The post-game comments from Houston Rockets center Clint Capela didn't sit well with Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant, who took issue with the Swiss international saying his team is “better than them.”
The reigning Finals MVP was asked it his words piqued his interest after the first practice following Saturday's 116-108 loss to the Rockets.
“Nah man. It's all part of the game. You understand they beat us twice this year. They should feel confident,” said Durant. “Obviously we're confident. We feel as though we're the best team in the league. We can beat anyone as well. But we can be beat. We can be beat on any night.”
Asked further if Draymond Green was the one relaying the news, Durant shook his head one more time.
“Nah, I seen it myself. I seen it myself,” he said. “You hear that from guys like Capela. Usually he's catching the ball and laying it up from CP or James Harden.”
“His job is not as hard. When your job is that hard, you know you can't just come out there and say s*** like that. I don't expect that from CP and James and Ariza and the rest of the guys like that because they know how hard it is to come out and do that every night. Capela, catch and dunk every night, it's pretty easy for him.”
Easy or not, Capela had a field day with the Warriors defense, going 7-of-12 from the field, battling through his 4-of-8 struggles from the line to put up 18 points, five rebounds, four steals, and a block. The combination of starter Zaza Pachulia, David West, and Kevon Looney only mustered 14 points between them.
To the victor goes the spoils, and this is one that will certainly be hard to swallow by Durant and company.