Short time to prepare for Cavs OK with Kerr

Conventional wisdom suggests that the more time a team has before a playoff series, the more prepared it should be for its opponent.

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr sees things a bit differently.

Unlike last year, when Golden State had nine days between the conference finals and the NBA Finals, it had only two days after its Game 7 win over the Rockets on Monday to get ready for the Cavaliers. Though such a quick turnaround leaves less time for game-planning, it allows players to stay in rhythm.

“I think I’d rather get right into it even if you’re not quite as prepared,” Kerr said before Thursday’s game. “Slightly under-prepared, but in rhythm is better than overprepared and waiting around for eight days.”

It helps that Cleveland, which beat Boston in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals Sunday, had only one more day to prepare for the Finals than did the Warriors. After flying back from Houston on Tuesday and taking the rest of the day off, Golden State returned to work Wednesday, watching video and going through a light practice.

There was plenty for the Warriors to learn about the Cavaliers. Six of Cleveland’s players from its most recent meeting with Golden State, back on Jan. 15, are no longer on the roster. Isaiah Thomas, Channing Frye, Dwyane Wade, Jae Crowder, Derrick Rose and Iman Shumpert were traded at the deadline for Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance Jr., Rodney Hood and George Hill.

“It leaves us slightly less prepared in terms of what we can go through,” Kerr said of having only a couple of days to get ready for Game 1. “But I prefer it that way.”

Facing former team: Before he became a feel-good story for the Warriors’ 2017-18 season, Quinn Cook was an undrafted rookie hoping to find an NBA home with Cleveland. In 2015, he appeared in six preseason games with the Cavaliers, only to be waived and settle for a spot on Cleveland’s Development League (now G League) affiliate, the Canton Charge.

“I’ve always liked him,” said Cleveland head coach Tyronn Lue, who was promoted from associate head coach to the top job three months after the team cut Cook. “I’m glad he’s got a chance and an opportunity to come to a championshipcaliber team where he’s played minutes, played in the playoffs.”