If anyone's in a position to measure one era's greatness against another, it's Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr.
Kerr was a member of the Michael Jordan-led, 72-win Chicago Bulls in 1995-96 - roundly considered to be the greatest team ever assembled - and two decades on, finds himself coaching the modern-day equivalent. His defending champion Warriors are 52-5, on pace to finish with an all-time best 75 wins, while reigning MVP Steph Curry has consolidated a Jordan-like grip on the rest of the NBA. In short, Kerr has played with the best and coached the best, so he has little patience for those who'd diminish Curry's or the Warriors' achievements.
Hall-of-Fame point guard Oscar Robertson did just that on Thursday, suggesting that while Curry and company have been good, the real reason they're smashing all manner of records is that opposing coaches and players have no idea how to properly defend them.
"When I played years ago, if you shot a shot outside and hit it, the next time I'm going to be up on top of you," Robertson said, by way of explaining how he, or others who played in his era (the '60s and '70s), would lock Curry down. "I'm going to pressure you with three-quarters, half-court defense. But now they don't do that."
After Curry hung 51 points on the Orlando Magic - while setting a new record for consecutive games with a 3-pointer - a few hours later, Kerr addressed Robertson's suggestion.
"Oh I'm sure, yeah," Kerr joked. "I could have stopped this back in my time. Boy, I would have shut Steph down. ...
"Because athletes, you know, 50 years ago were much bigger, stronger and faster, more finely tuned. So Steph might not have made it in the league."
Trading sarcasm for frankness, Kerr then gave his own earnest assessment of where Curry's game is at.
"He's doing things that nobody has ever done before," Kerr said. "He's so comfortable in his own skin and he really does play with so much joy. He's having fun. Night in and night out he's having fun. Nothing's bothering him."
- With h/t to CBS
