A third match in a row with at least 25 minutes of play and more than ten points. At first glance, Brandin Podziemski is rather on the ascending phase for the Warriors.
The sophomore was however in the sights of his coach Steve Kerr on Tuesday after the late match defeat at the Nuggets, the fifth in a row for Golden State. Rather protective in normal times with his players in front of the media, in particular Brandin Podziemski, Steve Kerr this time did not mince his words.
Beyond his correct statistical output (13 points at 6/11, 4 rebounds and 4 assists), the rear suffered in sequences. “ We led by 12 points (10 in reality, editor's note) at the end of the second quarter, and his lobbed pass attempt was frankly insane » said Steve Kerr. “ We were five against four… Just give the ball to the unmarked player! He had the same type of action last week against Brooklyn, where he attempted the over-his-shoulder lob. He can't be that kind of player. »
Brandin Podziemski's ears whistled
On this action, Brandin Podziemski's bad choice paid off, with a ball recovered by Denver converted by Nikola Jokic remaining alone in the Warriors camp. A potential delta of four points which may go unnoticed, while there was still half an hour of play remaining, but which ultimately costs dearly in a match which was ultimately played out… four points apart.
Brandin Podziemski also faltered later in the game, when Golden State seemed to have the game in hand. Steve Kerr chose to put Stephen Curry on the floor from the start of the fourth quarter, surrounded by players from the bench to try to get back into the game.
The bet completely paid off, from 90-85 for the Nuggets to 94-101 for the Warriors four minutes later, when Stephen Curry left his place and the keys to the game to his young teammate.
But in three minutes, Brandin Podziemski made a bad defensive reading on a screen, letting Michael Porter Jr go for a dunk, the ball lost on an uncontrolled pass, then a foul on a 3-point “MPJ” attempt following a comeback ball a priori without danger for a 3+1 anything but necessary. This even though he had already offered three free throws to his opponent just after returning from the locker room.
“ He does not have the right to make mistakes on shooters » Steve Kerr told the media. “ I love Brandin, he's a great player, with a great future. But I hope he sees what I'm saying because he needs to hear it. He must be an intelligent, tough player, fair in his decision-making and he is entirely capable of it. This is his next step. »
Agree with his coach
“ Coach Kerr asked me to do my job, to know what I'm supposed to do in those moments » reacted Brandin Podziemski about these two faults, as he passed in front of the press just after his coach. “ He told me that if I wasn't able to do my job, then he should take me out. It fell on me a bit and that suits me very well, I'm trying to progress. He saw that he could blame me and that I wasn't going to respond by letting my emotions take over, just get back to the game. »
Made aware of Steve Kerr's new remonstrance, this time at a press conference, Brandin Podziemski did not hide. “ I agree with him. I played badly. I think defensively I was putting too much pressure and doing too much. I was trying too hard to stick Michael Porter Jr, and fouling him twice is clearly not me and something I'm not proud of. I know they started their series because I made mistakes or lost balls. So I have to do better. I know I will do better. It just sucks that we didn't win. »
Accustomed to going back and forth between the starting five and a replacement role, Brandin Podziemski will have to bounce back, whatever his use.
| Brandin Podziemski | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2023-24 | GOS | 74 | 27 | 45.4 | 38.5 | 63.3 | 1.6 | 4.2 | 5.8 | 3.7 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 9.2 |
| 2024-25 | GOS | 19 | 24 | 39.0 | 20.6 | 75.0 | 1.1 | 3.6 | 4.6 | 3.5 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 8.0 |
| Total | 93 | 26 | 44.1 | 34.4 | 66.0 | 1.5 | 4.1 | 5.5 | 3.7 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 9.0 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
