NBA Western Conference Finals 2016/17, Golden State Warriors vs. San Antonio Spurs: 5 takeaways from Game 1

#2 Steve Kerr influential even if not on full duty

In addition to Xs and Os, Steve Kerr provides the intangibles as well

Steve Kerr’s back problems have been well documented in the NBA by players, fellow coaches and commentators alike since they started affecting him last year. Coming off their 2015 Championship season, Kerr had two surgeries to alleviate his pre-existing back pains and underwent a surgical procedure for the same. The surgery, however, came with terrifying side effects with symptoms like headaches, migraines, nausea and chronic neck ache.

The same issues kept him out for the first 43 games of the previous season, during the Warriors historic 73-win season run and after Game 3 against the Trailblazers in the first round, they came around again.

Kerr would not attend the entirety of the Second Round, rather leaving the coaching duties to his assistant coach Mike Brown. Desperate for an end to his head and neck pain that has plagued him, Kerr underwent a spinal-cord-leak procedure on May 5^th at Duke University. It seems to have worked, as he participated in coaches’ meetings over the past few days, coached the floor during a routine practice and while he was present at Oracle Arena for the last game, he didn’t coach but rather stood in the stands looking at his team.

The X-Factor for the Spurs, as I’ve written in this piece, aren’t any of the players on the roster, but Coach Gregg Popovich. Coach Pop is a basketball genius and if there’s anyone who can overcome this mad genius, it’s his protégé, Steve Kerr. It isn’t just drawing up plays or coaching that makes Kerr great, it’s what he does besides all that, as he showed during halftime against the Spurs when he gave the Warriors locker room a rousing speech to send them into the third quarter.

Clearly, it worked, as Golden State looked much stronger, focused and aware on both ends of the court powering through to victory. Coach Kerr is doubtful for Game 2, but if his recent progress is any sign, he should be back to his coaching duties sooner rather than later.