The Golden State Warriors pulled out Game 1 of the NBA Finals by the skin of their teeth, and head coach Steve Kerr knows it.
Speaking with the media after the Warriors’ 124-114 overtime victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday, Kerr acknowledged that his team was lucky.
“We got a break,” said Kerr, referencing a charge drawn late in the fourth quarter by LeBron James that was changed to a blocking foul and two free throws for Kevin Durant upon further review.
Kerr on the block/charge: “We got a break.”
— Scott @ WFNY (@WFNYScott) June 1, 2018
Kerr also referenced JR Smith forgetting the score at the end of regulation and dribbling out the clock. He said the Dubs “got lucky” and compared it to a play by retired ex-Dallas Mavericks guard Derek Harper from back in the day.
Steve Kerr on JR Smith blunder, “We got lucky.” #Warriors pic.twitter.com/3PbMwWBeRH
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) June 1, 2018
Steve Kerr on the JR blunder: "Reminded me of a play — I'm a basketball junkie — Derek Harper dribbles the clock out for Dallas…We got lucky."
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) June 1, 2018
While overtime was a fairly lopsided affair, it took some spectacular blunders from the Cavs (as Twitter would certainly agree) for the Warriors to even make it there in the first place. They will have to play a lot better in Game 2, especially at home, and Kerr isn’t hiding from that fact.
