Game 1 of NBA Finals

Even as he spent the first 43 games of the season on the sideline while recovering from back problems, Steve Kerr always kept his finger on the pulse of the Golden State Warriors.

“He has just a great feel for the energy and the temperature of the team,” said Warriors guard Shaun Livingston, who scored 20 points in Golden State’s 104-89 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night.

After veteran Andre Iguodala helped the Warriors tilt the Western Conference finals and come back from a 3-1 deficit to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder, Kerr resisted the temptation to start him against LeBron James and the Cavs.

Iguodala was the Finals MVP a year ago for his all-around performance against the Cavaliers, but Kerr stayed with the same starting lineup that had worked during a record-setting 73-win regular season.

The Warriors’ bench rose to the occasion, with Livingston, Leandro Barbosa and Iguodala picking up the slack and Kerr rode them during the turning point in the game, a run that really caught fire after guard Matthew Dellavedova swiped at the ball but hit Iguodala in the groin.

The Cavaliers had come back to take the lead in the third quarter, and Curry just couldn’t find the mark.

Lue’s defensive game plan worked marvelously against Curry and Thompson, with the Cavs getting physical with the two-time MVP and forcing Thompson into early foul trouble to get him out of rhythm.

“So we’ve got to do a better job with that, which coach Lue and the coaching staff will make sure we do in Game 2.” This is why the Cavaliers made that stunning coaching change in midseason, firing David Blatt after he led them to the finals last year and a 30-11 start to this season.