Kerr has Warriors off to best start in 39 years

His knees have long since betrayed him, so a foot race was out of the question. But Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr was certainly up for the challenge the first time all-star point guard Stephen Curry engaged him in a free-throw shooting contest last month. Curry, a career 89.8 percent free-throw shooter, defeated Kerr, who shot 86.4 percent in his 15-year career, in the first battle and celebrated with a one-handed alley-oop jam that reminded his coach what he couldn't do even with good knees.

Every now and then, Kerr and Curry will conclude practices with a friendly free-throw duel that sharpens the player's patented stroke and allows the coach to maintain his burning desire to compete. “Anything that gets the blood going and makes you care, that's fun,” Kerr said recently.

Kerr could have easily stayed in his comfortable seat alongside Marv Albert, providing analysis for TNT and enjoying the spoils of never losing games or sleep — or being second-guessed for failed decisions.

But Kerr wanted that competitive adrenaline that comes from coaching, determining it would be the way for him to stay connected to the game once a failed run as general manager of the Phoenix Suns came to an end in 2010. He just needed to wait long enough for most of his kids to be out of his house and for the right opportunity to come along.

At first, it seemed that chance would come in New York, where new Knicks boss Phil Jackson — the coach who helped Kerr win three of his five championship rings as a player — offered the NBA's all-time leader in 3-point field-goal percentage a five-year, $25 million deal and his counsel.

Then, Warriors owner Joe Lacob presented the same money and a much more talented roster that was closer to contending, even in the stacked Western Conference. Kerr chose the latter, which was closer to his San Diego home, but it was a difficult decision.

“Saying no to Phil was probably the hardest thing that I had to do professionally,” Kerr said. “He basically made my career. From my experience in Chicago, that allowed me to have the success to sign as a free agent in San Antonio, where I had another incredible experience. My career path, started with Lute Olsen (at Arizona) ... but Phil's the guy who got me rolling and gave me all the opportunities that I have in front of me right now.”

Kerr has the Warriors (8-2) off to their best start in 39 years and took over a team that had made back-to-back playoff appearances under Mark Jackson, a man well-liked and respected by many of his players.

While Kerr inherited a group that was among the best defensive teams in the league, the offense somehow ranked 12th in offensive efficiency despite the presence of Curry, the sharpshooting Klay Thompson, an all-star power forward in David Lee, one of the league's best passing big men in Andrew Bogut and a versatile, playmaking small forward in Andre Iguodala.

The Warriors weren't very creative offensively, relying heavily on isolation plays.

“Last year, we got too stagnant at times,” Thompson said. “Too much talent and skill on this team not to move the ball quickly.”

The Warriors have outshot every team they've faced this season and lead the league in field-goal shooting percentage at 49.9 percent. They also lead in true shooting percentage (60.2) and effective field goal percentage (56.2), which are adjusted for free throws and 3-pointers.

“We're not reinventing the wheel,” Kerr said, while stating the obvious. “If you don't have weapons, it doesn't matter what you run.”

Curry was often burdened with going 1-on-1 when the offense broke down last season, but he has been thriving under the new system, averaging 24.8 points and shooting 49.1 percent from the field — numbers that would be career-bests if maintained for the full season — while handing out 7.7 assists.

In addition to adjusting the offense, Kerr has also helped the Warriors remain one of the league's best defensive teams. Kerr has also made some gutsy moves, such as making former all-star Iguodala a reserve to help improve a once-struggling bench and improving the confidence of new starter Harrison Barnes. And Kerr has done so without the flair or bombast of his predecessor Jackson, an ordained minister who would use the occasional sermon to rile up his team.

“Coach Jackson was more with the motivational stuff,” Bogut said. “Coach Kerr is more straight to the point.”

To help with his adjustment as coach, Kerr hired veterans Alvin Gentry and Ron Adams, former players Luke Walton and Jarron Collins and his former college teammate and Suns scout Bruce Fraser. But he also plans to rely on his former coaches and mentors, including ESPN analyst Doug Collins, who had some experience making the transition from booth to bench.

“You're never really in control,” Kerr said. “But you're more hands on and you have a better sense of trying to get the ship steering in the right direction. It takes the whole team to steer it, but you nudge someone here, you push a guy there, you start to get things pointed in the right direction, that's fun.”

“I never met a coach that did it on his own. All the great coaches convinced and cajoled and the players are the ones that do it, ultimately.

“That's what makes it fun, when you get them to the point where you're doing it together.”

Curry credited those early free throw contests for giving him a better sense of his coach.

“Just like my dad [Dell], when they get in the gym, they still love to shoot. Legends still love to come out and compete. That's kind of what made them who they are. He doesn't like losing, so I have to keep my edge,” Curry said. “It's all about winning. We feel like we're the best team in the West and we can show that all year. We want to go out, try to get homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs down the road and see what happens.”