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.

That connection, the sense of what buttons to push and what whiteboards to smash, was all over Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

“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. “He’s great at just taking the temperature and finding the right matchups for us and putting us in places where we can excel.”

The Warriors sent a statement to the Cavaliers that the “Strength In Numbers” message on those gold shirts that were draped over the seats at Oracle Arena is so much more than just a catchy slogan.