Unnamed Cavs found Steph Curry’s ‘champagne’ talk ‘disrespectful’
When asked if he was looking forward to playing the Cavaliers in Cleveland for the first time since winning the NBA’s 2015 title, Golden State Warriors point guard and reigning MVP Stephen Curry offered a typically witty and understandable response:
“Obviously, walking in the locker room, it’ll be good memories,” Curry said Sunday. “Hopefully, it still smells a little bit like champagne.”
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The Warriors earned the right to paint the visiting locker room walls with champagne last June, taking down the Cavs in six games, just as the 2007 San Antonio Spurs earned the same season-ending sip of bubbly in the same building.
One member of the Cavs – we’re not sure if we’re talking player or coach or the whole damn squad – decided to get all anonymously snotty about the remark. From Chris Haynes at Cleveland.com:
Sources are telling cleveland.com that members of the Cavaliers have taken exception to the quote and viewed it as “disrespectful.”
When LeBron James finished up his media address after shootaround this morning, he walked away asking reporters why no one asked him about Curry’s comments. He said he had an answer for it.
Oh bloody hell.
Weirdly, Curry had to offer a mini-apology (we think?) of sorts on Twitter after the “champagne” quote made the rounds over the weekend:
This makes absolutely no sense. Cleveland is still smarting from working through the Finals with one hand tied behind its back, as Kevin Love missed the whole series and Kyrie Irving was out for the final five games, and they’re right to believe that they have the best chance (of any team in the East, at least) of knocking the 37-4 W’s off of their particular throne come June.
There’s absolutely nothing disrespectful about hoping a visiting locker room – in the middle of a chilly January road trip – still smells of the skunked champagne that was there last time you visited. The Warriors took the title belt before moving on to win 37 of its first 41 games to start the season, and they have all the reason in the world to put on airs. Deserved airs.
Secondly, what’s wrong with enjoying a nice recollection or two? Of when your cheeks hurt from smiling so much? Of when you made it to the pinnacle of your profession, in front of friends, family, and a national TV audience? The culmination of not only nine months and 103 games’ worth of work, but a lifetime of preparation?
Who wouldn’t want to have that sort of sense memory?
The (again, unnamed) Cavs are well within their right to collect every bit of bulletin board material they need. They had this date and Christmas Day circled on the calendar back in August, hoping for a shot to prove that Golden State’s only advantage from last June was full health and little else. You need an extra bit of behind the scenes mean-mugging to get you up for a game like this? Go ahead.
This ain’t “disrespectful,” though. You want respect? Defend your home court, and tie things up next June.
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Kelly Dwyer is an editor for Ball Don’t Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @KDonhoops
