Warriors’ Steve Kerr marvels at how sports defy evolution – SFGate

Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle

Golden State Warriors' head coach Steve Kerr laughs during press availability on practice day during NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, on Thursday, June 8, 2017.

Golden State Warriors' head coach Steve Kerr laughs during press availability on practice day during NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, on Thursday, June 8, 2017.

Warriors Steve Kerr marvels at how sports defy evolution

CLEVELAND The Warriors dominance this postseason has left many wondering: Could Golden State beat the greatest teams in NBA history in a best-of-seven series?

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, thickly laying on the sarcasm, told a large scrum of reporters after shoot-around Friday that the Warriors would have no shot.

Theyre all right, Kerr said of the pundits who reckon Golden State would get outplayed by elite teams from past generations. They would all kill us. The game gets worse as time goes on. Players are less talented than they used to be. The guys in the 50s wouldve destroyed everybody. Its weird how human evolution goes in reverse in sports. Players get weaker, smaller, less skilled. I dont know. I cant explain it.

Though much of the chatter has centered on whether the 1995-96 Bulls could beat Golden State in a seven-game series, Magic Johnson made sure his Showtime Lakers joined the discussion. Johnson said Monday night that those Lakers teams would sweep the Warriors, and his reasoning was simple: Theyre too small. Im sorry. Too little.

Asked Tuesday about Johnsons comments, Golden State power forward Draymond Green chuckled before saying: Thats my thoughts.

In becoming the first team in NBA history to open the playoffs 15-0, the Warriors had won by an average of 16.2 points. It prompted ESPN to ask some Las Vegas bookmakers to set the odds in a game and series between the 2016-17 Warriors and Jordans 95-96 Bulls team that went 72-10 en route to an NBA title. Five of the six bookmakers had Golden State favored.

As for Warriors guard Stephen Curry? He doesnt see much need to compare Golden State against past teams.

Its kind of comedy to me, Curry said. The hypothetical game is never one Ive played. I dont want to be in that situation where youre having to argue that.

Kerr on return: When Kerr announced April 21 that he was taking an indefinite hiatus from the bench, his goal was clear: find an answer to the chronic pain that has plagued him for almost two years.

Though he still deals with intense head and neck pain, the Warriors head coach was well enough to return to the sideline before Game 2 of the NBA Finals. Kerr, intent on focusing on winning a championship, has been relatively mum on what specifically went into his decision to come back. Roughly 90 minutes before tip-off of Game 4 on Friday night, he offered a bit more insight.

Its just fun, Kerr said of why he returned to the bench. Its fun, and I felt better. That was my barometer. If I felt better, I was going to do it.

Acting head coach Mike Brown went 11-0 during Kerrs hiatus from the sideline. Now, with Golden State nearing the end of another long season, Kerr still faces plenty of doubts. The hope is that a solution to his chronic pain will come this summer.

Connor Letourneau is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.

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Warriors' Steve Kerr marvels at how sports defy evolution - SFGate