The Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers need to meet in the playoffs again. There is actual animosity between these two teams, rare in a league that could do with some more real rivalries. Golden State forward Draymond Green told Grantland's Jonathan Abrams that he strongly dislikes the Clippers, and he surely spoke for other players around the NBA when he explained his reasoning:
“They have a cocky arrogance, like they've won something, and they haven't done nothing,” Green said. “They pretty much been to the same spot in the playoffs we've been to. But they have this cockiness like you're supposed to bow down to them. They ain't proved nothing. They ain't earned nothing. What respect have you earned?”
But couldn't any Clippers player say the same thing about Green?
“I wouldn't say that, because I don't expect anybody to bow down to me,” Green said. “Nor do I expect you to respect me. I'm going to earn your respect. When it's all said and done, you'll respect me and our team.”
Los Angeles is not the most popular team for this very reason, but few players dare to go on record with this kind of thing. Green, though, is a different kind of guy. His willingness to talk trash on and off the court has made following the Warriors endlessly interesting. And you can be sure word will get back to the Clippers about this faster than you can say, "Cool story, Glenn."
Golden State is going to be the top seed in the West, and Los Angeles is currently in the fifth spot. If you're hoping for a rematch in the second round, then you have to hope the San Antonio Spurs don't catch the Clippers. The champs are in sixth place, only half a game back. Every Western Conference series is going to be good, but please, please, let us have this.
