MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE – FEBRUARY 02: Head coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors reacts during the first half against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum on February 02, 2024 in Memphis, Tennessee. 
Stephen Curry and the team faced a tough battle on the court. The Golden State Warriors’ season takes another disappointing turn as they succumb to the Minnesota Timberwolves with a close score of 114-110, marking their second consecutive loss.

Stephen Curry, known as the team’s star player and one of the greatest shooters in NBA history, took a backseat during most of the fourth quarter. This decision caught the attention of both journalists and fans, sparking discussions and debates about the game’s strategy and player rotations.

Steve Kerr defends his reduced-minute decision for Stephen Curry

Steve Kerr shared his reasons for resting the star guard during an interview with Anthony Slater of The Athletic.

“We’re aiming for around 30 minutes to give him adequate rest. He had a 35-minute game just two days ago… We’re trying to manage his minutes carefully, not restricting them but avoiding overuse,” Kerr explained.

When asked about benching Stephen Curry in the fourth quarter and its impact on the game’s outcome, Kerr responded immediately, “No, not at all. We have Chris Paul, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green on the court. We have a strong lineup. We can’t rely solely on Steph every game…”

Kerr lightened the mood by joking, “These past weeks have been challenging for him. He’s carried this team for fifteen years,” emphasizing the need to ease Stephen Curry’s workload. “Expecting him to play 35 minutes every game is unrealistic.”

With a hectic schedule of 5 games in 7 days on the road, Kerr defended the decision, “Playing Steph 30 or 32 minutes doesn’t determine wins or losses in my view. We’re focused on winning while keeping him fresh.”

Despite Stephen Curry’s impressive performance with 31 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists, the Warriors fell short against the Timberwolves, bringing their record to 36-34.

Steph Curry’s candid opinions on his reduced minutes

Earlier this week, Curry said he’s not overly concerned about the Warriors’ ranking in the play-in race. What matters most to him is that they use the remaining regular season games to develop winning habits that will carry them through the playoffs.

Kerr echoed Curry’s sentiment, emphasizing the importance of building solid habits for success. Whether they make it to the play-in tournament or not, without these foundational habits, their chances are slim.

As they prepared for their upcoming game on Sunday, the team focused on addressing key areas needing improvement, such as energy, focus, transition defense, shot selection, physicality, and communication, particularly evident in their recent game against the Pacers.

These issues are what the Warriors refer to as “stays” – moments when players fail to hustle back on defense or crash the boards, simply remaining stagnant on the court.

Despite a noticeable improvement in their habits during the Timberwolves game, Kerr emphasized that sustained effort, as they showed in Minnesota over the next 12 games, is essential for their success.

However, this improvement didn’t translate into a win, leading Draymond Green to caution against finding false hope in Sunday’s performance.

“We’re still losing,” Green pointed out. “That’s not something to get excited about.”

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