Warriors News, Rumors 2014: Steve Kerr, Klay Thompson, Harrison Barnes, Andrew Bogut

Warriors News, Rumors 2014: Steve Kerr, Klay Thompson, Harrison Barnes, Andrew Bogut
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr reacts during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014. The Warriors won 128-122 in overtime. (AP Photo/Jonathan Bachman)
Zachary Stieber
12/15/2014
Updated:
12/15/2014

The Golden State Warriors grabbed another win as the news and rumors pick up ahead of the big game on Tuesday.

Check out the latest buzz below.

Kerr Says Warriors Won’t Win 72

With the Warriors 16-game win streak, comparisons are being drawn to the 1996 Chicago Bulls team on which now-Warriors coach Steve Kerr played. The Bulls won 72 games that year.

When asked if the Warriors could pull it off, reported ESPN, Kerr responded, “Oh God, no. No!”

“We had this guy named Michael Jordan on that team. That year, I think we were 41-3. So if we can go 21-1 the next 22 games, come talk to me,” he added.

He also said Jordan singlehandedly won at least 10 of those games. 

“What I remember that year is there were about 10 games where Michael just decided, ‘We’re going to win,’” he said.

“And every other team on Earth would have lost those 10 games. And Michael Jordan was ... there'll never be another one. Nobody has ever come close, and I don’t think anybody ever will. He wanted to break that Lakers record of 69 wins, so he decided we would do it, so we did it. There’s only one Michael.”

Thompson Praises Kerr

Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) shoots over New Orleans Pelicans forward Ryan Anderson, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014. (AP Photo/Jonathan Bachman)
Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) shoots over New Orleans Pelicans forward Ryan Anderson, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014. (AP Photo/Jonathan Bachman)

 

Some weren’t sure how Kerr would handle his first head coaching job, but players say he’s doing a great job.

“It made us all feel good that he was a former player who played in this league,” Klay Thompson told NOLA.

“He knows how it is to play 82 games, and on top of that the playoffs. He knows it’s a tough job. He’s done a great job so far. I’ve only played 40 minutes once. I’ve never felt so fresh in my career at this point.”

Kerr replaced Mark Jackson, another coach who had arrived straight from doing television broadcasts. 

“It’s unique because you'd hear him talk a lot when you watched all the game, but it’s a whole different approach. It’s changed a lot. You go from fun and loquacious to trying to get on you and competitive nature. It’s pretty cool to see,” Thompson said.

“I had an open mind. I was expecting someone to come in who knew how to win just because of the victories he had had as a player and a GM. It’s really impressive. I had no expectations really, just to do whatever he says and try to play hard every night. I think all of felt that way, and felt we'd be successful because we’ve got such a talented group of guys.”

New Orleans Pelicans coach Monty Williams agreed Kerr has done a great job, but also credited the Warriors’ staff including assistant Alvin Gentry.

Lee, Bogut Out Tuesday

Golden State Warriors' David Lee passes away from Brooklyn Nets' Paul Pierce, center, and Kevin Garnett, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Golden State Warriors' David Lee passes away from Brooklyn Nets' Paul Pierce, center, and Kevin Garnett, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

 

The Warriors will not get David Lee or Andrew Bogut back for the high-profile matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday.

Lee (hamstring) was questionable for the game, but has now been ruled out. Bogut is dealing with a knee injury, and has missed the last three games. He went through limited warmups on Sunday but still sat, and was slated to be re-evaluated on Monday.

Harrison Barnes, who suffered a broken nose on Sunday and also had two stitches in his mouth, is questionable. 

But Kerr told Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle that he'd be shocked if Barnes doesn’t play.

If Barnes does play, he'll wear a protective mask. 

Warriors Accuse Cunningham of Cheap Shots

The Warriors have plans to submit a videotape showing that Pelicans forward Dante Cunningham leveled some “cheap shots” during the overtime game.

Barnes and Draymond Green were struck in their faces in the second quarter.

Green isn’t injured as severely as Barnes but said his nose is still sore. 

“I guess that was his strategy to try to win a game. I don’t know, but nobody’s backing down from that if that’s what we were supposed to do,” Green, who was called for a technical foul after no personal foul was called on Cunningham on the play, told the Mercury News.

“Some people would call it physical, but that’s not physical. That’s cheap...He didn’t put neither one of us out of the game, so you’ve got to come a little harder next time if you’re going to try to throw a cheap shot. If you’re going to do it, do it.”

Kerr also referred to the incidents as “cheap shots.”

Curry Leads Warriors Past Pelicans

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) goes to the basket against New Orleans Pelicans forward Luke Babbitt (8) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014. The Warriors won 128-122 in overtime. (AP Photo/Jonathan Bachman)
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) goes to the basket against New Orleans Pelicans forward Luke Babbitt (8) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014. The Warriors won 128-122 in overtime. (AP Photo/Jonathan Bachman)

 

As Stephen Curry watched his second 3-pointer in overtime go down from 26 feet out, he shrugged his shoulders then pounded his chest.

It’s as if Curry just can’t help himself when the chance to hit a devastating shot arises, and theGolden State Warriors can’t help but win — even when it looks like they shouldn’t.

Curry scored eight of his 34 points in overtime, and the Warriors won their 16th straight, 128-122 over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night.

“It was just a tough game to win. (The Pelicans) were playing well and hitting shots,” Curry said. “Obviously we had enough in the tank at the end to finish it up.”

Klay Thompson added 29 points for the Warriors, whose franchise-long winning streak includes a club-record 10 straight road victories.

“This winning streak feels great and we don’t want it to end any time soon,” Thompson said.

Tyreke Evans scored 34 points for the Pelicans before fouling out with three minutes left in overtime.

Jrue Holiday had 30 points, nine assists and five steals for New Orleans, which was playing without Anthony Davis but still led 107-99 with 4:16 left in regulation.

“Our guys fought their tails off tonight. We just came up short,” Pelicans coach Monty Williams said. “To have a chance to win against the best team in the league says a lot about our guys.”

Andre Iguodala had a season-high 20 points and Shaun Livingston scored 12 for Golden State.

Coming off a victory a night earlier in Dallas, the Warriors were concerned about a let-down in New Orleans. Coach Steve Kerr warned his team about it before tip-off but it nearly became a self-fulfilling prophecy anyway.

Golden State committed 20 turnovers.

“If we defend and take care of the ball, we have a chance. We didn’t do either one tonight,” Kerr said. “Thankfully, we’ve got really, really talented players and we have an incredibly strong, competitive desire to win.”

After not hitting a field goal for the last quarter-and-a-half of regulation, Curry opened overtime with a pull-up jumper. Draymond Green followed with a three-point play on a driving layup as he was fouled by Ryan Anderson. Curry came back with a 3-pointer from 26 feet out, and a few possessions later added another.

Anderson scored 15 for the Pelicans, but was only 2 of 8 from 3-point range, one game after he tied a career high with eight 3s. Dante Cunningham added 13 points.

Marreese Speights, who had 10 points, made one of two free throws with 43.5 seconds left in the fourth quarter, tying the game at 111. Neither team managed to score again in regulation. Evans’ game-winning attempt at the horn was rushed and off-balance.

Curry scored 13 of his points within the first seven minutes of the game, and the Warriors led by as much as 11 on Justin Holiday’s alley-oop dunk of Livingston’s fast-break lob late in the first half.

Golden State still led by double digits when Thompson’s 3-pointer made it 82-72 midway through the third quarter, but New Orleans reeled off 11 straight points. Jeff Withey, who had 10 points, dunked twice during the spurt, which also included Anderson’s second 3 of the game.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.