Skip to main content

CSN Bay Area

HOME  >  NEWS  >  SPORTS
Warriors notes: Kerr wants shorter preseason; 'Death Lineup' plus Durant
Share This Post
Comments
Friday, September 30, 2016 - 8:15am
Follow @MontePooleCSN

OAKLAND -- The preseason schedule begins Saturday, which is a bit too soon for Warriors coach Steve Kerr, and the same is true for some of his players.

With seven games spread over 21 days, the preseason surely lasts too long for Kerr, who made clear his feelings about training camp and preseason games.

“I kind of like the idea that’s been tossed around the last couple summers, to start the regular season a little bit earlier, maybe a week early,” Kerr says. “Cut camp down to 21, 22 days and play five exhibition games instead of eight.

“I kind of like that, just so you have fewer back-to-backs during the regular season. A month is usually enough time for everybody to get their legs underneath them and the starters to be ready to play 30-plus minutes.”

Here’s the rub: The Warriors will play on back-to-back nights during the preseason, Oct. 14 against the Nuggets in Denver and Oct. 15 against the Lakers in Las Vegas.

Durant eager to join ‘Death Lineup’

The Warriors fabled “Death Lineup” operates as if every member has been injected with a triple shot caffeine. Everything moves at fast-forward pace, and it can discombobulate even the most composed NBA squad.

Harrison Barnes was among the group of five, and for two seasons he did his job well enough to help lift the Warriors to elite status.

Barnes has been replaced by Kevin Durant, who can do most anything Barnes did -- only better and with an appreciably longer physique.

Durant, listed at 6-foot-9 but closer to 7 feet, will join charter members Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Andre Iguodala and Draymond Green to form a new quintet that has the right components to be even more imposing than previous versions.

“We haven’t really put lineups together yet,” Durant said, “but I’m sure at some point coach is going to throw that lineup out there.”

Oh, it’s coming. Kerr leans on the unit to shift games into overdrive. The Death Lineup switches most everything on defense, runs the floor like antelope and takes turns attacking the rim and shooting 3-pointers in transition.

“It should be fun,” Durant said. “It’s should be challenging because we don’t have the length to cover the rim. But, defensively, we can switch a lot. We can get out on the break and run and shoot 3s and be athletic in transition. I’m looking forward to it.”

NBA Finals loss oddly aids Kerr

Steve Kerr made an admission this week, and it’s one that he couldn’t quite bring himself to acknowledge while leading the Warriors to a record 73-win season.

Not only was he coping with physical pain but also with a team that occasionally ignored his pleas to focus on execution and value the ball.

“To be quite frank, last year was kind of hard to coach,” Kerr says. “The first year was a lot easier to coach the team, because we hadn’t won anything. It was real easy for me to come here and say, ‘We’re being loose with the ball. That stuff doesn’t work. I know. I’ve been through this.’“

Kerr can go public on the subject now, because he has supportive evidence in the form of a rugged Western Conference Finals win over the Oklahoma City Thunder that preceded a devastating NBA Finals loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The gaudy 73-9 regular-season record gave way to a mediocre 7-7 mark over the final two postseason series.

Though Kerr on numerous occasions mentioned his concerns, even tearing into the team for its needlessly high turnover rate, scolding the Warriors for their sloppiness, it rarely made an impression.

Why would it when the team was winning at a rate unprecedented in NBA history?

“It was like, deaf ears,” Kerr says. “Because we’re 60-7 or something and we’d won the championship the year before, there was a sense of ‘We got this.’

“I think we did learn against OKC and Cleveland, that if we don’t execute, and don’t take care of the ball, you can’t score in that kind of environment.”

NBCBayArea.com

There is no data to display.

Video

Tim Flannery celebrates Giants' postseason berth at Hardly Strictly festival
Why did Kerley enter locker early? 'My feelings were hurt'
Tartt's opinion of 49ers defense from first to second half
Bethea on Cowboy-heavy crowd at Levi's: 'It is what it is'

Giants

Wild Card Watch: Cardinals beat Pirates but are eliminated
Instant Replay: Giants sweep Dodgers, clinch Wild Card spot
Notes: Eyeing playoffs, Giants planning for 'possible long trip'
What they're saying: Vin Scully's final game
Read More

Athletics

Rewind: A's hope young talent points way to brighter days ahead
Red Sox to retire David Ortiz's No. 34 after 2016 season
Instant Replay: A's season ends with win over Mariners
Notes: Idea of playing in another WBC appeals to Hendriks
Read More

Sharks

Sharks' Jones 'more comfortable' after remarkable first season
Hertl, Dell encouraged by performances in Sharks preseason win
Instant Replay: Sharks score early in OT, beat Coyotes
Sharks prospect Meier out four weeks with mono
Read More

49ers

Palmer hurt; Rams rally to beat Cardinals, improve to 3-1
49ers ILB Bowman set for MRI on apparent Achilles injury
Instant Replay: 49ers squander two-TD lead, lose third straight
49ers ILB Bowman exits with 'lower leg' injury
Read More

Raiders

Notes: Nelson's big hit helps Raiders defense close out game
'Smart, tough and accurate,' Carr leads Raiders comeback
Crabtree 'a game-changer,' comes through in clutch yet again
Mack earns first sack, Raiders pass rush gets going vs Ravens
Read More

Warriors

Durant on his Warriors debut: 'Of course I was frustrated'
Rewind: Warriors focused on 'big picture' and not one loss
Instant Replay: Warriors drop KD's exhibiton debut to Raptors
NBA Gameday: New-look Warriors exhibition debut vs Raptors
Read More

NCAA

Stanford drops eight spots in AP poll after loss at Washington
Ratto's Top 25: UW rewarded for crushing Heisman hopes
California uses goal-line stand to upset No. 18 Utah
San Jose State's rally falls short in loss to New Mexico
Read More
  • Scoreboard
  • Stats
  • Schedule
  • Roster
  • MLB Standings
  • G-Mag
  • When Giants Fan Met Dodgers Fan
  • Amy G
  • Insider Alex Pavlovic
  • Buy Giants Gear
  • Buy Giants Tickets

Latest News

Wild Card Watch: Cardinals beat Pirates but are eliminated
Associated Press

GIANTS VIDEO

Tim Flannery celebrates Giants' postseason berth at Hardly Strictly festival
Tim Flannery celebrates Giants' postseason berth at Hardly Strictly festival
See more >

GIANTS INSIDER

  • Instant Replay: Giants sweep Dodgers, clinch Wild Card spot
  • Notes: Eyeing playoffs, Giants planning for 'possible long trip'
  • Notes: Old friend Vogelsong can help Giants on Sunday
  • Scoreboard
  • Stats
  • Schedule
  • Roster
  • MLB Standings
  • All A's
  • Eireann Dolan's Call to the 'Pen
  • Insider Joe Stiglich
  • Buy Athletics Gear
  • Buy Athletics Tickets

Latest News

Rewind: A's hope young talent points way to brighter days ahead
Joe Stiglich

A's VIDEO

Glen and Ray: A's young players really came through in win over Mariners
Glen and Ray: A's young players really came through in win over Mariners
See more >

A's INSIDER

There is no data to display.

  • Scoreboard
  • Stats
  • Schedule
  • Roster
  • NHL Standings
  • Insider Kevin Kurz
  • Buy Sharks Gear
  • Buy Sharks Tickets

Latest News

Sharks' Jones 'more comfortable' after remarkable first season
(1)
Kevin Kurz

SHARKS VIDEO

Beyond the Scoreboard digital exclusive: 1-on-1 with SAP CDO Jonathan Becher
Beyond the Scoreboard digital exclusive: 1-on-1 with SAP CDO Jonathan Becher
See more >

SHARKS INSIDER

There is no data to display.

  • Scoreboard
  • Stats
  • Schedule
  • Roster
  • NBA Standings
  • Warriors Central
  • Steph-in' Amazing
  • Cookin' with the Currys
  • Insider Monte Poole
  • Buy Warriors Gear
  • Buy Warriors Tickets
  • Stream the Warriors on Live Extra

Latest News

Durant on his Warriors debut: 'Of course I was frustrated'
(11)
Monte Poole

WARRIORS VIDEO

Kerr says preseason opener won't be 'pretty' but Warriors making progress
Kerr says preseason opener won't be 'pretty' but Warriors making progress
See more >

WARRIORS INSIDER

  • Rapinoe proves Kaepernick's message of equality for all
  • Scoreboard
  • Stats
  • Schedule
  • Roster
  • NBA Standings
  • Insider James Ham
  • Buy Kings Gear
  • Buy Kings Tickets
  • Stream the Kings on Live Extra

Latest News

NBA suspends Kings' Collison for first eight games of season
James Ham

Kings Video

Joerger, Cousins looking to 'lay down the foundation' together
Joerger, Cousins looking to 'lay down the foundation' together
See more >

KINGS INSIDER

There is no data to display.

  • Scoreboard
  • Stats
  • Schedule
  • Roster
  • NFL Standings
  • Insider Matt Maiocco
  • Buy 49ers Gear
  • Buy 49ers Tickets

Latest News

Palmer hurt; Rams rally to beat Cardinals, improve to 3-1
Associated Press

49ers VIDEO

Why did Kerley enter locker early? 'My feelings were hurt'
Why did Kerley enter locker early? 'My feelings were hurt'
See more >

49ers INSIDER

  • 49ers ILB Bowman set for MRI on apparent Achilles injury
  • Instant Replay: 49ers squander two-TD lead, lose third straight
  • 49ers ILB Bowman exits with 'lower leg' injury
  • Scoreboard
  • Stats
  • Schedule
  • Roster
  • NFL Standings
  • Insider Scott Bair
  • Buy Raiders Gear
  • Buy Raiders Tickets

Latest News

Notes: Nelson's big hit helps Raiders defense close out game
Scott Bair

RAIDERS VIDEO

Carr: Winning culture built in Oakland fuels Raiders
Carr: Winning culture built in Oakland fuels Raiders
See more >

RAIDERS INSIDER

  • Notes: Nelson's big hit helps Raiders defense close out game
  • 'Smart, tough and accurate,' Carr leads Raiders comeback
  • Crabtree 'a game-changer,' comes through in clutch yet again
  • Scoreboard
  • Stats
  • Schedule
  • Roster
  • MLS Standings
  • MLS Player Leaders
  • Buy Quakes Gear
  • Buy Quakes Tickets

Top Story

Wondolowski, Bingham called up to US National Team duty
(1)
Media Services

More Stories

Earthquakes beat Real Salt Lake, snap seven-game winless streak
(1)
Earthquakes' Amarikwa has successful ACL surgery
(1)
See more >

Quakes Shop

JOE STIGLICH

Rewind: A's hope young talent points way to brighter days ahead
See more >

ALEX PAVLOVIC

Instant Replay: Giants sweep Dodgers, clinch Wild Card spot
(26)
See more >

MATT MAIOCCO

49ers ILB Bowman set for MRI on apparent Achilles injury
(1)
See more >

SCOTT BAIR

Notes: Nelson's big hit helps Raiders defense close out game
See more >

MONTE POOLE

Durant on his Warriors debut: 'Of course I was frustrated'
(11)
See more >

JAMES HAM

NBA suspends Kings' Collison for first eight games of season
See more >

KEVIN KURZ

Sharks' Jones 'more comfortable' after remarkable first season
(1)
See more >

RAY RATTO

Ratto's Top 25: UW rewarded for crushing Heisman hopes

AFF - A'S

Authentic Fan Friday - A's

Come to Authentic Fan Friday at the A's! 

Sit in the Value Deck and score free giveaways - get more info here!

 

FOLLOW US!

Follow us on Twitter @CSNAuthentic.

SAY HEY TUESDAY

s

Join us for Say Hey Tuesday – every Tuesday Giants home game.

NCAA

  • Stanford Football
  • Stanford Basketball
  • Stanford Women's Basketball
  • Cal Football
  • Cal Basketball
  • Cal Women's Basketball
  • SJSU Football
  • SJSU Basketball
  • USF Basketball
  • USF Women's Basketball
  • Saint Mary's Basketball
  • Santa Clara Basketball
  • Fresno State Football

MORE

  • Biz Ball
  • Combat Sports
  • Motor Sports
  • Golf
  • Tennis
  • Ray Ratto

 

TICKETS

  • Giants Tickets
  • A's Tickets
  • 49ers Tickets
  • Raiders Tickets
  • Warriors Tickets
  • Kings Tickets
  • Sharks Tickets
Curry Jersey
Giants Fitted Hat
49ers Hoodie

Mega Menu: Shop

  • Giants
  • A's Shop
  • 49ers
  • Raiders Shop
  • Warriors
  • Kings Shop
  • Sharks Shop

Mega Menu: Shop - Tickets

  • Giants Tickets
  • A's Tickets
  • 49ers Tickets
  • Raiders Tickets
  • Warriors Tickets
  • Kings Tickets
  • Sharks Tickets

Latest Videos

Tim Flannery celebrates Giants' postseason berth at Hardly Strictly festival
Tim Flannery celebrates Giants' postseason berth at Hardly Strictly festival
See more >

ORIGINAL PROGRAMMING

  • G-Mag
  • All A's
  • Carpool Confessions
  • Steph-in' Amazing
  • Cookin' with the Currys
  • When Giants Fan Met Dodgers Fan
  • Amy G’s Exclusives
  • Eireann Dolan's Call to the 'Pen

TV SHOWS

  • All Videos
  • SportsNet Central
  • SportsTalk Live
  • But Seriously

INSIDERS

  • Ray Ratto - Senior Insider
  • Matt Maiocco - 49ers
  • Scott Bair - Raiders
  • Monte Poole - Warriors
  • James Ham - Kings
  • Kevin Kurz - Sharks
  • Joe Stiglich - A's
  • Alex Pavlovic - Giants
  • TV Schedule - Bay Area and California
  • Channel Locations - Bay Area
  • Channel Locations - California