It’s time for the “exit interviews” on the Warriors side, and as Klay Thompson explained the day before, it’s unusual at this stage of the season. Moreover, the stars of the team skipped this meeting, and among those present, there was Gary Payton II. NBA champion last season, he joined the Blazers last summer, before returning to the Warriors in February, at the time of the “trade deadline”. He is well placed to draw a parallel between the two squads, and in particular noted the effects of Draymond Green’s punch on Jordan Poole.
“Everyone has problems in life, everyday problems… For my part, I just tried to be myself, you know, to talk to guys, to hang out with guys, to laugh with guys . The mood was a little different, of course. (…) It was a question of trying to understand it, of continuing to do what we had to do until the end of the season. But you know, the mood was different. The atmosphere was different then and it will be different later. »
A lack of veterans?
It’s not just the atmosphere that was different, there was also the workforce. “I think it’s a little mix of age and experience” continues Payton. “Last year, we had guys like Otto Porter Jr, Nemanja Bjelica… They knew their roles, and they knew how difficult it is to get there. It was the first time for some, and they took advantage of every opportunity. »
Kevon Looney also evokes this lack of experience of the group, but also the pressure linked to the defense of a title. “It’s always hard to get back to it and do it again. The group was a little different, and there was a little less experience. We also encountered a lot of obstacles, with absences, and we never really managed to be together. Last year, there was a period when we were all united and all in good health. This year, the guys came back and then left. It was difficult to create these automatisms and this complicity necessary to gain a title. I think we did our best and got the best out of our group. »
Among those absent was Andrew Wiggins, who stayed with his sick father for two months. He too talks about the differences between 2022 and 2023. “Last year, I think we were a little more together. Maybe we were a little more regularly, especially on the move. But last year, we had a slightly older team too. »
