Golden State Warriors: No More Distractions, Avoid the Noise

The recent altercation surrounding Golden State Warriors star power forward Draymond Green has put his team and organization in an unnecessary firestorm. If expectations were not high enough for a team stinging from a devastating series loss in The Finals, further outside noise needs to be avoided until opening tip off.

Make no mistake about the Warriors’ brass making the biggest offseason splash with the signing of Kevin Durant. The goal of making and winning a championship would have been the same even if Durant chose to remain with the Oklahoma City Thunder. With him in the fold, expectations are multiple appearances in the Finals.

Greatness is already being delivered, as seen from Splash Brothers Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, with their ridiculous play making and shooting. Don’t forget about supporting cast member Andre Iguodala, who is the ultimate definition of sixth man.

Let the offensive firepower commence under Steve Kerr’s system. This is no ordinary big three as seen from the Miami Heat with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. All three for the Warriors are gifted offensively and defensively. Under the system of Kerr, expect free flowing basketball minus the egos. Don’t expect all three dropping 30-plus points each game. Let’s not forget about Green, Iguodala and the rest of the Warriors bench who will rise to the occasion in critical junctures of the game. Superstars or not, teamwork always triumphs.

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However, the arrival of Durant has presented a new challenge with the noise brought by him. Any superstar with Durant’s caliber can be met with disappointment and criticism among fans and media for joining a team already talented with stars. The choice was difficult, but Durant wants to be in a position to win. With a team just peaking at a prime with the stars, Durant is in position to play his game and feed off the chemistry of his new teammates.

Unlike James, who had a television special to announce his decision to Miami in 2010, Durant knew the impact his decision would have. He is leaving behind memories and friendships with the Thunder as he embarks on a new chapter. The entire support of the Warriors’ organization is behind him as he prepares for the upcoming season. He made his decision with class and was genuine during his introductory conference.

Now with a new big three taking shape, the Warriors have gone from a team bringing excitement to arenas, to villains for acquiring another superstar. Thunder fans were unhappy with Durant’s decision but should know Durant played with heart, class, and passion in a Thunder uniform. He wanted a title for the city and organization but fell short of the prize.

Current Warriors are ready for the new role and have spoken out on the subject. Unfortunately, the noise brought with Durant is exactly the wrong approach for the Warriors. Of course, Dallas Mavericks’ owner Mark Cuban is going to come out and say the Warriors will be a team to dislike when traveling on the road since he enjoys hearing himself talk. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is going to disagree with Durant’s decision since having superstars come together disrupts the talent among other teams. This type of noise is should be blocked from the Warriors’ preparation for the upcoming season.

Green’s recent altercation while in Michigan has brought another distraction the Warriors’ organization did not want. Management made the big move and hoped to remain quiet until the bright lights shine come the start of the season. Green may be perceived as a bad guy for his antics in the Finals and guaranteeing wins, but should let his basketball skills on the court do the talking. He will be under a microscope now with his participation for USA in the Rio Olympics and will need to keep his head down to avoid further issues.

For Curry and Thompson, the two need to reject the role of the Warriors being villains. After signing his contract with the Heat, James wanted to be portrayed as the villain. He brought the noise and the unnecessary attention hindering his time in Miami. He did not win the seven titles he talked about during his introduction. After opting out of his deal and choosing to rejoin the Cleveland Cavaliers, he regretted his decisions and learned from the mistakes. He made good on his original promise and won a title for the city of Cleveland.

Unlike James, and being a year removed from bringing a championship to the Bay Area in over forty years, Curry still fights to get recognition. Back-to-back MVP titles are a commitment to his craft and teammates who helped him achieve the honor. If Curry wants to achieve elite status like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant accomplished in their careers, he will continue with the motto of “I can do all things” inscribed on his shoes and block out the new distractions.

The same goes for Thompson. An already gifted athlete who led the charge during his career at Washington State, the three-point specialist needs to stay focus on the task at hand. He needs to use the sting of defeat in the Finals to motivate. His accomplishments last season were due to the chemistry with Curry.

Business as usual commences on opening day of training camp. Chemistry will be the first step, not only for Curry, Thompson, and Durant, but for the whole Warriors’ bench. The honeymoon period can be good or bad depending on how the team decides to handle the new noise brought from the outside. By sticking with the original plan, the Finals are in sight. The option of embracing the new noise could result in heated moments amongst Warriors’ players during the game, which could devastate any chemistry.

Next: Warriors: A Little Bad Luck, A Lot of Good Fortune

For now, the Warriors need to avoid any more off-court distractions to garner noise before the season opener. No doubt exciting times are in store for the Bay Area and die hard Warriors’ fans are ready to pack Oracle Arena. The Bay Area has been spoiled with the recent success of the San Francisco Giants, and could possibly be experiencing a golden age of Warriors Basketball in the coming seasons.

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