At halftime, Steve Kerr spoke with the @warriors on #NBAonABC pic.twitter.com/q9CNXSGOfd
— NBA (@NBA) May 14, 2017
Steve Kerr doesn't need to be on the sidelines to help his team.
The Golden State Warriors head coach watched Game 1 from his club's locker room, where the players returned at halftime trailing the San Antonio Spurs by 20 points. So Kerr, who's been on an indefinite leave of absence since the first round due to complications from two back surgeries, encouraged his men with a motivational speech.
"Get your poise back. Wings, run like crazy. And just settle," the reigning Coach of the Year implored his players.
"Let's get three stops in a row and the push will come from that. The pace will come from that. Settle in, and we'll be alright."
The team took his advice, and was more than alright.
The Dubs rallied back from the large deficit - which peaked at 25 points - to notch the 113-111 victory under assistant coach Mike Brown.
Related: Kawhi's ankle injury drastically changed complexion of Game 1
Stephen Curry told ESPN afterward that Kerr "inspired" the team.
"Anytime we hear his voice, feel his presence, it means a lot," Curry told ESPN's Steve Levy. "He's a part of our group obviously. He's the leader of this thing. When we see him it gives us a little bit of juice. It was nice to hear his voice."
The All-Star point guard poured in a game-high 40 points, including 19 in the third, when the Warriors went on an 18-0 run to make a game of it.
