Steve Kerr on Warriors’ slow starts: “I’d like to add a fifth All-Star”

OAKLAND – Steve Kerr responded with some humor when he was asked why the Warriors have had slow starts in many of their games this season.

“Just don’t have enough talent in the starting lineup, I think,” Kerr said before the Warriors hosted Oklahoma City on Tuesday. “I’d like to add a fifth All-Star to the starting lineup to help us get off to quicker starts.”

The Warriors are the first team in NBA history to have four All-Stars two years in a row with Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson all receiving that honor consecutive years. The reigning NBA champions also have the top record in the NBA at 41-12.

After initially joking around, Kerr took a more serious tone, saying he doesn’t know why the Warriors haven’t come out sharp from the get-go in many contests this season.

“I think this year it’s been kind of a common theme that we’ve just eased into some games,” Kerr said. “And you guys know better than I do the third quarter numbers. We’ve generally stretched leads in the third and taken over games in that quarter. But I think there’s probably something to the idea that we’re easing into games, just like we’ve sort of eased into the season. It’s a microcosm of the big picture. That’s how I look at it.”

This may not help with the start of the game, but the Warriors will have an important piece of their second unit back heading into Tuesday’s game. David West, who missed Saturday’s game against Denver to attend Rasual Butler’s funeral, will be available to play at the backup center position.

When asked how he plans to juggle that role, Kerr said it’s a bit fluid.

“David will be back in his usual spot,” Kerr said. “I know I can count on JaVale [McGee] and [Kevon] Looney and Jordan [Bell] when he’s back. So, a lot of bodies and a lot of options. We’ll see how it goes.”