Golden State Warriors 2014 Playoffs: Relishing The Underdog Role (Photo: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports)
WARRIORS PRACTICE FACILITY, OAKLAND, CA — Without the services of Andrew Bogut, the Golden State Warriors are entering the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs as heavy underdogs against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Just like last year, it’s a label that the Warriors don’t mind having.
“When you play 82 games, you play the same competition and they have a better record, they won our division, they are on paper the better basketball team,” Golden State head coach Mark Jackson said before practice this morning, “If I had my announcing hat on, they would be the favorite. That’s fine. Once again, we were picked last year to lose to the Denver Nuggets by all the experts at ESPN. Again, we were picked to lose to the Clippers by the experts.
“That’s not facts, that’s their own opinion. They’re basing their opinions on the data. The data says that we are the underdogs. The data says that Doc Rivers is the better coach. The data says that they’re the better basketball team. That’s okay. It doesn’t mean it’s gonna happen.”
“We’re always the underdog,” quipped Warriors power forward Draymond Green, “I’ve been an underdog my entire life, so it definitely doesn’t bother me. I’m not sure if Andrew (Bogut) was here, we still wouldn’t be the underdog, so it is what it is.”
Just like last year, the Warriors will look to steal at least one of the two opening games at STAPLES Center.
“It’s fun to go into someone else’s building first and try to sneak in and win one or two,” said Klay Thompson, “That’s something you have to embrace. We embraced it last year and we learned from it. I feel like we’re in a similar situation this year, playing a team that’s coming into the playoffs hot.
“We’ve just got to trust each other and embrace this underdog role. People have taken notice of the Warriors more this year, just because of the off-season moves we made last year and the little run we made. I don’t think we’ll sneak up on anybody, but we have to embrace this underdog role.”
“We’re in a great position,” said David Lee, “We have a team that’s capable of beating the Clippers if we play our game. Not a lot of people are giving us a chance, especially short-handed, so I don’t think we have a lot to lose. I think the pressure is on those guys and we’re going to come out, we’re going to grind from the start, and be aggressive.”
“No matter who we are, what position that we’re in, everyone has the same goal and we play the game to win,” said Andre Iguodala, “So that’s our goal: win four games before anyone else.”
Even Clippers head coach remains wary. The 2009 World Champion who led the Boston Celtics to an NBA Finals victory knows that experience in advancing to the next round could play a factor.
“They know how to advance, we don’t,” said Rivers, “They’re good. They’re really good at what they do. Where they’re better than us is because they’ve been together in some ways and they know what they know is good, and they do it.”
“The great thing is, we are our habits,” Jackson added, “We prepared for this. We’re up for the challenge. We’re the underdogs. They’re an outstanding basketball team. They got the edge as far as the team. They should be the favorite. They got the edge as far as coaching. They should have the edge and now lets’roll the dice.”
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