Warriors Go Back to Basics Early in Camp, Work on ‘a Big Thing for Us This Year'

OAKLAND -- No matter the place in the standings or the collection of accolades or the number of representatives in the All-Star game, Warriors coach Steve Kerr never stops chasing perfection.

Sometimes it's major issues, other times minor details. But it's always something.

Three days into training camp, one such area of concern is passes. Whether its bounce passes, chest passes, skip passes, outlet passes, fancy passes or lobs, Kerr has his team working on accuracy.

"We're doing drills, some basic passing drills and harping on the accuracy of passes as we go through practice," Kerr said Monday after practice. "No matter what we're doing, there's passing involved. So we're talking about that accuracy constantly and showing some film. It's a big thing for us this year."

So . . . Kerr wants the team that led the NBA in assists, as well as assist-to-turnover ratio, to be more precise with its dimes.

So . . . Kerr wants the team that led the league in field-goal percentage to make it easier to connect on a higher percentage of shots.

"We've got such great shooters and we move the ball so well that if we can pinpoint our passes better I really believe our percentages as a team and an individual will go up," Klay Thompson said.

Much of the focus is about passing the ball into the "shooting pocket" of each specific player, especially if he excels at the catch-and-shoot aspect of offense.

"It's definitely something that I know I need to get better at," said Draymond Green, who last season led the team in assists.

"It definitely helps, and we'll get better at it this year," said Thompson, a fabulous catch-and-shoot player.

"Some would say Coach might be nitpicking. But he expects perfection. And we want to be champs again. You've got to be near perfect to be champions."

The reigning NBA champs have, in this area, gone back to basics. From former MVPs Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant to the guys at the end of the bench, they're doing elementary passing drills.

By all accounts, the players have been receptive to honing this element.

"With the shooters we have, if you deliver the ball on time and on target, it keeps them in rhythm," Green said. "As opposed to you throwing the ball and it hits somebody in the ankles, it may take them out of rhythm a little bit. And it could be the difference in the game."

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