Steve Kerr has a unique understanding of the mental fortitude it takes to defend a championship. He won three consecutive Larry O'Brien trophies with the Chicago Bulls in the late 1990s, and earned a fourth straight ring as a member of the San Antonio Spurs in 1999 before winning his fifth and final title four years later. No coach in the NBA, then, is better situated to lead the Golden State Warriors on their quest for a three-peat and unprecedented – in the modern era, at least – fourth championship in five seasons.
The overarching message he's been preaching to the Warriors all season long, and also doubles as a mantra he lives by? Maintaining a healthy “zest for life,” something Kerr's team has struggled with at times throughout 2018-19 despite standing at the top of the Western Conference as the regular season winds down. On Friday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves, though, the Warriors' bench put their hearty enthusiasm on laughable display while reacting to Shaun Livingston's left-handed dunk over Jerryd Bayless.
Ball movement ➡️Slam#DubNation pic.twitter.com/aOwQf4dcUq
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 30, 2019
Well, maybe not everyone lived up to Kerr's motto. Steph Curry, after all, falls out of his chair and plays dead in response to Livingston's unexpected poster. Maybe the two-time MVP's “zest for life” is what left him lifeless?
Fortunately for the Warriors, Curry, who had a game-high 37 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves, recovered in time to hit a step-back corner three as the fourth-quarter buzzer expired, sending his team to overtime. Golden State couldn't quite keep up with Minnesota's impressively balanced attack in the extra session, though, losing 136-135 after Karl-Anthony Towns hit a free throw with .5 seconds remaining.
Follow Us
Subscribe