Steve Kerr Sidelined
Steve Kerr was not roaming the sidelines for the Warriors' in their 119-113 Game 3 victory on Saturday night. It has been well documented that he has had complications with his back - he was forced to miss the first 43 of last season - so once he complained of headaches and neck pain caused from spinal fluid leakage, letting him rest by holding him out of Game 3 made perfect sense. However, just a little while ago, Kerr said at a press conference, "We're hoping that in the next week or two, whatever it is, I can sort of make a definitive realization, deduction, or just feel that I'm going to do this or I'm not."
That statement, particularly the latter half, is alarming. Saying that he's going to do this or he's not? I am assuming that means coach, and from the sounds of it, I would bet that Kerr doesn't return to the sidelines this year, and I think it's quite possible that he never will. It sounds crazy, but Steve Kerr has a unique perspective on life. Health over basketball any day of the week. It's an admirable stance, but few live by it. Kerr does. What will his absence mean for the Warriors?
Most fans think an NBA coach is just a talking puppet who rolls the basketballs out and the players take it from there. That is partially correct. NBA coaches do strategize, and have input on their team's game plan, but ultimately if Phil Jackson didn't have Michael and Scottie or Kobe and Shaq, he's not the "Zen Master." Instead, he's what you see now with the Knicks. An NBA coach's top responsibility is that of team psychologist. It is his job to make sure everyone is one the same page and rowing in the right direction. Steve Kerr has mastered that with this Warrior group. A team filled with alphas - Steph, Klay, KD, Draymond - Kerr has their ultimate respect. Without him, this is not to say that things fall apart. Mike Brown, who I presume would be the interim for their playoff run, has prior NBA playoff experience, but he's not Steve Kerr. He's not the coach who has led this group to back-to-back NBA Finals. Steve Kerr's absence will not be the Warriors undoing, but the team surely would be better off with their head coach, you know, coaching them.
