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OAKLAND, California – There was No Rubik's Cubes. No shy smile. No sarcastic jokes – well, a sarcastic joke. But in most cases, Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, usually gregarious and infinitely patient with the media, was not in the mood to do anything wrong before Tuesday's game against the Hawks.
Kerr was bombarded question after question about the news that made the media presence much more important than it would normally be for a match against a team tied for the worst record of the NBA. Draymond Green was suspended for the match following a screaming match with Kevin Durant who would have been taken away in the locker room on the last possession of the regulation at the loss of 121-116 hours of road Monday against the Los Angeles Clippers. Normally tolerant, even for the most difficult questions, Kerr was brief and direct with the media, showing no interest in his usual, expansive and flowery responses.
He said from the beginning that he was not going to go into the details of the incident that had led to Green's suspension, adding that it would remain within the team – the expected response from the party of an organization that, for the most part, has kept its internal problems during its last four seasons of unprecedented success.
Have you spoken with Draymond?
"I talked to him, and he's private."
How would you describe the relationship of Durant and Green even before the incident?
"They have won championships together, they have been teammates for three seasons now and they were teammates of the Olympic team.You can draw your own conclusions."
Even when asked a basketball question about Tuesday night's training, Kerr refused to reveal his lead, as usual, but added, "I'm not in a good mood tonight. . " The only time Kerr smiled during the entire press conference was when he was asked about the now famous incident in which Michael Jordan hit him in practice.
"By the way," said Kerr, "I kicked MJ's ass."
It was therefore revealing that the only question Kerr looked at in depth – the one where he was the most animated – concerned the imminence of Durant's free will. according to Shams Charania of AthleticGreen spoke of KD's contractual situation as the break in the locker room continued after Monday's match, but Kerr did everything to deny it, saying no one had done it. already raised the possibility that their NBA Finals doubles finalist will flee the Bay Area after this season.
"Not in the least," Kerr said when asked if Durant 's free agency potential had affected the locker room. "Nobody ever talks about Kevin's agency." "It does not bother us." "It's the NBA." There are guys who are under contract or who are free agents to come in. C & # 39; is the business.We are focused on this year.I do not have I do not think anyone in our locker room or among our coaching staff thinks twice at Kevin's independent agency this It's summer next year, we're training this year and we're playing this year. "
KD's Night in the Garden
It was a calculated point of emphasis on the part of Kerr, who was flying directly at a source report, and Kerr seemed to be protesting a bit too much. Durant's choice to sign another one-year contract with a one-year option is the darkest shadow hovering over the Warriors' history – a fourth title in five consecutive appearances in the final, maybe more.
And that's why an incident like this stands out so vividly. Durant and Green have had arguments in the past, but this has always been blamed on the heat of the moment – two ultimate competitors who face each other in search of greatness. They hug and move on.
"I think they have a lot in common," Warriors general manager Bob Myers said of Durant and Green before the game. "They both want to win.They like to play.I think they'll play basketball for free.It 'sa relationship that wants to do great things together, and they will, and they'll do it. I think so that they have a sound But you know, in this sport, in this sport, one of the best aspects of the sport is that it is emotional.Sometimes, you know, it gets too emotional . "
The Warriors knew that suspending Green would put a giant spotlight not only on his relationship with Durant, but also on his coaching effect that Durant would break or not one of the best dynasties in the world. history of the NBA.
They knew all that and were still making the decision to suspend Green.
We would like to know what has been said and how Green got – Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes reports that Green has repeatedly said that Durant was "slutty" – but no matter what insults were thrown at them, they were enough for Kerr and Myers to deprive him of a match. to match and have a party to do what he likes. This sent a message that Green had crossed the line on which he had so evolved over the last few seasons.
While Kerr avoided his normal behavior for more stoic behavior, the Warriors' dressing room seemed, well, normal. Durant donned his sneakers silently while he was preparing for pre-game shooting exercises. Stephen Curry, who did not play in Tuesday's game, is mocked by the presence of many members of the media. Andre Iguodala made a joke and laughed loudly while walking away.
As Kerr and Myers constantly repeat, the adversity of this type occurs every season. "We will get away and move on," they repeat. And they may be right.
But no dynasty lasts forever, and a combination of conflicting star personalities has helped derail the great teams of the past. Of course, the Warriors could immediately win 20 consecutive wins and qualify for another championship. But if they do not – if they have a flaw in their seemingly impenetrable armor during the season and if a playoff loss precedes Durant's team change – we will consider this incident more than simple heated debate between teammates.
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