OAKLAND— Warriors head coach Steve Kerr missed games 3 and 4 of the Warriors’ first-round sweep of the Portland Trail Blazers as he continues to battle complications from back surgery performed on him almost two years ago. Assistant coach Mike Brown has filled in admirably in Kerr’s absence, and members of the organization seem to be prepared for Kerr to not return to the court this postseason.
Both Stephen Curry and Draymond Green have expressed much more concern with their ailing head coach’s health than whether he will be able to suit up with his team going forward in the playoffs. “The expectation is until we hear otherwise, is that coach Brown will continue to run the show,” Steph Curry said following practice Monday afternoon.
Acting Head Coach Mike Brown isn’t a rookie when it comes to being a head coach in the postseason, having amassed 47 career playoff wins with the Lakers and Cavaliers and an appearance in the 2007 NBA Finals with Warrior nemesis and Cleveland hero LeBron James as the star. However, Brown mentioned that he and Kerr have been in constant communication throughout this process and Brown will continue to lean on his comrade for support as the team looks to appear in its third consecutive finals. “Steve and I talk a couple times a day, we’ve already probably talked twice today already you know, and I’ll be calling him again as soon as I’m done with you guys.”