The Golden State Warriors are free-falling as the NBA regular season enters its final month.
The 32-34 Warriors will likely make the Play-In Tournament in the Western Conference, but that’s a far cry from their dynasty that most recently won the 2022 NBA Finals. To make matters murkier, the Warriors lost four players to injury over the weekend, including Draymond Green. Two-time NBA MVP Stephen Curry has been out since Jan. 30 with “runner’s knee,” and All-Star Jimmy Butler tore his ACL in late January.
So, Golden State head coach Steve Kerr has let his mind wander toward bigger-picture issues.
“I know this will not be a popular opinion in the league office, but I will continue to say it because it’s obvious we need to play fewer games,” Kerr said last Monday, as per ESPN. “We need to take 10 games off the schedule. I think it would be a more competitive and healthier league if we played fewer games.”
According to SNY’s Ian Begley on Sunday, Kerr also wants NBA stakeholders to have “a meaningful discussion” about shortening the NBA regular season from 82 games.
“I’m well aware fewer games would mean less revenue, which means everybody takes a pay cut, and I’m willing to stick my neck out and say I’m all for that because I think the quality of the product is the most important thing,” Kerr said. “So, I don’t say these things flippantly. I say these things because I mean them.”
Hall of Famer and former eight-time All-Star Vince Carter very much disagrees.
“I just feel like you have to be creative with how you rest guys,” Carter said on NBC Sports’ pregame broadcast alongside fellow Hall of Famers Carmelo Anthony and Tracy McGrady before Golden State lost to the New York Knicks on Sunday. “I asked you guys that question. I was like, ‘Did you ever think about not playing or cutting the season short?’ We all said no. That’s just kind of what it was. You figured out how to take care of your body.”
Carter continued, “We enjoyed playing the game, and we found ways, whether it’s you cut the minutes in the game, or you don’t practice. You cut back on practice. I just think this is a great game. This game has been good to us. Playing 80-plus games, that’s what comes with playing in the NBA. When you work your butt off to get here, that’s what comes with it. So, why are we changing the format of what has been great for so many years?”
According to Begley, Kerr cited data showing increased speed and distance run by players, as well as soft-tissue injuries.
Kerr isn’t on an island. The NBA’s persistent tanking problem has raised questions as to whether an 82-game season is still feasible. Tom Haberstroh wrote about 82 games being “a thing of the past” all the way back in April 2017.
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