Warriors head coach Steve Kerr spoke to his team during halftime of Game 1, motivating them to comeback from their 20-point halftime deficit and beat the San Antonio Spurs. Kerr is on leave from the team as he battles through health concerns stemming from a failed back surgery in 2015.
Steve Kerr gave motivational halftime speech before the Warriors’ 25-point comeback
Game 1 was the first game Kerr has attended since taking a leave of absence for his health.
Here’s video of Kerr speaking to the team and warning them to balance their quick pace with discipline.
It’s not groundbreaking basketball strategy, but it must have been hugely motivational to see Kerr. Game 1 was the first game he has attended since taking his leave of absence during Game 3 of the first round. Once halftime ended, Kerr remained in the locker room watching the game and Mike Brown resumed his duties as the team’s interim head coach.
Kerr has said he will not return until he is certain he can handle head coaching duties without another relapse. He recently underwent another back procedure, this one at Duke, to help alleviate his pain and the leaking spinal fluid that has caused him massive problems over the past two years. Last season, Kerr missed the first 43 games of the regular season, not returning until February.
Golden State’s was helped tremendously by Kawhi Leonard’s ankle injury, which was caused by Zaza Pachulia sliding under him on a jumper and kept Leonard out the rest of the game. But seeing Kerr might have been the spark the team needed, if you saw how they turned their play around from the first half to the second.
