Warriors' Kerr says Game 4 is not a 'do-or-die'
In the face of a 2-1 deficit to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals, Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr remains cool and collected.
Although no team has ever come back from a 3-1 deficit in the Finals, Kerr stopped short of overstating the importance of Thursday's Game 4.
Is it a do or die game tonight? Steve Kerr: "No, it's a do or die game when you have 3 losses."
— Ethan J. Skolnick (@EthanJSkolnick) June 11, 2015
The Warriors are in danger of being pushed to the brink, but all three games thus far have been extremely close. A few bounces go their way and the Warriors could be the ones sitting pretty with a 2-1 cushion.
However, that doesn't mean changes can't or shouldn't be made. Kerr acknowledged that his team - noticeably slowed by the Cavaliers' isolation-heavy offense - needs to return to form.
Steve Kerr: "We won 67 games this season. We're a good team when we play our style. We have to get back to playing like us."
— Ethan J. Skolnick (@EthanJSkolnick) June 11, 2015
Kerr also took the time to take a not-so-subtle jab at the officiating. The league released its last two minutes report for Game 3 and deemed LeBron James's awkward slide tackle against Stephen Curry as a clean play.
Jabs aside, Kerr did hold back, opting to frame the 24-12 disparity in free-throw attempts on team's lack of aggression.
"I'm being serious now. I didn't think we deserved a lot of trips to the line. For the most part we didn't play hard enough to get to the line. You earn spots on the line."