Why Steve Kerr Doesn't Mind The Low External Expectations Placed On Warriors

Why Steve Kerr doesn't mind the low external expectations placed on Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Steve Kerr and Steph Curry are approaching the same uncomfortable reality in very different ways.

At Monday’s Warriors Media Day, Kerr was asked whether Golden State’s unusually low external expectations this season — after a 37-45 finish and an NBA Play-In Tournament exit a year ago — might actually allow the team to play freely. Kerr embraced the premise without hesitation.

“I don’t mind the fact that everyone’s picking us to miss the playoffs. That’s not a bad spot to be in as a team, as a coach,” Kerr said. “What it means is we get to focus on the process.”

Kerr elaborated that the plan starts immediately, with a team meeting Tuesday morning to lay out expectations and vision for the season. His larger point was that ambitions like building an identity, cutting down on turnovers and winning games on the margins are not accomplished by simply talking about them — they come from a disciplined daily process, and he believes operating outside the spotlight makes that process easier to stick to.

Curry heard almost none of that same peace when the topic reached him.

“Steve was saying he kind of likes that no one expects you guys to make the playoffs, and there’s a little freedom to flying under the radar,” a reporter began.

“That’s how bad it is? To make the playoffs?” Curry said. “It went from championship to…”

Asked what he thought about the situation, Curry simply repeated the question back.

“That’s what I think about that,” Curry said, standing up and walking off the podium. He paused briefly to add, “Sorry, that wasn’t to you. That was to the situation.”

Whether Curry was fully serious or simply having fun with a question he found absurd, the moment landed as a pointed rebuttal all the same.

This still is a player who signed a two-year, $116 million extension this offseason — taking a $20 million discount to stay — entering his 18th season with no apparent interest in lowering his own bar just because the outside world has lowered theirs.

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