Sources: On eve of NBA Finals, Kerr still undecided on Game 1 status

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OAKLAND -- Less than 24 hours before tipoff of the NBA Finals, Steve Kerr was still pondering whether he’s up to returning to the bench to coach the Warriors in Game 1 and beyond, multiple sources told NBCSportsBayArea.com Wednesday night.

Though Kerr has felt good enough to address the team before, during and after games, while also increasing his participation during practices, he is not expected to decide on his role before Thursday, in the hours before Game 1.

Acting coach Mike Brown said Wednesday afternoon that until he heard otherwise from Kerr that he expected to arrive at Oracle Arena Thursday night in the same role he has served since Kerr stepped down April 23.

“Well, he does seem like he's getting better,” Brown said during Media Day. “But I'm going to keep coaching until he says he can or can't do it. But he hasn't told me either way right now.”

Two sources close to Brown indicated nothing had changed Wednesday night.

The Warriors are 12-0 so far this postseason, during which Kerr coached the first two games and Brown the last 10. Kerr did not attend Game 3 of the first-round series against Portland but joined the team at Moda Center for Game 4 before missing the entire second-round series against Utah.

Though Kerr was with the team throughout its four-game sweep of San Antonio in the Western Conference Finals, he remained in the locker room for all four games.

That’s the likely scenario for Game 1 of The Finals -- unless Kerr decides on game day that he’s ready to resume full-time responsibilities.

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