As cool as it is that the Golden State Warriors are going to be spending the next week or so in China, not every Warrior sees it as a good thing for the team. New wing man Andre Iguodala is worried about the effects a long trip like this one might have on the team going forward. From Rusty Simmons of the SF Chronicle:
“I don’t know, man. I’ve got mixed feelings,” Iguodala said. “I’ve been in training camps overseas, and it’s not always enjoyable. We’ll get an opportunity to see the world and meet some great fans in Asia, but you’ve got to man up and remember to get your work done.”
Those camps spent in other countries with the Philadelphia 76ers ended up leading to disappointing regular seasons for Iguodala, so he’s got reason to be concerned. He’s not the only one that wonders what a strenuous trip and a 15-hour time difference could do to a team that is still trying to find its rhythm.
Joe Lacob also thought a trip in the middle of training camp brought a lot of questions:
“I’m a little concerned, because we haven’t played very well – maybe a little bit in the home win – and we haven’t been through a trip like this before,” owner Joe Lacob said. “This is right in the middle of training camp, and one could make the argument that maybe we would do this toward the beginning of camp next year. We won’t know until we go through it.”
The thing everyone also knows, is that a trip like this can also do wonders for team chemistry. Trips like the one to the Great Wall today will help bring the players together, as David Lee said:
“Hitting the road is the easiest way to bond with the guys,” power forward David Lee said. “Just having team meals, getting on the plane and playing some cards, traveling and having a few laughs with the guys are ways to catch up with everybody and get everybody on the same page.
“This trip is going to be very taxing to our bodies, but it’s really going to help our chemistry. We had the best chemistry in the league last year, and that’s why we got the most out of our team. We plan on doing that again this year.”
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