Oklahoma City Thunder teammates Paul George and Steven Adams aren't buying into the hoopla surrounding the vulnerability of the reigning NBA champion Golden State Warriors.
George nailed it down to facts, rather than rumors, claiming the Warriors have been able to get the job done besides the many questions surrounding them ahead of the past two postseasons.
“The fact remains that the past two years, they haven’t been beat when it comes to the real playing time (the playoffs),” said George, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic. “I know how it is. I’ve been on teams in Indiana where the locker room was portrayed some way, but internally we were like, ‘Man, we’re good.’ So I don’t necessarily play into that (storyline of the Warriors being vulnerable). But of course, every situation — guys go through stuff. That’s just being realistic. But I don’t think they’re vulnerable. The fact of the matter is they’re going for their third run at a chip, and that’s tough. (But) there’s going to be a breaking point where they’re scratching and clawing and trying to get to that (next) level.”
Adams didn't think the Warriors' situation was all that uncommon, but rather the result of public speculation and constant media attention as a byproduct of Golden State having such a magnifying glass around them throughout the course of the season.
“They (the Warriors) have a togetherness just as much as anyone else, I think — I would say,” Adams concluded. “So I think it’s definitely going to help (them in the playoffs), but their (drama) is just a bit more public, I think. People just, I guess, caught them (on camera). They did it right there.
“And that’s fine too. I’ve duked it out with Russ (Westbrook) on the court a couple times — just words coming real hot. And it’s a very quick, like — boom, yelling, like a 30-second thing in a timeout, but as soon as you get on the court it’s dap-em-up and (they’re good).’ It’s usually every year, and it’s everyone (on the team).”
Many have overanalyzed what has made the Warriors look so different, or vulnerable, as the years have passed. But the matter remains the same: teams have constantly tried to find a crack that could give them the edge in a seven-game series, and until a team is successful finding it and exploiting it, all this speculation won't be worth a dime.
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