Kerr reminds Warriors title defense not easy

After a Game 3 flop in New Orleans, similar to that lone first-round loss against the Spurs last month, coach Steve Kerr provided a quick reminder to the Warriors:

It’s not supposed to be easy at this stage — especially for the defending champions.

There’s no way this postseason can go as brilliantly as the last one. That remarkable, record-setting 16-1 run to the title, well, it’s not going to happen often, or maybe ever again.

“I told our team actually after Game 3 the day we practiced, I said, ‘What we did last year was the first time and only time anybody has ever accomplished that in the playoffs, gone 16-1,’ ” Kerr said. “I know the Lakers went 15-1, they had a similar kind of joy ride where very little adversity, but that’s the extreme exception. Year after year, the NBA champion has to go through so much to get there. And that’s why you pour champagne on each other, because it’s really hard, and it’s supposed to be hard. The fact that it is so difficult brings out the best in you because you have to be on edge and on guard.”

Now comes the next and most daunting test in this quest for a repeat.

The Warriors eliminated the Pelicans with a 113-104 win Tuesday night and are on to the Western Conference finals to face the topseeded Rockets, who closed out the Jazz earlier Tuesday in their own Game 5. This is the matchup so many have looked to for months.

“Everybody is already talking about WarriorsRockets,” Warriors guard Klay Thompson said.

And for good reason. It might just have a Finals feel with so much talent and scoring on both teams.

The Warriors have succeeded playing big and small. It has pushed the pace and dealt with the Spurs slowing things way down. The Warriors have endured a couple of blips this time around, and that hasn’t necessarily been a bad thing.

“Every series you play gets harder and harder and harder,” Stephen Curry said.

Celtics without Larkin: Celtics guard Shane Larkin didn’t play in Game 5 against the 76ers and will likely be out for longer.

Larkin left Monday’s Game 4 in the first quarter after running into a screen set by Joel Embiid.

“Shane’s got a sprained shoulder, very, very sore, so out tonight and the foreseeable future,” coach Brad Stevens said. “Obviously he’ll continue to strengthen and work on it with our training staff and everything else, but I don’t anticipate him back anytime soon.” News services