 64 above their average, and Curry was on fire, destroying a good defense.
The warriors looked energetic, focused, and connected.
Was that the current highlight of the current U.S. slide season? We will see.
It is worth noting, in this critique of Kerr’s coaching, about a month ago he was mentioned in early conversations about Coach of the Year. But then a slide followed. The Warriors entered the game on a 1-7 miss on Tuesday.
Kerr said that this week he tried to fit the pieces of the puzzle. Why? If he’s a great coach, why is the puzzle so confusing for 50 games already? How did the great coach get so confused?
Crushing (or criticizing) Kerr is a fairly new phenomenon. Many will say that the Bay Bay media treat Kerr well because it makes our job easier. He is open, approachable, even kind. He behaves with easy mutual respect.
Journalism Rule 101: Never fall in love with a coach or manager and never lose objectivity. But Kerr is so damn media-friendly, with no apparent falsehood, that he may be tempted to loosen it.
Besides, five seasons wasn’t much to criticize. The rings don’t lie.
There are different coaching skills. Kerr has proven that he can raise a talented crew to a higher level. His offensive schemes freed Full Curry and Full Warriors.
But a well-rounded coach can prepare an average team. This is a whole new challenge for Kerr, and in order to get out of the reporting box, his Warriors will have to perform more consistently victories like Monday.
Kerr will still have to be open to more radical deviations from his favored offensive style, like Tuesday’s pick-and-roll-a-palooz. He will have to find the right formula with Wiseman, which will not be easy. Novak recently revealed that he is in regular contact with Kevin Durant. Durant can be a great mentor to Wiseman, but you can be sure that Durant is no sending texts like, Steve Kerr is a very wise man. Trust everything he says and does.
Kerr’s first coaching job was at Warriors, so he has no backward experience with the many challenges he now faces. That inexperience could cost.
The NBA reality has arrived. Can Kerr handle it? His report hangs in the balance.
Scott Ostler is a columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @scottostler