Green not worried over Rockets’ upgrade
The concept endlessly amuses Warriors forward Draymond Green. In his mind, the Warriors have the most talent and the most confidence to win an NBA championship in what would mark their third in the past four years. That expectation has prompted several NBA teams to stockpile their rosters in hopes to prove them wrong.
The Houston Rockets, who acquired All-Star point guard Chris Paul to pair with James Harden, will try to state their case as contenders beginning tonight when they open the season against the Warriors at Oracle Arena.
“I guess he took some risks,” Green said of Rockets general manager Daryl Morey, who sent seven players and a 2018 firstround pick to the Los Angeles Clippers for Paul. “He got Chris Paul. He’s a man of his word. He took some risks.”
Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni is hoping those risks yield a high return. Discussing the Warriors with ESPN, D’Antoni said, “You’re not gonna stop them. It’s just not gonna happen. They’re not gonna stop us, either.”
After D’Antoni’s quote was relayed to Green, a dismissive tone in Green’s voice grew louder.
“I don’t know how serious they take defense with that comment,” Green said, shaking his head. “But they added some good defensive players.”
Green listed Paul’s defensive credentials, while admitting the potential loss in parting ways with Patrick Beverly. Then again, plenty of focus centers on how Harden and Paul will co-exist in D’Antoni’s fastpaced system that puts a heavy emphasis on 3-point shooting. How does that match up with the Warriors’ top-ranked offense featuring Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant and Green?
“They want it to be a shootout, which is fine,” Green said. “But we’re going to play some defense. We scored pretty well. But we’re a damn good defensive team too. So we’re going to play some defense.”
• On the eve of the regular season, the Warriors remain unsure on the status of their forward position.
Andre Iguodala (back strain) is listed as questionable for Tuesday’s game. Omri Casspi (mild right ankle sprain) is probable.
Casspi injured his right ankle during Friday’s exhibition against the Sacramento Kings. The more pressing concern, however, is Iguodala, who has experienced back issues in the past.
If Casspi and Iguodala are unable to go, expect more minutes from Nick Young and Patrick McCaw.
• Everybody remembers how wonderfully the Warriors’ 2016-17 season ended. Fewer remember how horribly it began, and just how many questions and concerns surfaced following last year’s disastrous Oracle Arena opener.
After adding free agent Kevin Durant to a nucleus that won an NBA record 73 regular-season games the season before, so many spectacular things were expected from the Warriors right out the chute.
But when the chute finally opened last Oct. 26, they laid a big, fat, ugly egg. They got spanked — and spanked hard — by the San Antonio Spurs 129-100.
The Warriors were outscored in every quarter on their home floor. They committed 16 turnovers and shot 7 for 33 from 3-point range. They gave up 21 offensive rebounds while being outrebounded 55-35. San Antonio star Kawhi Leonard had his way with 35 points, LaMarcus Aldridge added 26 and the Spurs’ bench outscored the Warriors’ reserves by a whopping 54-16.
“It was like jumping in cold water early in the morning,” guard Shaun Livingston said. “A total shock to the system.”