OAKLAND — Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr offered his support for the plan that was the subject of an ESPN report indicating that the NBA will begin the schedule 10 days earlier next year.
By shortening the preseason slate and starting the regular season earlier, the league would have the flexibility to cut down on back-to-backs and crowded stretches during the calendar.
“I think it makes perfect sense,” Kerr said during his pregame press conference on Monday night. “Preseason is too long. We don’t need eight games and I think three weeks of camp or so with five exhibition games is perfect.”
In the final game of their homestand, the Warriors are hosting an Indiana Pacers team that is on the second leg of a back-to-back. Beginning Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center, the Dubs will embark on a stretch of four games in fives nights and five in seven.
“I’m not actually totally opposed to back-to-backs,” Kerr explained. “I think back-to-backs occasionally are fine. It’s the four in five nights — it’s what we have coming up.”
“Five in seven. That’s rough. That’s tough,” Kerr said. “An occasional back-to-back is fine. These guys are phenomenal athletes, obviously. It’s more the cumulative effect. The group of games bunched together in a week or 10 days. That can get you. Hopefully that’s what the league can kind of alleviate through this new schedule.”
When Raymond Ridder, the Dubs’ PR guru, pointed out to Kerr that he’s not supposed to comment on issues related to the league’s collective bargaining agreement, the coach made light of earlier comments he had made that were taken out of context and misconstrued.
“I’m already a stoner,” Kerr joked.
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