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OAKLAND — The question caused TNT analysts Reggie Miller and Chris Webber to laugh loudly, defend Warriors coach Steve Kerr and strongly criticize the Phoenix Suns.
What did the former NBA stars think of Kerr allowing his players to run the huddles during the team’s 129-83 victory over the Suns on Monday? After both laughed for nearly five seconds, both Miller and Webber strongly defended Kerr’s coaching tactics, while dismissing Suns players that considered the move to be disrespectful.
“You can’t be sensitive. That’s the problem with these young guys,” Miller said on a conference call on Tuesday to promote TNT’s coverage of NBA All-Star weekend in Los Angeles. “You can’t be sensitive. Stop crying. Play better. Work harder together.”
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Warriors coach Steve Kerr on letting the players Coach game versus the Phoenix Suns.
NBA TV analyst and former NBA coach Sam Mitchell said Kerr’s tactic disrespected both the coaching profession and the Suns. Though Suns coach Jay Triano and guard Devin Booker told ESPN they did not fault Kerr for his coaching decision, Suns forward Jared Dudley said the tactic “shows a lack of respect for the opponent.” Suns guard Troy Daniels told the Arizona Republic, “It’s disrespectful. I don’t think it’s hard to coach those guys, though. So I think anybody can do it.”
Webber argued the Suns’ reaction “shows to me that you were on those teams that got trophies for just coming to the tournament.” Miller laughed and then interjected: “participation trophies!”
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“Yeah, participation trophies,” Webber said. “We don’t cry about losing like that in the NBA. This isn’t college football where guys are scared to run it up [on the scoreboard]. No, you run it up. There’s a 24-second shot clock for a reason.”
For nearly 7 1/2 minutes, Webber and Miller criticized the Suns (18-40) for having the second-worst record in the Western Conference while defending Kerr’s methods. Though the Warriors (44-13) have the NBA’s best record, they have fought season-long complacency after winning two NBA titles in the past three years. The Warriors became more concerned with that trend after losing three games in a recent four-game stretch.
“I like the message that Steve Kerr [sent],” Miller said. “Look, his voice is not resonating in that locker room. So why not change something up?”
So instead, Kerr had veteran forward Andre Iguodala organize morning shootaround while veteran center JaVale McGee led film study. During timeouts, Kerr handed his clipboard to his veterans to draw up plays on a clipboard while his staff stood off to the side. Iguodala, Draymond Green and David West spoke the most during timeouts, showing both their assertive personalities, experience and basketball IQs.
“Kerr knows his guys better than anyone. Very honestly, I think it was a brilliant move as far as chemistry,” Webber said. “But I don’t think it was a stretch as far as IQ. You’re halfway through the season. You know what plays you call. You know when you have a good coach like Kerr with what he has been harping on. All it does is make you take ownership in what he’s been trying to teach the whole time. So instead of him getting on a pedestal and preaching it to you from a distance and you don’t want to hear it, he says, ‘Okay, you’re handling it yourself and you have to go back to the tenets that got you here.’ That’s simple to me.”
Such tactics reminded Miller of Spurs coach Gregg Popovich allowing veteran guards Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili to lead timeouts in recent seasons. Though Kerr said he never experienced that when he played for Popovich in two separate stints (1999-2001, 2002-03), Kerr said that Popovich occasionally allowed his assistants to take charge during timeouts.
“Everyone was saying, ‘Pop is a genius. Look at the guys running the huddle during these games.'” Miller said. “But when the Golden State Warriors and Steve Kerr and those guys do it, it’s, ‘Oh my God, they’re showing up the Phoenix Suns.’ What’s the difference? Steve Kerr learned under Gregg Popovich. That’s probably where he got it from. What is the difference?”
Miller conceded uncertainty if Kerr would allow his players to take control of the huddles during timeouts against more marquee opponents, including the Houston Rockets (42-13) or the San Antonio Spurs (35-23). But then again, Miller argued, who cares?
“This is not something that is going to happen every game,” Miller said. “It happens in one particular game and you all got your heads beaten in. But that’s disrespectful to ya’ll? How about not losing by 25-plus points?”
Miller then reflected on his Hall-of-Fame career with the Indiana Pacers (1987-2005) where he played for various established coaches.
“A coach is just a figure head. He draws up the X’s and O’s. But I guarantee you. If there is something that Larry Bird, Dr. Jack Ramsey, Rick Carlisle, if they drew up a play and I didn’t like it during the huddle, I guarantee you I was voicing my opinion,” Miller said. “What is the difference? Players run the game, regardless. A head coach is just a figure head. So you can’t be upset or embarrassed that players are running the huddles.”
Some have become upset, though.
“The fact that Phoenix [complained] shows they have a long way to go in the locker room,” Webber said. “They don’t have a leader in the locker room that says, ‘We deserve to get our butts beat like that. In a couple of years, we’re going to turn it around so we can coach ourselves.’ So I have no words for that, but it’s not right.”
So, Miller talked instead.
“Fuel this for down the road,” Miller said. “You’re a young team. Have a long memory. Remember that the Warriors did that. This should be a sense of motivation toward you.”
During the conference call, Miller frequently asked a reporter to look up how many times the Suns lost games by double digit margins and by at least 30 points. Phoenix has lost 26 games by double-digit margins and has suffered 30-point plus blowouts in six games. Two days after losing by 48 points to San Antonio, the Suns then lost by 46 points to Golden State.
“Are you kidding me?” Miller said. “Get on a line and do a suicide and shut up. Are you kidding me, man?”
If he were still playing, Miller said he would have forced his teammates to work out as soon as the plane landed after losing by such a margin.
“Lace them up. 3 o’clock in the morning,” Miller said. “We’re doing [running drills] and then we’re going to run Camelback Mountain. I don’t want to hear your mouths. Are you kidding me? [26 double-digit losses], and you’re worried about Andre Iguodala coaching and David West coaching?”
Webber interjected, “You’re worried about the champions.” Miller added, “They never should’ve put me on this conference call.”
“That’s funny,” Webber said. “That shows you what their practices are like. I bet they cry for fouls all day long in practice.”
Then, the laughter subsided. After 7 1/2 minutes, Miller and Webber made their points pretty clear.
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