OAKLAND – The Warriors saw the comments, heard what was said about them by the Clippers in the minutes after the Dubs outlasted Los Angeles on Christmas night.
[RECAP: Warriors knock out Clippers on Christmas]
Clippers coach Doc Rivers implied the Warriors made a calculated effort to go beyond basketball and into wrestling. Clippers forward Blake Griffin accused the Warriors of “cowardly, cowardly'' actions.
The response from the Warriors practice facility on Thursday was, in essence, that the tougher team won. As for the losing team, well, shut up and play.
“We did whatever it took to win the game,'' said center Andrew Bogut, who was involved in two scuffles, one leading to Griffin's fourth-quarter ejection – automatic after two technical fouls – and the other involving star point guard Chris Paul after the final buzzer.
“We made the big plays toward the end. Everyone's entitled to their opinion and their comments. We're not really affected by that. We'd rather be called cowards and come out with a win.''
[POOLE: Rewind: W's show toughness, set up rivalry with Clippers]
Forward Draymond Green, who was ejected at the end of the third quarter for throwing an elbow at Griffin and fined $15,000 on Thursday, also stayed with the company line.
“It was a tough division game,'' Green said. “That's one of the things that happen in a tough game, when you have two good teams playing against each other. We were able to come out with the win. We did the necessary things, made the necessary plays to come out with the win.
“It's a big win for us. If they would have won that game, it would have been a big win for them.''
The Warriors did not wish to comment after learning the NBA office on Thursday issued a statement to the Clippers and Griffin, saying he did not deserve to be ejected.
