Steve Kerr on Warriors’ bench: ‘I probably should’ve used them earlier’

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HOUSTON – The words likely sounded reassuring to a Warriors bench that experienced inconsistency with their production and their minutes.

“I probably should’ve used them earlier,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said following the team’ s 118-113 Game 6 win over the Houston Rockets to close out the Western Conference semifinals.

The words also sounded reassuring to Warriors general manager Bob Myers, who, for better and for worse, constructed the team’s reserves through last year’s NBA draft and free agency.

“Kerr has been making us look bad,” Myers said with a grin. “I mandated that he do that. He better apologize.”

Myers stressed he was joking, but he sounded self aware of the season-long criticism he had faced with handling the backend of the Warriors’ roster. And yet in one of the Warriors’ most pivotal playoff games, their bench gave enough to help them absorb Kevin Durant’s absence with a strained right calf.

The bench combined for 33 points after spending the season ranked 29th out of 30 NBA teams in bench scoring (29.3 points). Kevon Looney (14 points, five rebounds) reclaimed his usual role as a dependable reserve. Shaun Livingston (11 points) returned to his former self as the 33-year old spent most of his 15th NBA season fighting injuries.

In a nod to the team’s “Strength in Numbers” motto, Andrew Bogut started at center after previously playing limited minutes because of matchup concerns with Houston’s small lineup. After falling out of the rotation because of inconsistent decision-making and a one-game suspension last month for charging a candle to Warriors assistant coach Mike Brown, second-year forward Jordan Bell had four points and two rebounds in 11 minutes.

After sitting the first five playoff games against Houston because of defensive concerns, Quinn Cook spelled minutes for Stephen Curry’s early foul trouble by playing some effective defense on Houston guard Chris Paul. After often becoming a matchup concern, veteran forward Jonas Jerebko played 12 minutes without any issues. The lone absentee? Rookie forward Jacob Evans, who has received 52 healthy scratches all season.

“We’ve all heard that all year that our bench isn’t as strong. Obviously we’re not as deep,” Draymond Green said. “Everyone came off that bench and proved everybody wrong. It couldn’t have happened at a better time for us.”

Can the Warriors rely on their bench in future games? The Warriors do not have a definitive timetable on Durant’s expected return. Safe to rule him out, though, when the Warriors play either Denver or Portland in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on Tuesday at Oracle Arena. It seems likely Durant would miss Game 2 on Thursday, too. And as Kerr said after Game 6 against Houston, “obviously injuries forced us to use the bench.”

“Going forward, Steve knows he can trust us,” Looney said. “In some games, it might call for the starters to play 40 minutes. But in games that the bench is needed, we’ll come in and perform.”

Kerr did not always have that trust in his reserves to do that.

“We like to talk about ‘Strength in numbers,’” Kerr said. “But the coach wasn’t doing much of that the first five games.”

Kerr had practical reasons to handle his rotation that way.

When the Warriors selected Evans with the No. 28 pick of last year’s draft, Myers said that he envisioned Evans capable of playing right away. Yet, Evans did not play in the Western Conference semifinals and has appeared in 30 games through mostly mop-up duty amid concerns about his shooting accuracy and whether his defensive credentials can translate into the NBA. The Warriors had hoped Bell to grow substantially his rookie season, but they soon tired of his decision making. Kerr put Bell in Game 4 because the team had a foul to give, but Kerr yanked him after he messed up the play in only seven seconds.

Kerr had become encouraged with Cook’s preparation and shooting during last year’s breakout season as a two-way player, but he remained concerned about his defense. Alfonzo McKinnie became a consistent part of the playoff rotation because of his defense and rebounding, an encouraging consolation prize following Patrick McCaw’s persisting holdout. The 32-year-old Jerebko finished with a (-12) in total plus-minus in Game 3 despite playing only four minutes.

So for all the uncertainty with Durant’s future, the Warriors’ bench is just as unpredictable. Livingston has contemplated retirement. Bell will become a restricted free agent, while Looney, Cook and Jerebko will become unrestricted. The Warriors hold a team option on McKinnie. Despite Evans’ limited playing time, the Warriors are mindful it takes for late first-round picks to develop.

Hence, Myers described the Warriors young reserves featuring “some pleasant surprises and some guys we’re going to be patient on.”

“I don’t judge young players after a year, two or even three,” Myers said. “There are so many examples of players being overly celebrated or overly criticized and then they prove us wrong.”

The Warriors’ bench proved the general public wrong in Game 6.

“We’ve taken a lot of slack with our production – rightfully so,” Livingston said, “But guys stepped up.”

With guys stepping up, Myers expressed some validation in refusing to make definitive conclusions about his bench. After all, he argued each bench players’ role often depends on external circumstances.

“It’s important to evaluate at the end of the year. But it’s also important not to make conclusions without giving players time,” Myers said. “Our team is a little bit unique because we don’t afford a ton of space for young guys to go through mistakes. But it’s all part of the whole thing. One day maybe we’ll be in a situation where we’re letting young players play 30 minutes a night. That’s how they get better. But we’re not in that spot. Still, a lot of guys showed growth throughout the year.”

Will their growth continue throughout the postseason? That will depend on various variables, including the Warriors’ health, how they match up against Denver or Portland’s rotation as well as each reserves’ play. Despite those unpredictable scenarios, the Warriors’ reserves vowed to fulfill Kerr’s message “to stay ready.” At least they answered the call in a pivotal Game 6.

“My coaches always keep us in the gym and try to get in early and stay late,” Cook said. “Once you’re consumed with winning, it doesn’t matter when you play and when you don’t. you have to keep that mentality.”

With the Warriors’ bench having that mentality, Kerr offered a mea culpa that Myers loved hearing.

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