Warriors endure ‘most difficult season’ of finals runs — Kerr

GOLDEN State Warriors coach Steve Kerr says the defending NBA champions have endured their most difficult season in this year’s campaign, feeling the impact of a fourth consecutive NBA Finals journey.

The Warriors carry a 3- 0 lead over Cleveland into Friday’s fourth game in the best- of- seven series, leaving them one win shy of their second consecutive title and third crown in four seasons.

“Every journey is a new one each season,” Kerr said.

“Yet the cumulative effect of multiple journeys adds up, and we have felt that this year.”

At this point in Golden State’s fourth consecutive final versus the Cavaliers, the Warriors have played 82 playoff games over four seasons, the equal of an entire extra campaign.

“I think it has been our most inconsistent season. It has been our most difficult season,” Kerr said.

“But our guys sense the finish line, and they turned it on right from the beginning of the playoffs defensively.

“That’s been what has been key to get us to this point where we’re on the cusp. Our defense has been fantastic through however many playoff games we’ve played. So that’s why we’re here.

“Now that we are one game away, we would like to eliminate inconsistency and put forth our best effort, our best game. That’s the plan.”

Even so, this Warriors squad is on the brink of joining the NBA’s top dynasties – the Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics – as the only clubs to claim three crowns in four seasons.

“The finals brings the best out of you,” Warriors guard Stephen Curry said. “And when the competition is as great as it has been every year we’ve been here, it tests you mentally and physically to get through these series.

“There have been so many different challenges we’ve faced. Some we’ve succeeded at and some we haven’t. Definitely (I’m) a better player than I was before these four series have started an d hopefully there will be an appreciation for that when it’s all said and done.”

Kerr, himself a five-time NBA champion as a player, says the Warriors are topping the league at a time when the NBA boasts its greatest talents. — AFP