3:00 AM
The Golden State Warriors are frustrated as they prepare to play the Phoenix Suns on Christmas Day. They were on the road for the second year in a row during the NBA's biggest regular-season showcase day.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr likes to play on Christmas. It's exciting. I like playing on Christmas. You can still have a good Christmas morning with the kids and go to the arena later. Being in the NBA is part of being on the road for Christmas.
I think there should be a rule in the NBA that you can't be on the road for two years in a row. Making that clear. We were in Milwaukee last year, and this year we'll be in Phoenix.
Kerr said he was confident that they would be at home for Christmas next year. We will either protest or not show up.
Warriors forward Draymond Green echoed Kerr's suggestion that teams shouldn't have to play Christmas road games in back-to-back years, saying that it's difficult for players to be away from their family on the holiday. The Warriors have played on Christmas for the ninth straight season.
The league will change how many years a team can be on the road, and players and coaches hope that will be the case.
Green said after the game that he thought it was legit. I have three children, a 7-year-old, a 5-year-old and a 1-year-old. I would like to spend some time at home with my kids. We are not playing against a champion. We're not playing against a defending champion. It's a bit frustrating to have to go on the road for a second year in a row. I will miss my daughter's first Christmas and her second. It's kind of fucked up. It's the reality. We're faced with that.
We're also human beings, so you have to go do your job. I missed her first one and she missed her second one. I can't tell her that. It sucks. We're not machines. We're actual human beings with feelings.
Stephen Curry said he would be in favor of the league implementing a new rule that would allow teams to stay at home for Christmas at least every other year.
Curry said that playing on Christmas means you're one of the marquee teams. The NBA puts in who they put in those slots. It's weird because I have three kids and how special a day and weekend it is, so you're trying to balance being present with them and doing a job and playing a game and staying focused on that.
We've played on Christmas for nine years in a row. That means you're doing something good, so you have to take the good with the bad.
Green expects his team to raise its level of play because of the spotlight and platform the Christmas stage provides.
The intensity on a Christmas Day game is higher because it is a big game. Everyone at home is watching. Everyone is at home. On Christmas Day, there's nothing open. It's one of the biggest regular-season games of the year because everyone is watching it at home. The intensity is going to be increased even more. It will be difficult to get a win against a good Phoenix team in their building. I expect us to do that, because it's the task we're faced with.
