Interview Kenny Atkinson: “It’s a great opportunity to be around Steve Kerr”

On the court at the Chase Center, Kenny Atkinson is all smiles and his good humor is contagious. The Warriors’ practice is coming to an end and Steve Kerr’s assistant gave us a few minutes to reflect on the start of his NBA Finals and especially on Al Horford’s performance.

Atkinson and Horford know each other well. Atkinson was an assistant to Mike Budenholzer in Atlanta, while Horford was one of the major players on that team. In his words, we can detect a special affection for the Celtics’ pivot, and he explains the influence that the Dominican can have on but also off the court.

While he is in pole position to take over the reins of Charlotte, we also asked him what he remembered so far from his time with the Warriors, and asked him about his taste for advanced stats.

Kenny, in Game 1, your defense gave away a lot of open shots to the Celtics, including Al Horford’s 12 shots. How do you adjust ? Is it a question of matchups or simply a question of positioning on assists?

That’s a very good question, and I’m not going to give you our adjustments (laughs), but you’ll see it for yourself tomorrow in Game 2. We have to do a better job on him, get out quicker on him, touch him, put a hand on him because he’s been “in the zone” since the beginning of the playoffs. He’s skilled but what impresses me the most is that he doesn’t hesitate for a second, and he shoots fast, much faster than when we were together in Atlanta. We gave him some shots early in the game to see if he would dare to take them. He not only took them, but he put them in, and that gave him confidence. So that’s really one of the things we need to change in Game 2, get out quicker, and harder on him. That being said, Al (Horford) is able to attack with a defender on him and all of a sudden you have a 6’5″ guy who can read the game and make the right decisions so we have to find the right strategic balance but we have to respect his shot.

Despite the loss, were you generally satisfied with your game plan?

For the most part yes, but there are some adjustments we need to make because obviously not everything was perfect. But when we talk about adjustments, we’re not talking about changing everything, it’s more about the little things. Draymond said it well. In the playoffs or in the Finals, your priority is to slow down the major players. You build your defensive game plan with that in mind and you have to make choices about other players. You decide which players you give a little more freedom. Unfortunately in Game 1, we gave them too much freedom. But, we have a coaching staff and smart players, we will adjust.

“Al Horford’s impact on the Celtics is far greater than what he brings to the court”

There is a lot of talk about Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Marcus Smart as leaders of this Boston team, but having been around Al Horford during your time in Atlanta, do you think his role and impact is not underestimated?

His value as a player is obvious but his value in developing young players is underrated. Generally, the staff gets all the compliments when a youngster progresses. An Al (Horford), a Draymond (Green) are super important to your young players. Their approach is different than the coaches but their influence is ten times more important. It’s vital and you hear it in what Jayson Tatum has said in the last few weeks. Al Horford’s impact on the Celtics is far greater than what he brings to them on the court. He brings leadership, he brings their culture, etc. Of course, coaches who are there to help develop players are necessary, but having that kind of veteran is crucial. I think of a guy like Kyle Lowry, Draymond Green, although Al helps in a different way. With Al, you can just watch him work every day. He sets the example for you to follow. He may say one sentence all day, but those are words that will stick in your mind. Draymond, Chris Paul, they’re constantly talking to you. Al has a completely opposite style but the impact is just as positive.

Rumors have you as the favorite to win the Hornets’ coaching job. I’m not going to ask you to confirm this information but I’m curious to know how this passage in Golden State and being able to work with Steve Kerr, with Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, etc., has helped you in your evolution as a coach?

Oh my gosh, it’s a great opportunity to be around Steve (Kerr), to see the way he interacts with his players, especially the way he coaches stars and the balance he finds between the veterans and the young players. In Brooklyn, I was with a very young team so I learn a lot about that. And then there’s seeing Steph (Curry) and Draymond, not only stars but champions, how they conduct themselves within the group. I feel like a thief (laughs)! I bring my stone to the building but I receive much more than I give because even the staff has been working together for several seasons. So I’m like a sponge, it’s really cool to have this opportunity, and it’s going to help me tremendously if I’m lucky enough to get a coaching job again.

“I can even be a little extreme with my view of analytics”

You’re known around the league as a fan of “analytics,” but many players are still resistant to using them. What’s your approach in these situations?

It’s tough. It’s even hard on a staff. Because you have half of the staff who don’t believe in it at all, and some of them are not fully convinced even if they are open-minded. I’m 100 percent convinced. I am “all in” (laughs)! And at times, I can even be a bit extreme with my vision of analytics. So, it’s not easy to find the right approach but you have to try because it’s now an integral part of our profession. It’s often up to me to be creative, to be innovative in how I approach it with the players and my colleagues.

Draymond Green said Thursday that sometimes what coaches see on video and what players feel on the court are two different things. Is it the same with analytics? Is there sometimes a discrepancy between the numbers and the reality on the court?

Absolutely. We were talking about the things I’ve learned here, and that’s part of it. Draymond (Green), Steve (Kerr)… Steve is good with stats and how to use them but he’s not as extreme as I am. And considering he played in the NBA, he knows this group like the back of his hand because he’s been coaching them for years… For example, if Klay lays down a dribble and finds a mid-range shot, that’s a big YES whereas when I was in Brooklyn, my message to a Spencer Dinwiddie was adamant, I never wanted to see him take a mid-range shot! So it’s about finding the right balance but also knowing the strengths and weaknesses of your roster to use analytics in the right context.

Interviewed in San Francisco.