Kerr: It's Harder for Warriors to Enjoy Winning, ‘the Danger for Our Guys…'

The Rockets have won 17 games in a row and lead the Warriors by a game for the top seed in the West.

Is it a good thing to have Houston playing so well right now?

"It's not something we talk about it. They're doing their thing, we're doing our thing," Kerr said on KNBR 680 on Wednesday. "They're having a spectacular season and a great run ... any time you have a team on the horizon that's really, really good -- you keep an eye on 'em.

"It definitely keeps you motivated, keeps you focused. So I think it's good for us."

The Warriors' prior three seasons:

- 2014-15: 67-15, NBA champions
- 2015-16: 73-9, lose in NBA Finals
- 2016-17: 67-15, NBA champions

Needless to say, Golden State's expectations are astronomically high.

"I don't think anybody predicted Houston would win at this rate. Everybody knew they were going to be good. But the fact that they're winning at such a high rate makes them the story this year," Kerr explained. "We were expected to do so, and so it's not as much of a story.

"And I'm proud of that. I'm proud of the fact that our expectations not only for ourselves but everybody's expectations for us have risen so high -- that's a helluva good sign."

Throughout the season, Kerr has repeatedly discussed how reaching the NBA Finals three years in a row has had an impact on his team both mentally and physically.

Yes, the Warriors have lost several games this year to inferior teams, and as a result it may cost them the No. 1 seed in the playoffs.

But Kerr wants everybody to understand something.

"The danger for our guys is to not fall in to that same mentality that is the perception of our ho-hum season. We're having a helluva year, we should be enjoying it," Kerr said. "But it's harder to enjoy it when it's not as fresh and not as new.

"We have to remind them that. As coaches, we have to remind ourselves of that. Yeah, we're expected to win every night, but don't take it for granted."

Drew Shiller is the co-host of Warriors Outsiders. Follow him on Twitter @DrewShiller

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