OAKLAND – Nearly a month before his players would feel the fatigue stemmed from cross-country flights, sleep deprivation and a compressed schedule, Warriors coach Steve Kerr called Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.
The Warriors would play in San Antonio on March 11, marking their eighth game in 13 days and on the second night of a back-to-back after being in Minnesota. Kerr said he thought that portion of the schedule “made no sense.” So, he alerted Popovich he would rest his star players that night a month in advance.
“I learned from you,” Kerr said. “Look at this schedule.