Why Warriors' physical, mental state matters as NBA playoffs progress

Editor’s note: Kerith Burke, NBC Sports Bay Area’s Warriors reporter, will take you inside the two-time defending NBA champions as only she can each Friday with the Ask Kerith Mailbag. Send her a question on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #askkerith

Tonight, the Warriors can clinch their series against the Rockets. They have to win without Kevin Durant, who's out for the series with a right calf strain. It’s unclear when he will return, but the Warriors said he’ll be re-evalutated in a week. All things considered, that’s not too bad.

I saw a saying this morning that read, “There are no miracles, only discipline.” The Warriors could win this series. Steve Kerr said, "This group will never be doubted. This group has nothing to prove. There’s a freedom in that.”

Now to your questions ...

@maysietift How sore and beat up are the players’ bodies after a game?

This question came in before KD’s injury, but boy is it timely.

The game takes a toll. Feet, ankles, knees, wrists, elbows and shoulders all are spots for postgame ice for the players who need relief.

You might have noticed, during a game, trainers wrapping heating pads around Draymond Green's and Shaun Livingston's knees lately. DeMarcus Cousins would have heating pads targeting his calf muscles and Achilles tendons on both legs. A collection of players like heating pads on their backs at halftime.

Heat helps alleviate tightness and primes movement. The ice goes on postgame to reduce swelling.

Late in the season, every player has something they’re managing to play the game -- bruising, soreness, tendinitis, sprains, etc.

@toogr8fltm Is Damian Jones coming back this season?

Potentially. Should the Warriors make the NBA Finals, Damian might be cleared by then to resume play following his pectoral muscle tear. He hasn't played since December.

Steve Kerr said, “We’ll just wait and see.”

In a previous mailbag, I covered that it’ll be tough for Damian to jump back into action when he’s missed so much time, and the playoffs are more difficult physically. The Warriors will make sure they’re putting Damian in the right situation, which is why there’s still uncertainty and caution around his return.

@__OhMyLanta If the Warriors make it to the WCF, who would they prefer to play?

I don’t know, and I don’t think they’d say so publicly. The common refrain this time of year is that it doesn’t matter who the opponent is. They only worry about themselves.

Proximity-wise, Portland would help with rest because the flight is shorter and it’s not a high-altitude location. Don’t underestimate the role that fatigue plays this time of year when the players are giving it their all. Tip-top defense requires a lot from the legs and lungs. The starters are playing more minutes in the Rockets series. Anywhere they could get a break for their bodies is advantageous.

@Jon_in_SoCal With Walton and Collins gone, how does Kerr replace the brain drain? How much longer does Ron Adams coach? Any word on a female asst coach?

Jarron Collins isn’t gone. He interviewed for the Memphis Grizzlies' head-coaching job, but nothing has been determined yet. Ron Adams’ future came up in a previous mailbag. He is not interested in head-coaching jobs and has carved his place in the NBA as one of the most respected assistants in the game.

Having coaching experience with a dynasty will open a lot of doors. Collins and WIllie Green will make good head coaches someday. But not every organization is as functional and healthy as Golden State. They’re in a good place. Mike Brown was the NBA’s Coach of the Year in 2009 when he was with the Cavaliers. He could go back to being the big boss anytime he wants. But there’s a value to location. It’s not smart to take any old job just for the title.

As far as a woman in an assistant role at Golden State, the team is open to it, based on Kerr’s view. The candidate pool is small but growing, and the NBA is taking women more seriously for coaching or front-office roles.

Did you see the story about the Sixers hiring Lindsey Harding, the former Duke and WNBA star? This is a good example about some old attitudes changing regarding what women can or cannot do in sports. They can lead men! Game recognizes game.

@machamarchu Why should we not sign Loon to a long term deal?

I think the Warriors should sign Kevon Looney long term, and will seriously try to do so this summer.

Here’s what Kerr said last month about Loon and how valuable he’s been to the team. Loon conducts himself like a professional, he’s low maintenance, and his play has made strides. They believe in him. He’s exactly the type of guy you want in your locker room.

@EricaCher4 Does Steph see a sports psychologist? Seems like he could benefit from it, as all his mistakes come from a lack of mental focus (reaching, non-nonchalant passes, playing passively).

Steph Curry is one of the most mentally strong athletes I’ve covered. His mistakes are human.

Steph is solid with himself, as a player and a man. This comes from putting in the work to train his body and mind to be the best. He also relies on his faith to steady him. He has the tools to navigate hardships with a sound perspective. I’m also impressed by Steph’s moments of humility. He acknowledges when he makes mistakes. He shares the ways he wants to get better. To me, that indicates strong mental fortitude.

Here’s a story about some of the things Steph does to train.

When things are tough in a game, Steph takes on more. When KD missed the fourth quarter of Game 5 with his injury, Steph came through with 12 points in the quarter. He’s had his struggles this postseason, but I’m seeing some ridiculous reactions to those struggles on our platform for sensibility, The Internet.

I’m a fan of sports psychologists. I’m a fan of therapists. We cannot see what’s going on in the brain, but it needs care like any other body part.

A player’s reality in the game and a fan’s perspective of the game are different things. A player should have the space to talk to a professional who understands their circumstances.

@3athalete Did you come into the job with any preconceived ideas of the team? Is there something about the warriors that surprised you? #askKerith

My notion about the Warriors before I covered them was Keanu Reeves-esque: “Whoa.”

I knew they were good, obviously. When I got the job at NBC Sports Bay Area, I wanted to cram as much Warriors knowledge as I could. Stats! History! Back-stories! Erik Malinowski’s “Betaball” book was helpful.

But there’s another side of this. I didn’t want to come in thinking I memorized everything about the team. I wanted to form my own impressions once I had proximity to the people I’d been reading about. I heard KD was “difficult,” but what does that mean? That’s someone else’s conclusion, not mine. I wanted to give him a fair shake. (Guess what? He’s thoughtful and kind!)

The thing that surprises me about the Warriors is their sincerity about being the best and taking care of people along the way. I’ve covered too many organizations that pay lip service to Doing The Right Thing, and then they fail when a tough spot comes along.

Money and wins rule all in sports. That’s true for the Warriors too, but they’re not leaving any carcasses behind in their wake. Not that I’ve seen, anyway.

@twistedahyun what keeps you going? in facing difficulties and obstacles, what keeps you going? #askKerith

I almost didn’t answer this question. But talking about difficulties is important.

I’m thankful I’m financially set and healthy. So my difficulties exist in a different realm, the mental hurdles I put up for myself rooted in self-doubt. I wonder if I’m doing enough. I wonder if I am enough.

I did an interview this season with a high school student who asked me what my dream job was. I told her it’s hosting my own show, where I get to interview the top athletes, uninterrupted for 30 minutes. I want a real conversation. She followed up with, “Cool ... why aren’t you doing it?” That shook me. I took a long pause and said, “I don’t know!”

What’s stopping me from doing exactly what I want? I am. I have a great job. But it always makes sense to think about the next steps and what I could do to put my dreams into action.

The other side of this is not being an ambition monster. I climbed the ladder for a long time. By reasonable estimation, the job I have now is the top. If I’m always thinking more, more, more, am I even in the moment? Will I even find satisfaction? Work shouldn’t be the only thing driving me. I want to find happiness away from a paycheck.

So ... what keeps me going? It's throwing my hands up and recognizing maybe none of this is my decision. Whether I call it God or the Universe, I’ve felt guided in my life. There’s peace in surrendering to the idea that everything will be OK.

That surrender is accompanied by controlling what I can in a hard-working and positive way.

Follow Kerith on Twitter @KerithBurke and on Instagram @warriorskerith, and, of course, watch her on NBC Sports Bay Area’s Warriors coverage all season.