The Golden State Warriors had their final full practice in Oakland today before the Finals start on Thursday.
It’s been a week since the Warriors clinched their fifth straight trip to the NBA Finals, and now three days until game one tips in Toronto.
For a team that’s become almost accustomed to playing this time of year, that location is the big difference.
This is the first time in this historic finals streak that the Warriors are facing a team in the finals not named the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“Well it’s different, on the other hand, that was the exception, this is more the rule when you play you go deep in the finals, or into the playoffs and into the finals, you’re not supposed to play the same team every year. So that was a special era, special rivalry, and we’re thrilled to be back,” Steve Kerr said.
“Starting on the road, that sense of urgency, right, something different, we haven’t done the last 4, 5 years, being the top seed now, starting the finals, something new for us, it’s a challenge that we haven’t we had to face yet, so it’s good for us,” Shaun Livingston said.
“Different energy, different city, different views, everything. Should prepare us to lock in, understand that we have a prime opportunity to start off this finals series on the road and get a win, and set the tone for how it’s gonna be, so I like the challenge, and the unfamiliarity of this kind of schedule and flow, and we’ve been there before and we’ve experienced a lot, and I think this is something that we’re capable of doing,” Steph Curry said.
Both Steve Kerr and Shaun Livingston said that Scotiabank Arena is about as loud and rowdy as it gets — Kerr even compared the atmosphere to the one at Oracle Arena.
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