When the news broke that Steve Kerr would not be coaching the Golden State Warriors in Game 3 of their opening round series against the Portland Trail Blazers, not much information was released.Now, in front of Game 4, we know that the head coach has been dealing with painful complications stemming from a previous back surgery.Not only that, but he might not be back on the sidelines for the remainder of the playoffs."This is not going to be a case where I'm coaching one night and not coaching the next," Kerr told reporters on Saturday from the team hotel. "I'm not going to do that to our team, to our staff. We're hoping that over the next week or two, or whatever it is, I can start to make a definitive realization, a reduction, or just feel it that I'm going to do this or not."While he didn’t exactly specify what symptoms are keeping him from returning, ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported that Kerr's surgical procedure caused a spinal fluid leak and that he suffers from migraines and nausea as a result."The symptoms, for whatever reason, took a turn for the worse maybe five days ago," Kerr said. "I was able to manage the pain and discomfort over the last year and a half, and suddenly things got a lot worst and I don't know why.”Most importantly, there is a very realistic possibility that the top-seeded Warriors will be without their head coach for the remainder of the playoffs."I'm hoping for some improvement," he said. "If I get some improvement, I'll get back on the sidelines. But I'm not going to do that unless I know I can help the team.”While they certainly have the star power to get the job done with Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson, Kerr’s presence and the team’s comfort level with or without him on the sidelines might prove to be a very important aspect of their championship run.After last game, Curry kept the game ball for Kerr, which indicates that not only the back-to-back MVP, but the entire team will rally for their ailing leader.
As of right now, he will be out for Game 4. If the Warriors complete the sweep, he will have some extra time to rest up before their next series, which could be incredibly beneficial to Golden State and their eventual chances at taking home the NBA title.