The Warriors still don't know when Kevin Durant will be cleared to play in the 2019 NBA Finals, but head coach Steve Kerr gave a bit of a positive update on Sunday morning, noting that it was "feasible" that Durant can play after just one practice session.
About an hour before tip-off of Game 2 against the Raptors, Warriors general manager Bob Myers joined Greg Papa on Warriors Playoff Central and expanded on Kerr's comments.
"He still has to get through a full-speed practice, probably an individual work out and then practice with some light contact or something that simulates, the best you can, an NBA game," Myers told Papa. "Until he does that, you really don't know whether he's coming back for whatever game it might be because you clearly have to do those things, you have to be able to go 100 percent by yourself first, then with a little contact, then get through a practice. But I think Steve was basically saying 'Look, if he gets through a full practice with a little bit of contact, he'll play.' But I don't know when that will be."
Papa then asked Myers if Durant is able to do his patented jab step move. The two-time NBA Finals MVP strained his right calf in Game 5 of the second-round series against the Rockets and uses that right leg to push off.
"We're not there yet," Myers said. "That's probably the last step, right, is to go full bore. This is not something you tape up, this is not something you inject, it's not one of those deals. It's not as if, well, mentally if you get through it, your body will tell you when you can go. But you have to be able to do those things. And defensively, just pivoting and going the other way. This is not an injury that, you know Steph had those sprained ankles, and you kind of get through it. This is not really an injury you get through. Either you can go or you can't and your body will tell you that. Again, until we get to the phase and the progression where he's doing those things, we don't know."
After the Warriors and Raptors play Game 2, they will head to the Bay Area for Games 3 and 4. The Warriors are slated to practice on Tuesday ahead of Game 3 on Wednesday and Thursday ahead of Game 4 on Friday.
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If Durant is cleared to practice and can get through one of those session, we may see him on the court for one or both of those games.
If Durant can't go in either game in Oakland, a potential Game 5 would be on Monday in Toronto.
