PORTLAND – Tucked into an out-of-the-way Moda Heart closet masquerading because the visiting workforce’s interview room, Warriors coach Steve Kerr went by the customary roster updates on Friday afternoon.
Al Horford would sit out the second night time of a back-to-back. Moses Moody was wholesome sufficient to debut and would mess around 20 minutes. Jonathan Kuminga’s chemistry with Jimmy Butler was miles forward of final season’s uneasy partnership.
Then got here the questions concerning the playing scandal that has rocked the NBA.
Tiago Splitter would debut as head coach for the opposing Path Blazers on this night time, sooner or later after the FBI arrested Chauncey Billups on unlawful playing costs that linked the Corridor of Fame level guard to rigged poker video games and the mafia.
Kerr centered on Splitter’s credentials, which features a title in France’s high league, and a demeanor that impressed American coaches on the Paris Olympics in 2024.
“He thought he’d be an NBA head coach one day,” Kerr mentioned. “Obviously, nobody wants it to happen under these circumstances. But I think there’s a reason Tiago is here. He’s a very, very, very talented guy.”
Fifteen minutes prior, in a bigger room filled with reporters, cameras and microphones on the lookout for sound bites, Splitter fielded questions and did his greatest to present non-descript solutions earlier than his Blazers routed the Warriors 139-119.
“It was a tough moment, but I’ve got to do my job,” Splitter mentioned.
A query about his workforce’s morale following such an unprecedented scenario merely led to one other cliche.
“It’s life stuff that happened, and you just have to go to the next step, which is basketball, and do our job,” Splitter mentioned, later including. “Not great, but like I said, we have got to move forward, and we have got a job to do.”
So usually the focal point – each on and off the courtroom – for the previous decade, the Warriors discovered themselves a small actor within the ongoing Blazers saga.
Undefeated Golden State arrived in Oregon’s largest metropolis late Thursday night time able to play its first back-to-back of the season. There can be no shoot round.
Completely anticipated for a workforce with 4 gamers age 35 and older.
The Blazers, winless after one recreation, additionally declined to have shoot-around regardless of not enjoying the day earlier than.
Completely anticipated … for fully completely different causes.
Other than franchise legend Damien Lillard chastizing Oregon native Kevin Love over an Instagram put up, no member of the Blazers group had commented on the playing scandal.
Warriors veteran Draymond Inexperienced, no stranger to sharing his opinion, refused to feign outrage the day earlier than over the doable function that the NBA’s partnership with sportsbooks may have had on the scandal that concerned each Billups and Miami Warmth participant Terry Rozier.
“It pops up right on your phone, whether the league is a partner with the (gambling) company or not,” Inexperienced mentioned. “Ain’t changing nothing.”
On the opposite aspect, the Blazers did their greatest to behave as if it had been simply one other pregame. Matisse Thybulle dutifully signed autographs from youngsters who pined for a signature from a strong function participant.
Hansen Yang – hounded by over a dozen Chinese language media members there to chronicle his each transfer – launched jumpers whereas Mandarin pop songs blared by the world.
Nothing out of the abnormal … apart from the truth that their appearing coach was forbidden from talking to Billups, a person who’s now dealing with jail time.
“No,” was the extent of Splitter’s response to a query about whether or not he can discuss to his exiled boss.
The Blazers lopsided victory appeared, in some half, on account of their vitality.
Portland performed like a workforce that had spent a lot of the previous 48 hours bombarded by questions and scrutiny after their coach had appeared in entrance of a federal decide.
After the victory, Avdija, who scored 26 factors, expressed affection for his former coach.
“From the first player to the last staff member, we all love Chauncey. He meant a lot to me, to everybody, because he’s a great person. It really was a surprise, but at the end of the day we’re hoping the best for him, and keep moving forward,” Avdija mentioned.
Whereas Billups’ shadow will proceed to hold over Portland for the foreseeable future, the Warriors had already moved on to a much-anticipated two-day break after enjoying three video games in 4 days.
It was on to Monday’s recreation in Memphis.
“When you win, the vibes are high and everybody is feeling tgood, and when you lose a game, nobody likes that,” Steph Curry mentioned. “It’ll be a good test to bounce back and defend our home court.”
