Interim coach Luke Walton will be at the helm when the Warriors open the season Tuesday at home against the New Orleans Pelicans.
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Assistant Luke Walton will continue to lead the team as he has since Kerr first took a leave of absence earlier this month.
Walton finds himself in an extremely enviable position, and there is no reason why he can’t keep Golden State firing on all cylinders until Kerr is healthy. Kerr had a genius touch when this team needed it, bailing out the cause with series-altering strategy when they faced 2-games-to-1 postseason holes against Memphis and Cleveland. So he told the team that Luke’s going to start the season as the coach, and they’re fully aware that they’re going to have to accept more responsibility.
The 35-year-old Walton becomes the third person to serve as head coach for the Warriors in three seasons, though this time is clearly different from the departure of Mark Jackson.
Myers said it’s hurting Kerr emotionally not to be present at games and a few practices.
“Once he is back, we want him to stay back.”
He missed more than half of the next year, including key time in the postseason, after an expedited return from a various ailments. Golden State, which routed the Los Angeles Lakers 136-97 on Thursday, went 3-4 in the preseason while he was away. From there, it remains to be seen just how involved Kerr will be behind the scenes. Steve will be engaged.
The Golden State Warriors couldn’t have scripted last season much better. But while Walton won rings with the Lakers and has a famous Hall of Famer/Deadhead as a father, does he have anywhere near Kerr’s credibility in the huddle and locker room?
“So we’ve had all these testing – bulletin board material type – things about other teams disrespecting us”. It’s just that Steve won’t be on the court with us during the game.
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Until the head coach returns full-time, whenever that day might be, I have perhaps the most pertinent question of all: Has anyone spoken to the surgeon who nicked the dura of Steve Kerr’s spine?
