LAS VEGAS _ The Golden State Warriors had another exhibition game to go before playing the Los Angeles Lakers, when Warriors Coach Steve Kerr addressed reporters Friday morning.
Still, the Lakers, and his former assistant, Lakers Coach Luke Walton, were already on his mind. He offered an unsolicited nugget for them.
"For tomorrow night only because we're playing the Lakers and it's Luke, I will just announce now that no David (West), no Andre (Iguodala)," Kerr told reporters in Denver. "I want to give Luke every opportunity to prepare for tomorrow's clash. Critical game for both teams."
Walton didn't miss a beat upon hearing about Kerr's quote.
"You tell Steve that Lou Williams isn't playing, so he can have his full opportunity to prepare," Walton said, with a twinkle in his eye.
Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Walton will face his former team for the first time since leaving the Warriors this off-season. Walton was Kerr's assistant for the last two seasons. He took over as interim head coach while Kerr recovered from back surgery, posting a 39-4 record.
"I'm looking forward to it," Walton said. "Think it'll be fun seeing some of the old guys and going against Steve on the other side. Should be a good time."
Williams is simply getting the night off. So far this preseason, Walton has focused on introducing the Lakers' offense and defense in measured, unhurried fashion. That they're playing the defending Western Conference champions Saturday night won't change that.
They aren't planning to run trick plays.
"Eh, maybe one or two," Walton said after a beat.
They won't plot to stop Steph Curry.
"Right now we're trying to get our defense in," Walton said. "We need to get really good at the way we play defense. Then eventually once we get really good at that, then we can start manipulating and game-planning for multiple players. ...
"We're not going to pick (Curry) up at half court. We're not going to do a bunch of crazy schemes. We're going to continue to work on what our basic defensive principles will be."
