Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr intends to give new superstar recruit Kevin Durant staggered playing minutes.
Durant played staggered minutes under Oklahoma City Thunder coach Billy Donovan to ensure that either he or former teammate Russell Westbrook was on the court at all times. The rotation had Durant frustrated and pleading with Donovan to keep him in the game, especially during times that he cannot find his rhythm, according to Mercury News.
While Durant now says he's adjusted, it remains to be seen whether he would be satisfied with his reduced minutes. Kerr does not only want to stagger the minutes of Durant and Stephen Curry but wants to keep at least two of the four main players, including Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, on the court at all times.
The Warriors are also committed to implementing their Strength in Numbers principle, preferring to field 10 players each game. Kerr also wants to ensure that they have enough energy and remain healthy during the playoffs. In fact, they do not intend to break their 73-win record and are focused on winning the title, according to SLAM online.
Meanwhile, Kerr hardly disputed Charles Barkley's assertions that his team cannot win an NBA championship if the teams they played against were healthy.
Kerr, a former TNT colleague of Charles Barkley, suggested that the commentator is trying to generate interest in his show by giving interesting opinions, SF Gate reported. The Warriors coach described Barkley as good at his job as well as controversial and funny. He also said that Barkley's comments are all part of the show.
Barkley, a critic of the Warriors' overreliance to jumpers, said that when the Warriors won the title in 2015, their opponents played hurt. He added that the Warriors would not beat a healthy Cavaliers team.
However, in a survey of general managers recently published by NBA.com, 69 percent picked the Warriors to win the NBA championship in 2017. The Warriors were also given a 2-to-3 odds of capturing the NBA championship, with Cavaliers second at 11-to-4 by the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook.
