When you’re the best team in the NBA by a country mile like Golden State—and coming off a championship run, no less—staying motivated can be a challenge. But the Warriors have an answer, and it’s reminding each other of all the times anyone has ever said anything bad about them. Ever.
Speaking on a podcast with Sam Amrick of USA Today, Warriors center Andrew Bogut said the team has a group text where they share negative stories written about them in the media:
“We obviously see some headlines, whether it was how Indiana was going to beat us the last game (on Tuesday) or whatever it is,” Bogut told Amick. “And we’ll put it in the group chat. We’re not running away from it, or trying to hide from it. We actually like that, and we’re looking for different things to motivate us and fuel us along the way, along the journey.”
When Amick asked Bogut if the Warriors find it themselves or if they have an aggregator, Bogut said it’s a little bit of both, noting, “Most of us do, we like that stuff, and we’re not afraid of that criticism or controversy.”
Bogut also noted that Green is one of the teammates who’s posting articles in the chat the most.
I wonder if Green posted the most recent comments from Jeff Van Gundy, who said this week the Boston Celtics could end the Warriors’ 23-game winning streak. Golden State won on Friday 124-119. (Then again, JVG also said he was more impressed with the Warriors’ win streak than their championship.)
In all likelihood, there are more people drooling over just how good Golden State is than there are people criticizing them. Sure, some critics will classify the 2015-16 title run as advantageous, seeing as the Warriors got some injury breaks along the way. But that’s also pretty much every title run ever, too.
The point being, go ahead and post negative things about the Warriors at your own risk. Chances are, they’ve already seen it and will now punish another NBA team for your opinion. Next up for Golden State is…oh, God, it’s the Bucks. Won’t someone think of the children when they post this stuff?
(Via Business Insider)
