If it were up to Steve Kerr, the Golden State Warriors wouldn’t be chasing the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls record of 72 victories.
Not anymore, at least.
Following a thorough drubbing of the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night, the Warriors have now locked up first place in the Western Conference, clinching home-court advantage through the playoffs. Kerr, as a result, is inclined to start resting his best players. But he won’t, per Rusty Simmons of The San Francisco Chronicle:
Steve Kerr said he's "inclined" to rest guys, now that No. 1 seed is locked up, but he's made a pact with players to let them decide.
— Rusty Simmons (@JRustySimmons) April 8, 2016
It’s only natural for Kerr to feel this way. Winning a title is more important than winning 73 regular season games, regardless of how we interpret and praise and mythologize that many victories. It makes sense that he would rather prioritize the health of his team over some regular-season record.
But the Warriors want 73 wins. They’ve said it before. They’ve downplayed it before. But they want it. And they need to win each of their next three games to get it.
The good news? Two of those three games come against the injury-ravaged Memphis Grizzlies. If the Warriors play the way they did on Thursday night when they face Memphis, they’ll be able to rest their starters through the second, third and fourth quarters.
Sunday’s rematch with the Spurs is more concerning. Gregg Popovich could elect to rest his key players since the Spurs will have nothing to play for themselves. But they will still be undefeated at home and could look to keep that streak going, in which case the Warriors must be prepared for a dogfight.
And Steve Kerr is ready, if reluctantly so, to let his players pick that fight, because it’s want they so obviously want.
