When will the Golden State Warriors get their coach back?

"I'm sure he'll be with us again," Luke Walton said about Steve Kerr after a long practice in Los Angeles on Wednesday. "I just don't know when."

We're nearing the Oct. 27 season opener, a long way from early October predictions of a quick Kerr return. The spinal headaches aren't taking a break on account of the Warriors needing to start their season.

When asked whether he's preparing as though Kerr will not be available on opening night, Walton said, "Absolutely. Hopefully Stevie's back before then, but you can't wait till game time to start preparing. We as a staff, especially next week, we really start prepping, and this is the staff we have going into Game 1. And that way at least if that is the case, we'll be ready for it."

This is the odd limbo in which the Warriors find themselves. Walton, at age 35, has to prepare as though he's head coach, and the players must respond to him as though he's the head coach. At the same time, the actual head coach might return at seemingly any moment.