LOS ANGELES – The Warriors didn’t like what they put out on the floor Tuesday night, and they were no less pleased at how the Clippers went about their business.
Though most Warriors either bit their tongues or kept their frankest comments “off the record,” veteran guard Shaun Livingston, a former Clipper, was too bothered to keep quiet about some of the things that took place in a 130-95 preseason loss at Staples Center.
“They were out there talking. If they want to talk, we want to talk,” Livingston told CSNBayArea.com. “We’re not going to just back down. They’re up 20 and talking, up 30 and still talking.
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“It is what is. It’s the game. But just play the game. That’s all.”
Normally among the mellower players in the NBA, Livingston felt pushed to the edge not only by what was being said but also by the physical hijinks of Clippers star Blake Griffin. Livingston was particularly annoyed that Griffin was so animated during a preseason game.
“He’s going with all these antics; just play,” Livingston said. “He’s out here wrapping me up, putting elbows to my forehead. Ok. I understand. Don’t get me wrong. They want to beat us.
“That’s just what you have to deal with. I see it. I recognize it.”
Golden State Warriors
[INSTANT REPLAY: Shorthanded Warriors clobbered by Clippers]
Livingston is not averse to reminding younger players – opponents or teammates – of his 12-year tenure in the league. He has been through mental and physical anguish at levels beyond what most players will ever know.
Which made it all the more galling that Griffin – who was called for one of five technical fouls called against the Clippers – would resort to what Livingston clearly considered cheap shots and gratuitous roughhousing.
“I’ve got 12 years in this thing, and you’re out here trying to throw elbows at me and wrap me up and do all that,” Livingston said. “That makes no sense to me. Just play and you don’t have to do all of that. You’re big enough and strong enough that you can just box me out without doing all of that.”
Livingston, who started at point guard in place of a resting Steph Curry, is 6-foot-7, 185 pounds. Griffin is 6-10, 251. Griffin has a history of tangling up with an assortment of Warriors, as well as players from other teams.
The entire evening, however, got under Livingston’s skin and has him eager for the next meeting between the teams. That will be on Nov. 4, when the Clippers come to Oracle Arena for a regular season game.
“I’m going to be right there in the foxhole,” Livingston said. “It’s going to be everything that it’s built up to be, as far as the energy. Now we know that it’s put up or shut up.”