The trilogy, Cavs-Warriors volume three, begins Thursday night as the match-up the basketball and sports world have been anticipating for basically a year now has finally arrived.
Finally, both teams appear to be completely healthy and fully equipped for battle on the court, but as we all know that is not the case on the sideline.
Golden State Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr has missed the entire playoffs recovering from back surgery and the initial reports were on Monday that he would not be able to return during the 2017 NBA Finals, leaving the reigns to lead assistant and former two-time Cleveland Cavaliers coach Mike Brown. Who interestingly enough is still being paid by the Cavaliers organization after being fired in 2014.
Apparently those competitive juices are flowing and the adrenaline is pumping for a chance at another title and revenge against the Cavaliers, as according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, Kerr could return to coach in the NBA Finals.
“Steve Kerr looks better than he has since he took a leave of absence during the Golden State Warriors’ first-round playoff series, and there’s a chance he will coach at some point against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals,Shelburne said.”
Can you imagine a Willis Reed type situation, where Kerr limps out of the tunnel to coach the Warriors in another decisive Game 7? I can.
Having Kerr back on the sidelines would be huge for the Warriors, as his leadership and ability to make adjustments are what helped them reach the promised land the first time in 2015, his insertion of the “Death Lineup” as it is known now (placing Draymond Green at center) swung the 2015 NBA Finals and changed the NBA.
Mike Brown is a good defensive coach and a likable guy, but he doesn’t command the discipline or respect of Kerr, and that could make a difference with some of the Warriors stars like Draymond Green and Kevin Durant who have the potential to lose their cool.
A Kerr return seems unlikely, but it is just another subplot in what is one of the more anticipated NBA Finals in NBA history.
