Steve Kerr rips Brandin Podziemski after late mistakes doom Warriors in Denver

DENVER — Steve Kerr spent the instant moments after the Golden State Warriors’ Tuesday night time loss to the Denver Nuggets chasing down official Tyler Ford, lighting into Ford’s whole crew for what he felt was a blatant missed name at a important second.

With 4 seconds left, Nuggets guard Christian Braun dove on the ground for a unfastened rebound and signaled for a timeout after corralling it. Denver didn’t have a timeout, which ought to’ve triggered a technical foul and a free throw. Assuming Stephen Curry would have made the free throw, Golden State would have had the ball down three with about 3.5 seconds left.

“Everyone noticed it besides the three guys we employed to do the sport,” Kerr mentioned.

The officers let the timeout sign go and not using a whistle, permitting the clock to run till Andrew Wiggins tied it up with 1.2 seconds left. The following bounce ball was of no use. The Warriors fell 119-115, a fifth consecutive loss which sends them on the street to Houston (as a substitute of house for the Dallas Mavericks) for subsequent week’s NBA Cup quarterfinal. It additionally despatched Kerr steaming right into a spirited postgame session with reporters.

Steve Kerr was extraordinarily upset the officers didn’t name a technical on the Nuggets late when Christian Braun tried to name a timeout (and the Nuggets didn’t have one).

Full soundbite on that non-call and the loss pic.twitter.com/1AYDPJbRfx

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) December 4, 2024

After stinging the officers for the error, Kerr redirected the blame for an additional late-game collapse again at his crew. The Warriors have been up seven with 2:32 left after a Curry layup however watched the Nuggets rip off an 11-0 run to flip the consequence, a fifth straight slim loss that has dropped the Warriors’ file from 12-3 to 12-8.

“I believe we’re attempting too laborious,” Kerr mentioned. “Guys are closing out with none sort of discernment about what’s about to occur. We are able to’t ship a crew to the road 35 instances and count on to win a sport. This league is unforgiving. Should you suppose you’re going to get on a spotlight reel, present everyone what a particular play you can also make, it’s going to be a turnover. We gotta hit singles. We gotta make easy selections.”

Kerr was significantly important of second-year guard Brandin Podziemski.

The group stays excessive on its most up-to-date first-round choose within the close to and long run. He exploded onto the scene as a rookie, working his method right into a high-usage, high-leverage position forward of Klay Thompson, amongst others, due to his fast passing, motion and decision-making, massive rebound numbers, crew protection and supplementary scoring. He led the crew in plus-minus final season.

However as he’s tried to scale up his offensive sport to satisfy rising expectations, Podziemski has opened his second season in a deep capturing stoop that has bled into different elements of his sport. Draymond Inexperienced peeled again the curtain on the dynamics at play final week. Podziemski has shot it and performed a bit higher since. Kerr inserted him because the beginning capturing guard subsequent to Curry and mentioned the plan is to maintain him there.

However Podziemski continues to be 21, and the hooked up rising pains have been on show in opposition to the Nuggets.

Kerr pinpointed a particular sequence late within the second quarter, calling a Podziemski determination to aim a fast-break alley-oop “frankly insane.” It got here with the Warriors up 10 and in full management. Podziemski had simply dug out a steal on a failed Nikola Jokić drive and pushed it into the frontcourt with a numbers benefit.

A straightforward early move to Trayce Jackson-Davis was out there to his left as he crossed half court docket. It could’ve led to a possible dunk. However he as a substitute probed into the lane and tried a lob, which was intercepted and became a Jokić layup on the opposite finish. Any four-point swing like that is big in a detailed sport.

“5-on-four,” Kerr mentioned. “Hold hitting singles. Throw the ball to the open man. He had the identical play final week in opposition to Brooklyn when he tried to throw a lob over his shoulder. He can’t be that man.”

The Warriors are ceding a big stage of offensive management over to Podziemski. With De’Anthony Melton out for the season, Podziemski is each the beginning capturing guard and the backup level guard. Kerr modified up Curry’s rotation on Tuesday night time and staggered him with Podziemski, which means Podziemski was main the crew at a important juncture of the fourth quarter as Curry sneaked off the court docket for his last relaxation.

With the Warriors attempting to guard a nine-point lead, Podziemski tried this whip move to the alternative nook that went flying into the gang.

Kerr’s frustration with Podziemski continued early within the third quarter. He pressed up too far on a Michael Porter Jr. 3-point try and tapped him on the arm, drawing a whistle. Podziemski tried to plead his case that he hadn’t dedicated a foul, however when Kerr pressed him to reply whether or not it might be reversed on a problem, he admitted he did.

“He can’t foul bounce shooters,” Kerr mentioned.

Kerr then spent about 45 seconds whereas Porter was capturing the free throws lighting into Podziemski close to the sideline.

“He was getting on me to do my job, know what I’m doing on the market,” Podziemski mentioned. “He’s like, ‘Should you can’t do your job, I’m gonna pull you out.’”

Brandin Podziemski on his sideline interplay with Steve Kerr after certainly one of his 3-point fouls

“He was getting on me to do my job, know what I’m doing on the market. He’s like, ‘Should you can’t do your job, I’m gonna pull you out.’” pic.twitter.com/KVQKTcL4Gg

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) December 4, 2024

In his last two possessions attempting to maintain the Warriors steady whereas Curry acquired a quick relaxation, Podziemski dedicated two extra errors, as recognized by Curry and Kerr postgame. Curry talked about Podziemski’s determination to take a stepback 3 with 5:14 left as a substitute of “searching the mismatch” and letting Andrew Wiggins function in opposition to Jokić.

That was compounded moments later when Podziemski barreled into Porter and fouled him on one other 3-pointer. Porter made it, a four-point play that injected life into the Nuggets.

Podziemski did loads effectively in opposition to the Nuggets. He had 13 factors, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and two steals. However the errors have been obtrusive and detrimental sufficient for his coach to name him out publicly afterward.

“I like Brandin,” Kerr mentioned. “Hell of a participant. Hell of a future forward of him. However I hope he watches this clip as a result of he wants to listen to it. He’s gotta be a wise, powerful, nice decision-maker. He’s very able to it. That’s his subsequent step.”

Mentioned Podziemski: “He obtained on me a bit bit. Which I’m all for. I’m attempting to get higher. He is aware of he can get on me and I’m not going to reply emotionally. I’m going to go on the market and hoop.”

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(Picture: David Zalubowski / AP)