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The best news of all, according to a report by NBASportsBayArea.com’s Monte Poole, is that Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr has experienced somewhat of a reduction in the severity of the pain he was experiencing over the last week.
The pain was so severe that he had to hand the coaching clipboard over to Warriors Assistant Coach Mike Brown for Games 3 and 4 against Portland.
He spent the last week consulting with specialists and other patients who have experienced and recovered from spinal cord leaks of the type he is dealing with. Really desperate to get better and with nothing to lose, he has even accepted information about various herbs and other alternative treatments that could be helpful.
He expressed his frustration publicly and people listened, contributing whatever information they thought might be helpful to him.
CBSSports.com’s Colin Ward-Henninger reports that Kerr’s commiseration with a former NFL executive who experienced the same problems is likely what bolstered Kerr’s hopes the most. Meanwhile, just yesterday, some media talking heads, like Charles Barkley, were saying he ought to retire if he is unable to get this health condition under control.
What a difference a day makes.
But in a twist of strange irony, the severity of the pain may actually be beneficial in helping doctors find the leak. “They’re trying to find [the leak],” Kerr said. “If they can find it, they can fix it.”
So, the next few days of evaluations and consultations at Standford Medical Center will be crucial to what comes next for Kerr — not just for the playoffs (that’s small potatoes compared to his long-term health), but for his overall health for the rest of his life.
This is a breaking story that will be updated as new information becomes available.