NBA FINALS: CELTICS VS. WARRIORS

June 13, 2022

Steve Kerr

Golden State Warriors

Game 5: Pregame

Q. Seems like through four games it's really been like a series of adjustments. As a coach, how do you balance making those minor adjustments while also staying true to yourselves and what got you guys here?

STEVE KERR: Yeah, I mean, you know your team at this point. You know the team well. You have to get to know your opponent.

First couple games in a series, especially in the Finals where you're playing a team you don't see often in the regular season, you got to feel it out a little bit.

But usually by this stage I think each team has kind of figured out what they want to do. That's all part of coaching in the playoffs. That's what the off days are for. That's what the tape is for.

Q. When do you tell your guys who is starting?

STEVE KERR: Before I tell you guys [smiling].

I mean, usually if there's a change, day of the game. If there's no change, yeah, don't say anything.

Q. This is a little off topic, but the Tampa Bay Lightning are going for a three-peat in the Stanley Cup Finals. That's very rare in professional sports. From your personal history, what makes it so extraordinarily difficult?

STEVE KERR: I just think the accumulation of emotion and the physical wear and tear that you deal with over time. I think you go from the first year where it's kind of fresh and new, you know, by the third year you've been hunted by every other team and everyone's building their team to try to beat you. You've had short offseasons for a couple years in a row.

It just wears you out, for sure. So I think winning three in a row in any sport is a pretty incredible accomplishment.

Q. What kind of identity have the role players forged this season? How do you think that compares to the identity the group of role players developed in the past title runs?

STEVE KERR: I think this group has shown a lot of versatility. They've shown a lot of resilience because we've had a lot of changes. Guys have been in and out of the rotation all year long based on injuries, based on having some talented rookies who needed some time to grow. We've been all over the map, frankly, with what our bench rotation looks like.

But we've got a great group. They are all engaged every night and locked in and supportive of each other. So that's their identity.

Q. Today is the 25th anniversary of your title-winning shot for the Bulls in '97. Any one memory of that? Larger scope, what is different about coaching in the Finals? Is it more nerve-wracking? How is the emotion compared to as a player?

STEVE KERR: Yeah, somebody sent me that this morning. An incredible memory obviously. Something every young basketball player dreams of. So to be able to live that was pretty amazing.

And then the fact that it's 25 years ago just makes me feel old, of course [smiling].

Yeah, I think coaching, I mean, the Finals are the Finals, whether you're playing or coaching. It's the ultimate competition in the world of basketball. So there's a lot of nerves and a lot of excitement and a lot of stress and all that stuff.

I think my experience as a player has definitely helped me prepare to coach a team in the Finals because I know what these guys are feeling.

Q. I doubt you're putting Bjelica in there and saying, go guard the best player and shut him down. Tatum was 0-for-4 when he was matched up against Bjelica. How much is that part of now putting him in there? How is he doing this?

STEVE KERR: Yeah, he's done a really good job defensively. He's smart. He's got really good length. So he can anticipate pretty well, then recover well enough to use that length. He's done really well defensively here the last few weeks.

I think playoffs are a little different than regular season in a lot of ways. The game is more physical, for sure. I think that helps Belly.

Regular season, every little thing is called, every touch is called. That puts some guys at a disadvantage. You get to the playoffs and the Finals and it's a more physical game. I think it keeps, in a weird way, some guys on the floor more than in the regular season.

Q. Otto and Andre were listed as questionable earlier. How are they feeling right now?

STEVE KERR: They're good. They're good to go.

Q. I'd like to ask you about Looney's participation. His minutes have grown. Does that mean your confidence in him has grown since his minutes have grown the last couple games?

STEVE KERR: Well, he's been a contributor for many years, played in the Finals for us in '18 and '19, played significant minutes. We've always had a lot of confidence in him.

This year he had his best season of his career. He's grown into an elite rebounder. Played in every game. So we have a ton of faith in Loon. He's done an incredible job for us.