Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr shared his thoughts Thursday after a 121-110 loss to the Boston Celtics at Chase Center, marking Kristaps Porzingis’ debut with the team.
“I thought he looked good. It’s never easy just going to a new team and having one practice and then playing. You can see his talent, his feel for the game, his ability to space the floor, protect the rim,” Kerr said.
Kerr praised Porzingis’ versatility on both ends of the floor, noting, “You saw him post up a couple times and get buckets, space the floor, and shoot threes. The game really flows when he’s out there.” He acknowledged the experimental lineups used during the game, stating, “Porzingis played first four minutes with Draymond, eight with Al, and then the last five as a lone big… We’re going to have to find better rhythm when two of them are out there together for sure.”
The coach analyzed Golden State’s performance against Boston, pointing out the slow start. “Boston was incredible. They’re having an amazing season, they’re a machine right now… They just put on a clinic those first three quarters. We were slow to get moving,” Kerr said. He credited the team’s second-half effort: “It was good to see the fight and the rhythm we found late to at least make it respectable and find momentum for the next game.”
Kerr also discussed the team’s adjustments without Stephen Curry, sidelined with a knee injury. “We know we have to play fast, take care of the ball, crash for second opportunities… We did a lot of good things. But that’s a hell of a team and they played an amazing game. We didn’t find our grit until the second half,” he explained.
Addressing the absence of key stars, Kerr reflected on the need for confidence and energy: “This league is built on star players… We’ve got to learn to play without Jimmy and Steph both. That means bringing the juice, the energy, finding a little bit of swagger without those guys. It’s not easy, but we have to do it.”
Kerr’s comments came after Golden State struggled to contain Boston’s pace, allowing 36 assists and shooting 52% from the field. Jaylen Brown recorded a triple-double with 23 points, 15 rebounds, and 13 assists, while Payton Pritchard added 26 points and Sam Hauser contributed 16. Golden State rallied late, but Boston’s second-quarter 17-2 run and control of the boards proved decisive.
Looking ahead, Kerr emphasized the team’s focus on improvement. “We have Denver coming in on Sunday. Another great team. We’ve got to be better from the outset. We have to compete like crazy for 48 minutes,” he said, highlighting the ongoing challenge of adjusting lineups without Curry and integrating Porzingis effectively.
