Rested and ready to roll
Durant, other players mentally recharged during All-Star break
OAKLAND >> As soon as the All-Star game finished, Kevin Durant had one goal over the rest of his short break.
“I slept,” Durant said. “I took like four or five naps the last few days. Got some good sleep last night. That’s all I needed. So I was good.”
Last week was not very restful for the majority of the Warriors’ starters, four of whom played in the AllStar game for the second straight year, a first in NBA history.
But Durant said he and the other All-Stars got what they needed — a break from the season. Even though last weekend was a flurry of appearances and flashing cameras, Durant said he was absolutely able to recharge.
“Just the fact that you don’t have to think about the game,” Durant said. “To get mentally tired is worse than getting physically tired, I feel like. Sometimes you just want to take your mind off if it, relax a bit, and not worry about it.”
As Durant talked to reporters Wednesday evening following the team’s first practice since the AllStar break began Feb. 15, he was dripping sweat and kept having to towel himself off.
“Man, it was good to get back into the groove,” Durant said. “A week off is pretty long, especially in the middle of the season.”
Draymond Green, who said he just “chilled” and “kicked back” the last two days, said he too felt refreshed and ready to finish off the remaining 24 games of the season.
“Just to get away, leave basketball behind for a minute, just enjoy life for a couple of days is great,” Green said. “To miss the game for a few days and then get back to it, it’s good.”
The Warriors (44-14) struggled right before the break, winning only four of
their eight games since Jan. 30. Over that stretch, they fell to second place in the Western Conference, 1/2 a game behind the first-place Houston Rockets (44-13).
Green said the Warriors know what they need to focus on — getting fewer turnovers, playing better defense and getting better starts. And he said they’re experienced enough to know how to make that happen.
“I’m not trying to say it’s easy, like it’s an on and off switch,” Green said. “But we’re at a different point in the season that requires a different focus level. We’re in a pretty good spot, now it’s time to really turn it up.”
Warriors’ coach Steve Kerr said it’s only natural that a team that’s been to three straight NBA Finals, winning championships in 2015 and 2017, will get emotionally exhausted at points throughout the season.
“Some of it is mental fatigue, but part of it is poor habits sinking in over the last month or two,” Kerr said. “We’ve pointed them out, talked about them, shown stats, shown clips. I think those things are more likely to resonate now. When you get to this point, guys start to pay attention a little bit more. “
While Durant acknowledged that the Warriors have things they need to work on, he bristled when asked about the team’s issues.
“All the issues?” Durant said. “I mean, we got 44 wins.”
Durant said the Warriors could improve upon different offensive schemes and pick-and-roll coverages but, that being said, they’re still a great team that’s in a position to make yet another championship run.
“I know it’s not the Warriors of the last few years, as far as our record is concerned,” Durant said. “But we’re a
damn good team, and I’m not going to sit here and let anybody say we’re struggling or hang our heads because we lost a few.”
• Jordan Bell (left ankle inflammation) practiced for the first time since sustaining the injury in a game against the Chicago Bulls on Jan. 17. He will be re-evaluated but he not play against the Los Angeles Clippers tonight.
“He looked good,” Kerr said. “He scrimmaged. He went through everything. No noticeable limp or anything like that.”
Patrick McCaw (non-displaced left wrist) has a hard cast on his left wrist and will be re-evaluated in four weeks.
• Kerr said the outcry from the Florida students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High following the shooting that killed 17 people was “phenomenal.” Students from that school rallied with students from hundreds of other schools Wednesday to advocate for reform of the country’s gun laws.
“What those kids are doing is heroic,” Kerr said. “It’s heartfelt. And I think it’s the beginning of some change. I really believe that. I’m amazed any time I see them on TV or online. It’s heartbreaking but inspiring all at once.”
• Durant, who played for the Seattle SuperSonics his rookie season from 2007-08, said he was excited that the Warriors are in talks about playing an exhibition game in Seattle against the Sacramento Kings on Oct. 6.
“That would be amazing, Durant said. “Hopefully that goes through.”
The SuperSonics moved to Oklahoma City shortly after Durant won the 2008 Rookie of the Year.
“I mean the fans of Seattle definitely deserve basketball and that would be amazing. So I’m looking forward to that, if it’s true.”