On the TUNNEYSIDE of SPORTS June 22, 2015 #546 Up Next…”I lied”
After further review…Prior to game four of the recently-completed NBA finals, a reporter asked Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr if he was going to make any changes for the next game with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Kerr said there would be no change. At that point the Cavaliers led 2-1 in the best-of-seven series and had home court advantage at Quicken Loan Arena.
When the teams took the court, it was obvious Coach Kerr had made a major change by starting Draymond Green (6’-7”) at center in place of seven-foot Andrew Bogut. Kerr also included Andre Iguodala (6’-6”) in what he termed his “small lineup.” It worked with the Warriors winning 103-82, their largest margin of victory yet over the Cavs. In his post-game interview Kerr admitted “I lied. I did….,” stating his rationale that “If I did tell you the truth, it’s equivalent to knocking on the Cavs head coach’s (David Blatt) door and saying, ‘Hey, this is what we’re going to do.’”
“The small lineup made sense since we were getting off to slow starts in the prior games,” Kerr explained, “so we did it for pace and floor spacing to get our tempo going.” The strategy worked the way Coach Kerr had planned. However, to sit a couple of your starters can create tension on a T*E*A*M. But not the way face-to-face coach Kerr goes about it. The key is developing a trustworthy and straightforward relationship with each player, by fostering an attitude of selfless credit for a T*E*A*M victory. (Incidentally, the Warriors won the final three games to take the series 4-2.)
But what about the lying part? Is it okay for a coach to willingly deceive the press? In Kerr’s case, he went directly to the questioning reporter after the game and apologized. The reporter, in turn, accepted the apology. The key in any relationship is that clear and simple term: straightforwardness. (‘Course, it does help if you win!) Most reporters are as competitive as the athletes, and want the “edge” in getting their story out first. This can lead to over inquisitive questioning of a coach sitting on the firing line.
Will you grant Coach Kerr this “fib,” since he used it to prevent an opponent from gaining an advantage?
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