Steve Blake (Photo: Kelley L Cox / USA Today)
Steve Blake was only recently traded to the Golden State Warriors, but he sure thinks highly of his new team.
On Tuesday, Blake went on the Murph and Mac show on KNBR and showed his excitement about joining a winning team.
The Warriors were certainly excited about acquiring Blake too. When they traded for him, they acquired a player with a high basketball IQ and a strong work ethic.
Blake attributes his basketball knowledge to getting the chance to play with some great teammates over his 10-year NBA career in which he’s played for seven different teams.
He’s played with Allen Iverson, Carmelo Anthony, Kobe Bryant, Gilbert Arenas, and Brandon Roy, and he also credits all the great coaches he’s played for with developing his basketball IQ.
“I’ve learned the game from a lot of different perspectives: different defensive concepts, the way coaches run offense,” Blake explained on KNBR. “For me, I just save all that stuff in my mind and try to get better from that.”
Based on his experience, he knows that team chemistry can take a basketball team far.
Blake won an NCAA Championship while he played at Maryland, and he credits that championship to the team’s commitment to playing together.
He sees that same team chemistry with the Warriors. He mentioned in his interview how impressed he was with how close the players are off the court and how they truly enjoy being around each other.
Blake also discussed how important Mark Jackson is to the team’s chemistry. He admires Jackson’s coaching style and think the players truly benefit from it.
“He doesn’t say a lot, but when he speaks, you really listen. You know he has something important to say. I enjoy his knowledge of the game,” Blake said about Jackson. “Players win the games, but coaches can put you in the right position to win and can sometimes make some calls and substitutions that really help you win. I can see him helping this team get a lot of wins.”
Blake clearly believes that Jackson has the winning formula, and he believes the Warriors have to right pieces to execute Jackson’s philosophy.
Blake says the Warriors have the mindset and the pieces to win the Western Conference. He commended Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson‘s shooting ability, Andre Iguodala‘s versatility, and David Lee and Andrew Bogut‘s contributions to the team.
He knows the Warriors have one of the best starting lineups in the NBA, but he also believes the Warriors’ bench will make solid contributions too.
Blake understands that the bench unit has to play consistent defense, but he also understands their struggles with offense this season. He knows he can help in that area.
“I love to create shots for people, that’s what I love to do, and get them the ball in the right situations, call the right plays,” Blake explained, “Jordan Crawford can really score, so we’ve got to get the ball in his hands in the right spots. Harrison Barnes is a really good small forward. Draymond Green is even better than I expected. He plays harder than anyone I’ve ever played with. I’m excited to be a part of that unit, and I think we can make an impact every single night.”
Blake knows this Warriors team has immense potential, and he’s prepared to help them make a statement in the playoffs.
“The pieces are there. We’re just going to have to continue to bring it on defense and find our identity,” Blake said. “I’ll find my way to fit in there and help us win in some way. The sky’s the limit for this team.”
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