Kerr hasn’t ruled himself out for opener
OAKLAND: Steve Kerr expects to decide soon whether he will coach the Golden State Warriors at all in the NBA Finals, saying Monday he is not yet ready but hasn’t ruled himself out for Game One.
“As of right now I would not coach Thursday night. It’s still up in the air. Still waiting for ‘Ahhhhhh!’’’ Kerr said, reaching his hands to the sky as if to receive some miracle healing. “It’s coming, it’s coming... I think once we get to Game One, that might be a good time to make a decision one way or the other.’’
Golden State, unbeaten this postseason at 12-0 with sweeps of Houston, Utah and San Antonio, host the defending champions Cleveland Cavaliers in Games One and Two on Friday morning and Monday morning (Thai time).
The reigning NBA Coach of the Year is still not feeling well after a May 5 procedure to repair a spinal fluid leak stemming from back surgery complications nearly two years ago. He filled in addressing the media on Monday when acting coach Mike Brown was out with the flu.
“I told the team the good news is the team is really healthy, the bad news is the coaching staff is dropping like flies,’’ Kerr joked.
Brown has been coaching the Warriors since Game Three of the first-round playoff series at Portland, with Kerr assisting at practice and from the locker room before and during games.
“Mike’s been amazing. It’s an awkward situation, again this is so unique,’’ Kerr said.
Brown is set to go up against LeBron James and a Cleveland team he coached in two separate stints.
Brown wasn’t around during the past two Finals when the Warriors faced the Cavaliers, so he has watched some of last year’s Finals. Kerr recently reviewed all seven games from 2016, when Golden State squandered a 3-1 lead and missed a repeat championship.
Everything he can do to help Golden State get prepared, Kerr is doing — until he feels he might be fine to return to the bench.
“I’m not well enough to coach a game and I know that [because] I coached all 82 games and I did OK. I was uncomfortable and in a lot of pain but I did fine, I could make it through,’’ he said. “The first two games of the Portland series, whatever happened, things got worse. You saw me in the fourth quarter of Game Two, I could not sit still in my chair, it was that much pain. I would say I’ve gotten a little bit better, that’s why I’m here talking to you right now, but you can probably tell I’m not sitting here happy-go-lucky.’’