Steve Kerr, out with Covid, did not travel with Warriors to Memphis
Golden State Warriors' Mike Brown will coach Game 5 with Steve Kerr out
with COVID-19
>SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MAY 9: Golden State Warriors assistant
coach Mike Brown coaches from the sideline against the Memphis Grizzlies
in the first quarter of Game 4 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff
series at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 9, 2022.
(Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
>SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MAY 9: Golden State Warriors assistant
coach Mike Brown coaches from the sideline against the Memphis Grizzlies
in the first quarter of Game 4 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff
series at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 9, 2022.
(Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
By SHAYNA RUBIN | srubin@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group
PUBLISHED: May 10, 2022 at 5:56 p.m. | UPDATED: May 10, 2022 at 5:56 p.m.
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2022/05/10/steve-kerr-out-with-covid-did-not-travel-with-warriors-to-memphis/

Coach Steve Kerr did not make the trip with the Warriors to Memphis for
Game 5, acting head coach Mike Brown said on Tuesday.

Kerr tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday before Golden State’s Game 4
against the Memphis Grizzlies, forcing associate head coach Brown to
take the reins on late notice in their eventual 101-98 win on Monday to
take a commanding 3-1 series lead.

Brown — who improved to a 12-0 playoff record as acting head coach with
the Warriors — is expected to coach Game 5 in Memphis, where they have
an opportunity to close out the Western Conference semifinal series. The
Grizzlies will be without star guard Ja Morant, who sustained a bone
bruise on his right knee during Game 3 in San Francisco.

The Grizzlies say Morant, who was averaging 38 points per game, is
doubtful for the rest of the series.

“You don’t wish injury upon anybody. It’s tough for him as an
individual,” Brown said. “He seems like a great person from afar, I
don’t really know him. Tough for his family, the city of Memphis and his
team. We have to stay focused and locked in and understand, no matter
who they put on the floor, they’re more than capable of beating us. We
have to have that appropriate fear in order to get over the hump.”

Kerr participated digitally in Golden State’s staff meeting on Tuesday
morning before the team departed San Francisco. Kerr also called in
during halftime and after Game 4.

“He’ll be part of this throughout,” Brown said.

Brown, somewhat jokingly, called for Kerr to return as soon as possible,
but said he could not provide a timeline for Kerr’s return from health
and safety protocols.

“I’m hoping he can coach tomorrow at shootaround, but it doesn’t look
like he will be available,” Brown said.

Brown also noted a handful of Warriors tested for COVID-19, but none
have tested positive.

Hours before Game 4, Brown had officially been named to fill the
Sacramento Kings’ head coach vacancy, signing a four-year deal.

>RELATED ARTICLES
The Warriors have problems; here are the solutions
How the Warriors plan to flush their Game 5 blowout loss
Photos: Golden State Warriors sing the Memphis blues during epic loss
to the Grizzlies in Game 5
Kurtenbach: The deeper meaning behind the Warriors’ embarrassing Game
5 loss
Careless mistakes, lack of aggression led to Warriors’ ’embarrassing’
Game 5 loss in Memphis

Brown filled in as head coach during the 2017 playoffs when Kerr was
sidelined for 11 games dealing with complications from back surgery.
Golden State won all 11 games, with Kerr returning for Game 2 of the NBA
Finals against Cleveland.

--
Shayna Rubin | Oakland Athletics reporter