The Golden State Warriors are not off to a great start this season, going 4-7 through their first 11 games, including 0-6 on the road.
General manager Bob Myers joined 95.7 The Game on Tuesday to talk about the team’s slow start to the season and if the team is no longer playing with joy like they did last year.
“I don’t think anybody knows that specifically,” Myers said. “Last year I think we had something to prove…this year [we are] trying to figure out the right rotations; short offseason, I don’t know, that’s a good question. Do I think we can improve? Yeah, I do. …I don’t view it as something we need to overreact to 11 games in.”
As far as whether or not there are chemistry issues between the younger players and veteran group, Myers dismissed that notion.
“I think the vets, the group that has won, they have a high level and high standard of what basketball should look like,” Myers said. “I’d say privately…the vets help out the young guys a lot. I don’t walk around the building and see vets rolling their eyes or pulling me aside and saying ‘I can’t believe you’re playing these guys.’ Surely they get frustrated with young guys, sure that’s the case on any team, but I do think they see them working.
“I asked Andre [Iguodala], whose been working a lot with Kuminga, …Andre doesn’t pull punches. He says, ‘this kid’s been great.’”
Among the younger players struggling includes Jordan Poole, who was inked to a $140 million contract before the start of the season, but Myers spoke highly of Poole’s work ethic on Tuesday.
“We were closed today and Poole came in,” he said. “So I see some things that give me more confidence and optimism that listeners and fans don’t see. Doesn’t always mean it’s a good thing…but I have belief in these guys. Certainly there’s times in the game where the young guys aren’t performing and the vets get frustrated, but not to the degree where it’s tipped over the edge.”
Poole was also the player whom teammate Draymond Green got into an altercation with after a preseason practice, but Myers could not say whether or not that was having a negative impact on him.
“I can’t feel what he’s feeling. I only see what he’s doing in the facility or hear what he’s saying. But he’s pressing,” Myers said. “I can’t tell you of the why of it. ,,,But he can play. He’s played in the playoffs. … I do believe he’ll figure it out. He’s been up against it. Coming off the bench is tough. The transition to being a guy to come off the bench and finding a rhythm there…but moving from starter to bench, especially for a young player, is a challenge. … we believe in him, there is a reason why we committed to him, the kid cares, think he’s in a little rut right now but he’ll get out of it.”
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