Warriors coach Kerr abandoned his conservative nature in Game 1. Golden State won as a result.

HOUSTON — Steve Kerr’s tenure as head coach of the Golden State Warriors has been defined by a couple of things. The first, and most obvious, is a ridiculous number of wins.

Another, and more subjective, is the conservative nature of his decision-making.

Kerr has often been prodded — by the media, by the fans, even at times by his players — to go for the jugular more often. Even when Stephen Curry was at his peak a couple years ago, Kerr resisted going away from his egalitarian, ball-movement offence to allow Curry just to run one pick-and-roll after another. He’s constantly declined to start his best lineup — going small, and featuring Draymond Green at centre — until he’s absolutely had to.

That’s what made Kerr’s decision to start Game 1 of the National Basketball Association Western Conference finals Monday night with that small-ball lineup so telling of his mindset — as well as his team’s — heading into this series.

“We felt it was important to get off to a good start,” Kerr said after Golden State emerged with a 119-106 victory. “That’s why we made the decision (to start small). We had good momentum from the last series, and the matchups were good.”

That explanation also leaves out something else: Golden State knew that a win Monday night — and stealing home court advantage — potentially could end this series before it began.

Kerr’s actions underscored that belief. So did his team’s play. So, frankly, did the desperation with which the Rockets came out of the gates, and their slumped shoulders in the final few minutes as it was clear nothing they did was going to be able to change the outcome.

Suddenly, after spending seven months building to this moment, Houston was right back to square one again — and now without the added edge of the extra game at home in the series.

“Obviously we lost,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said. “Now, the next most important game is Wednesday. Let’s see if we have a short memory.”

Now, there’s still plenty of basketball to be played here. The Rockets won 65 games for a reason — well, several reasons, from presumptive league MVP James Harden to Chris Paul to Capela to an excellent switching defence that has confounded most opponents. The fact it took a remarkable Kevin Durant performance to win this game was proof Houston did anything but roll over.

Golden State’s focus was clearly on Game 1. Green started the game on tilt, getting a technical foul for shoving Harden for no apparent reason than to try to get in his face after Harden’s hot start.

“It’s the conference finals, and the further along you go in the playoffs, the more intensity you have to bring to win,” Green said. “I know where my intensity level needs to be to help this team win games.

As the crowd filed out and the Rockets slumped off the court, it felt like the life had left the place as well. That was what Kerr hoped to do by playing small in Game 1. And, by doing so, he just might have ended these Western Conference finals after just one game.