Only three games into the season, the Warriors are already experiencing all that comes with being the league’s public enemy number one.
Draymond Green told reporters after Sunday’s 106-100 victory over the Phoenix Suns that team’s are trying to get an edge on Golden State by attempting to rough them up with extra physical play.
“Team’s are trying to punk us, (but) it’s fine,” Green said. “We’re not going to get punked.”
Green didn’t mention specifics, nor has he been involved in a physical altercation during the first three games, but it’s likely the comments were partially sparked by an incident that happened in the second quarter, when the Suns Brandon Knight bumped Curry from behind on a three point attempt, knocking him to the floor.
Irate that a foul hadn’t been called, Curry uncharacteristically shoved Knight into the first row as Phoenix attempted a fast break. He was issued a standard foul.
Kevin Durant was also involved in a shoving incident in Friday’s game against New Orleans, when he knocked the instigating Lance Stephenson to the ground, apparently getting fed up with the irritating forward’s overly physical defending.
Durant reinforced Green’s statements that teams are playing Golden State extra physical to start season.
“I haven’t heard nothing yet from nobody, but yeah, they’re going to come at us physically,” Durant said. “We took it tonight. That team was pressuring us to try to get us out of our stuff. We kept moving, we had a nice pace, we got stops and ran and got good looks all night. You can talk all you want. You still got to play.”
Continuing to play and not getting thrown off or frustrated by their opponent’s antics will be a key for the Warriors throughout the season, especially against teams with far inferior talent.