Warriors G.M. Myers is upbeat following player exit interviews
OAKLAND — At least one member of the Warriors’ organization has ventured down the path to recovery after the crushing loss to Cleveland in the NBA Finals.
In his first comments since Game 7, general manager Bob Myers on Tuesday credited the players for lifting his spirits.
“I felt a lot better after the exit interviews than I did before,” Myers said of his interviews Monday.
“I was wondering how the players would react or process losing in Game 7 after the season we had. What I saw and heard was encouraging from a maturity standpoint, a learning capacity …
“I didn’t hear a lot of people blaming anyone else. I didn’t hear people not taking responsibility for what they can do better. So it was really encouraging.”
Myers mentioned one conversation in particular:
“Shaun Livingston asked, ‘How am I supposed to feel?’” he recalled. “I said, ‘Not good.’ It’s not supposed to feel good. It’s supposed to hurt, and that’s what drives you.
“My hope is that from losing like we did that we can all be better.”
Myers went home Sunday night following the 93-89 defeat, had a glass of whiskey and a grilled-cheese sandwich, and took time to “feel it.”
“It was good to take some time to acknowledge what happened, think about it, feel it, and hang on to the parts that can be useful,” he said.
As he pondered the Finals in particular and the season as a whole, Myers was struck by the Warriors’ unusual two-year trajectory.
“In some ways, I feel that what has happened went in the wrong order,” he said. “This was supposed to happen last year, and we were supposed to win this year.
“We got to experience the best and worst in the span of two years. We know what both feel like, and that’s important. That’s experience that’s hard to find. Hopefully, it elevates you and propels you going forward.”
Myers declined to discuss n specific free agents — not only those currently on the Warriors’ roster but also potential acquisitions (hello, Kevin Durant).
His focus, for the moment, is entirely on the NBA Draft on Thursday. Preparation time has been greatly condensed by the season extending to Game 7 of the Finals.
“We’re behind,” he said, “but we’re trying to catch up. I think we can.”
The Warriors have the 30th selection.
Myers said no players n will require offseason surgery.
Forward Kevon Looney, n the Warriors’ top pick last year, won’t participate in summer league but is expected to be ready for training camp.
Looney played in only five games because of an injured hip.
“The hope would be he could give us something,” Myers said. “It’s just hard to speculate as to how much.”