Warriors weigh different emotions the night of the ring

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OAKLAND – The Warriors will proclaim themselves champions on the night of the ring. But then can they play as one?

Even the Warriors do not have much confidence to answer this question because of the festivities that preceded the opening of Tuesday's season against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Oracle Arena.

"It's a huge night and an emotional night," said Warrior coach Steve Kerr.

Warriors will feel these emotions well before the trigger. They will receive championship rings that Kerr has described as "awesome and obscene." Kerr's favorite moment then occurs. Then, the Warriors will unveil their 2017-18 NBA championship banner that will go along with their other banners won in 1975, 2015, 2016 and 2017. Then, the Warriors will imbibe what featured Kevin Durant's "energy in the building".

So what?

"You have to pick him up right after that. That's the challenge, "said Kerr. "You have to go from celebration to competition like this. Fortunately, we went through it several times. "

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After receiving their 2015 NBA championship rings on October 27, 2016, the Warriors won a 111 to 95 victory over the New Orleans pelicans. This marked the beginning of a series of 24 consecutive victories. Unfortunately for the warriors, they also lost. After collecting their 2017 NBA Championship Rings on October 17, 2017, they lost a point against the Houston Rockets in a match that ended in injuries (Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala) and a Confused shot after ringing (Durant) against a team that had a limited Chris Paul.

This year, the Warriors will include members of their previous championship teams, including Howie Dallmar Jr. (son of the late Howie Dallmar father of the 1945 team), Jackie Moore (1956), Clifford Ray (1975) and Leandro Barbosa (2015). , Matt Barnes (2017) and David West (2018), recently retired, attending the ceremony. The Warriors also invited Nick Young, although he was advised that he did not wish to decline while he was trying to sign with a team. If things are going well for Swaggy P, he will be able to receive his ring when his new team will face the Warriors at Oracle Arena. For the moment, the warriors have festivities.

"It's a distraction from the game compared to itself," Durant said. "It's a great distraction, do not get me wrong. But when you try to play a basketball game before having to focus on something else, it throws you off guard. "

Can warriors avoid being ejected? They think it because they're the defending champions. Even the Dubs have admitted some vulnerabilities.

The Warriors said veteran reserve guard Shaun Livingston was questionable because of the pain in his right foot, leaving Kerr in the custody of only four-year-old Quinn Cook and rookie goaltender Jacob Evans as options every time Stephen Curry needed to blow a little. Kerr also plans to monitor Green, who missed three pre-season games because of a left knee injury. This leaves Kerr concerned about Green's conditioning.

Although Green does not have a minute restriction, Kerr said he plans to play against him in a shorter time "so he can play significant minutes in the fourth quarter." As a result, Kerr felt that his team "was not in top form".

After all, the Warriors conceded a combined total of 104 points, totaling 57 fouls and earned a total of 64 quick points in two preseason games last week against the Los Angeles Lakers.

"I do not anticipate that we are up and running right now," Kerr said. "We will not be as good as tomorrow because we will be on the road."

Because of Green's rust, the Warriors do not have as much flexibility with their small ball alignments. They will start third-year center Damian Jones, but it remains unclear to what extent Jordan Bell and / or Kevon Looney are playing in front or center. Perhaps Durant is also sliding towards the center.

"Obviously, you want to play a good ball mark every time you go out. But you're also trying to do something and see how deep the rotation is because we're gearing up for the playoffs, "Durant said. "Many teams do the same thing. We trust the coach's adjustments and everything he throws at us. We try to manage the best possible. It is difficult for a coach to understand this so early. But we go up with him.

Durant did not have as much sympathy for answering another question about his relationship with Russell Westbrook, the Thunder's keeper. "Is it really important?" Wondered For two years after leaving Thunder for the Warriors.

"It's between him and him," Durant said. "Basketball relationship, I have only respect for what he does. But we'll keep that between him and me.

The Warriors are more interested in the availability of Westbrook at the opening night. The Thunder has currently listed him as absent due to his ongoing rehabilitation of the surgically repaired right knee, although this may change. Oklahoma City also reported that the Steven Adams Center was dubious with a low back contusion. And Thunder is already facing questions about adapting without All-Star Carmelo Anthony, even though his inefficiency was not worth the salary. Durant believed that Jerami Grant and Patrick Patterson would fill this void seamlessly, but it's hard to replace a missing Westbrook or Adams.

This potentially leaves the thunder with Paul George as the only star player in good health. This could give the warriors more room to experience hiccups. Again, this could give them a reason to feel complacent.

"It's more of a problem in the regular season when maybe you're in the meat of the season," Kerr said. "The night of opening, there is always extra energy, and even more at night. It does not matter who is there. You should bring it.

Warriors have expressed confidence that at least one player will bring it. Jones, who became the starting center of the team at least for the opening night, averaging 9.0 points on a 78.3% shot, or five rebounds in 18 minutes per game over five exhibition games. Jones impressed the Warriors on his potential after spending most of his first two seasons with their G-League team in Santa Cruz.

"He's ready for an opportunity and a challenge," Durant said of Jones. "He is open to learning what is significant basketball at this level and playing with great players.He is a server.He always wants to be there for us, set up screens for us and ride and to be at the rim for us during a block. "

Can Jones offer these qualities against Adams, who is 7 feet 0 inches, if he is available? During laughs softly at the question.

"I'm excited about it," Durant said.

Durant, who played with Adams at OKC from 2013 to 2016, then explained how well Adams played the same role after the Thunder traded Kendrick Perkins ahead of the 2014-15 season. Since then, the Thunder has appreciated Adams for his rugged physique and defensive intensity. The Warriors are intrigued by Jones' versatility as a dunker, post player and defender.

"Totally different players, but I think the circumstances and the situation are probably the same," said Durant. "They come in with a group of guys who are able to accelerate their growth a bit. I saw Steven as [good] center and look at how he became. This experience is going to be great for a DJ. I know he will do a great job. "