If you are already here, do you recall the last time you played basketball in your colony? ‘My ball, my game’ rules that we have in our younger days? Pure nostalgia, right? Unfortunately, NBA games differ from court games in a residential area. After all, they are played with more intensity and with more strategies in mind. A player can tire easily on the NBA court, especially if he is older. Therefore, even though he may not have wanted to, Steve Kerr had to decide between Stephen Curry during the recent game that the player did not appreciate. But the community?
The context is that Curry played 34 minutes against the Portland Trail Blazers, which was on par with the minutes he has been averaging this season, even a bit higher. But what is all the fuss about? Curry was not happy when he was benched with 2:27 minutes remaining in the 3rd quarter! After all, Kerr subbed his star player out right after the latter had made back-to-back 3s. Therefore, Curry was in his form. The last thing he would have wanted was to be benched. Poor guy, the feelings of dismay and/or frustration reflected on his face as he walked on while chewing on his mouthguard. But did it affect the team?
No, whatever Steve Kerr decided, it did not affect the Warriors’ prowess. After all, the team secured the win by a 130-120 score. While Curry did his part by adding 24 points to the overall total, others like Jimmy Butler, Moses Moody, Gary Payton II, and Buddy Hield also did their part to help secure the win. Furthermore, if a decision like the unusual sub-call was made, then NBA fans would be the first ones to get angry. After all, why would they want the Warriors’ star player to be benched? As it turns out, even they agreed with the Warriors’ HC.
Fans support Steve Kerr’s decision to bench Stephen Curry: “His a** didnt need to be out there”
How did Curry’s army digest the decision? Well, at times, you see the greater goal. One social media user wrote, “his a** didnt need to be out there lol. one day we’re all going to credit kerr on steph’s longevity”. Sure, Stephen Curry may be the Warriors’ lead scorer. He may be one of the most experienced and successful veterans in the modern NBA. However, he is still 36 years old. 3 days from now, he will turn 37.
Therefore, Steve Kerr has to ensure to not tire out his star player too much. While they certainly need him now, the Warriors squad needs Curry more if the team makes the playoffs. If Curry is over-exerted at this point, he will not be ready for what comes next. Or, worse, he will sustain an injury that will sideline him for the playoffs. Therefore, any decisions Steve Kerr makes are for the player’s benefit, as well as the team’s.
https://x.com/HARDforTRUMP/status/1899321320770503140
Another fan shared wisdom, “Bro Steve kerr just managing his minutes man, you guys hating on him for the smallest things you don’t even understand”. As highlighted above, Stephen Curry played for the same number of minutes that was consistent with the average minutes of his season. Therefore, Kerr did not do anything out of the blue by benching Curry.
The list of support was yet to get over. Another user threw a slight banter, “Steph always mad he gotta come out (crying emoji) you not 27 no more buddy”. Well, Stephen Curry may not be 27 anymore, for sure. However, he is still the highest-average scorer of this team this season. He is still the 3-point leader. If all had gone well, Curry would have become the first ever NBA player to make 4000 3-pointers in his career. Unfortunately, he got stopped at 3998. Therefore, Curry’s competitive drive has not reduced with age. But then the body’s physical nature needs to be respected, right?
This time, someone felt Kerr needed stronger support (as if there weren’t any). The comment read, “Or he can pull Thibs and let him play and injure his star player- there was 2 minutes left and they were up 10. Y’all need to chill about Kerr for real”.
Some fans would have been up in arms over the decision. After all, the recent incident wasn’t the first time where it felt Curry was not happy about a substitution decision. During a Warriors-OKC matchup weeks ago, Curry’s continuous headshakes grabbed the attention of the commentators and viewers.
The player was reportedly upset after he was subbed out by Steve Kerr with 8 minutes remaining in the game. In an interview Kerr gave after the game, he stated that the head shake “could have meant anything.” On top of that, he added, “He trusts me and I don’t, you know, if he’s shaking his head, I don’t take that personally. I mean I just feel like, um, we’re always collaborating and trying to do the best thing for the team to win. He knows that I know that and uh…. So it’s not a big deal, I know that.”
Dec 30, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) watches as head coach Steve Kerr reacts during the first quarter of the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-Imagn Images
One social media user claimed that the reason behind the head shakes in the recent incident may be different. Pun or serious, it is hard to decode, but the comment read, “Or maybe, just maybe, hes shaking his head bc he just haad a backcourt violation”. Then again, one will never know until Stephen Curry himself reveals the reason.
Overall, the majority of reactions saw people being in support of Steve Kerr. However, what about you? Do you think Kerr made the right call? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
The post Warriors Community Suddenly Love Steve Kerr’s Controversial Decision That Left Stephen Curry Visibly Dejected vs Portland appeared first on EssentiallySports.