Yesterday Steve Kerr became the first rookie head coach to the win a NBA Championship since the great Pat Riley did it in 1982 with the Los Angeles Lakers. The man that replaced Mark Jackson took the Warriors to the next level. Did he go into a bare situation? Hell no, but who wins a championship with a team full of me(s)? Nobody! Now I do feel like Jackson got the short end of the stick because of injuries he faced in the playoffs during his last two years at the helm, but that’s not why we are here today so I’m not shining on Kerr’s parade, that could come in the near future if I feel like writing about it.
Kerr lead a magical season as the Warriors went 67-15 during the regular season and 16-5 during the playoffs for one of the best seasons ever. Is this team an all-time great team, hmmm I don’t think so, but history can be rewritten if they continue to perform at a high level. Kerr was able to get veteran players David Lee and Andre Iguodala to buy into a reduced role which led to Draymond Green and Harrison Barnes being able to flourish. Steph Curry won his first MVP, while Klay Thompson put himself on the map (not in the Finals).
Now let’s rewind back about a year ago, a year ago, word on the street was the New York Knicks were going to sign Kerr because of the connection with Phil Jackson. The Zen master had the inside track to get Kerr until the Warriors job opened up. Kerr knew something we didn’t because he stalled Jackson out to magically get the Warriors job and the rest is history. You think Kerr would’ve run the triangle like Derek Fisher if he was in New York? Life comes at you fast as he would’ve been coaching a few of current Cavaliers (J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert) they both might’ve benefited with Kerr in controls if he played the current style he runs with the Warriors. Maybe Jackson’s shadow and the corpse of Amar’e Stoudemire scared him away.
Congrats to Steve Kerr and the Golden State Warriors he certainly made the right decision going to the bay area.
