Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr is taking a calm and patient approach towards his players ahead of the playoffs. He knows that his behavior as a coach will be crucial for the team as they gun for their third straight title.

In an interview with San Francisco Chronicle‘s Ron Kroichick, Kerr said that he needs to know when to let small errors slide and when to hold the players accountable for them. He knows that the team is mature enough to admit and make up for their mistakes during games, so his approach towards every single person on the roster should always depend on the situation at hand.

“For certain games, certain stretches, it’s important for me to figure out, ‘Do I accept this for now or do I challenge them?’. I think you have to pace your team accordingly — to understand when to give them space without giving them an excuse, and when to push their buttons a little bit. … I’ve been much more lenient this year, trying to guide us through the rocky road.”

Kerr added that sometimes, yelling at players especially during high-pressure situations could make things worse. He recalled a game against the Indiana Pacers a little over a year ago when they got blown out. He started shouting during huddles, but it just pissed his players off. Kerr said he has learned to control his emotions throughout the years of him coaching the Warriors.

“When we lose by 40 (actually 35) to the Mavericks at home, that would have completely freaked me out three years ago. This year, I get it. I understand what our players are going through because I can see the fatigue on their faces.”

Kerr's patience will be put to the test once again. The stakes are high this season and teams are more competitive. Just like the Warriors' All-Stars, their coach's performance will be crucial in their success.