{"id":7718,"date":"2024-12-05T03:56:53","date_gmt":"2024-12-05T03:56:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=7718"},"modified":"2024-12-05T03:56:53","modified_gmt":"2024-12-05T03:56:53","slug":"warriors-brandin-podziemski-responds-to-steve-kerr-calling-him-out-ive-got-to-be-better","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=7718","title":{"rendered":"Warriors\u2019 Brandin Podziemski responds to Steve Kerr calling him out: \u2018I\u2019ve got to be better\u2019.."},"content":{"rendered":"

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DENVER\u00a0\u2014 The\u00a0Golden State Warriors\u00a0were winning by 10 as their fastbreak began inside Ball Arena when\u00a0Brandin Podziemski\u00a0stripped Nikola Jokic.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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It ended with a layup for the Denver Nuggets star.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Instead of playing to a five-on-four advantage with a fundamental or by slowing the pace Podziemski lofted an errant left-handed lob\u00a0\u2014 to Denver\u2019s Jamal Murray, who passed to Jokic down the floor. As described by Warriors head coach Steve Kerr after a 119-115 loss: \u201cThat was frankly insane.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Kerr concluded his postgame news conference with a spirited callout of the second-year guard, whose 13 points\u00a0\u2014 on 6-of-11 shooting\u00a0\u2014 four rebounds and four assists were countered by untimely unforced errors.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In one vexing 38-second fourth-quarter stretch with the Warriors protecting a nine-point lead, Podziemski whipped a one-handed pass into a section of spectators, missed a step-back 3-point jumper while isolating against Jokic, and fouled Michael Porter Jr. in the act of 3-point shooting for the second time in the second half.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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While pounding the dais at which he concluded an impassioned news conference after a fifth straight loss, Kerr said \u201cPodz is a hell of a player, but he needs to\u00a0\u2014 and I\u2019ve told him this\u00a0\u2014 be a smart player. He\u2019s one of our guys who\u2019s capable of making really good decisions.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love Brandin. Hell of a player. He\u2019s got a hell of a future ahead of him,\u201d Kerr added. \u201cI hope he watches this clip of me talking because he needs to hear it. He\u2019s got to be a smart, tough, great decision maker. And he\u2019s very capable of it. That\u2019s his next step.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Kerr\u2019s willingness to challenge Podziemski publicly speaks to his importance to Golden State, for which\u00a0\u2014 since Saturday\u00a0\u2014 he\u2019s starting at shooting guard on the strength of his ballhandling, passing and connective playmaking.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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As an All-Rookie first-team honoree last season, he averaged 9.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game while leading the Warriors in plus\/minus ratio (plus-264) and the NBA in offensive fouls drawn (38).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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A sophomore slump has affected his statistics\u00a0\u2014 8.0 points on 39% shooting, including 20.6% from 3-point range, 4.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists\u00a0\u2014 but not Golden State\u2019s belief in his ability or impact.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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When he\u2019s at his best, he injects the Warriors with pace, energy and physicality as a creator and committed defender.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cHis growth will be to try to let the game come to him as easy as possible,\u201d guard Stephen Curry said. \u201cStill play with a lot of energy and aggressiveness, but just get over the hump in terms of connecting both ends of the floor. And lifting whoever he\u2019s out there with because he\u2019s been able to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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When Podziemski is beside Curry\u00a0\u2014 afflicted at 36 by a bout of bilateral knee tendinitis\u00a0\u2014 he can push him off the ball and spare him the strain of some on-ball usage so he\u2019s fresher for the course of 48 minutes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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And for 62 more games.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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As one of the Warriors\u2019 best ballhandlers,\u00a0Podziemski is also the de facto backup point guard for the Warriors, for whom he was playing with their second unit when Murray intercepted his pass.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cWe\u2019ve got to make simple decisions, and when we do that, we\u2019re really good,\u201d Kerr said. \u201cWhen we try too hard, try to make plays on our own, we get into trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

After his underwhelming outing, Podziemski was accepting of Kerr\u2019s critiques, noting, \u201cI\u2019ve got to be better. I know I\u2019ll be better. I know the coaching staff trusts me to be better.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Podziemski was summoned to the sideline after first fouling Porter early in the third quarter for some coaching from Kerr.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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His message to Podziemski?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cHe was kind of getting on me to do my job, and know what I\u2019m supposed to be doing,\u201d the 21-year-old said. \u201cHe just got on me a little bit, which I\u2019m all for. I\u2019m trying to get better. He knows he can get on me. I\u2019m not going to respond emotionally. I\u2019m just going to go out there and hoop.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Added Curry: \u201cYou deal with criticism. You get better. And you keep it moving.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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