Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr says his side need to be tougher, both mentally and physically, after their season-opening defeat to Houston Rockets.

GSW romped to the NBA Championship last season and lost just once in the playoffs, in the Finals Series against Cleveland Cavaliers, but went down 122-121 at home to the Rockets in their curtain raiser – despite holding a 13-point lead going into the fourth quarter.

“We were not ready mentally to play that game, even when we weren’t tired,” said Kerr.

“When I say we’re not in great shape, I can’t come in here today [at training on Wednesday] and run them because they’re tired from last night.

So the physical conditioning will come as we play these games in the next week or two but what we can do is really lock in mentally.”

Golden State have concerns over forward Draymond Green ahead of their trip to New Orleans Pelicans on Friday after he suffered a knee injury in the loss to Houston.

Omri Casspi is also a doubt after sustaining an ankle knock against the Rockets but Kerr is hopeful Andre Iguodala will be available after he missed the defeat earlier this week with a back problem.

Golden State Warriors are the 1.53 favourites to claim the NBA Championship this season, the Rockets can be backed at 10.00 and the Cavs are 5.00.