SALT LAKE CITY — Dissing an opposing player or an opposing team or an opposing team's city like Golden State players Matt Barnes and Andre Iguodala did earlier this week, is nothing new.
But dissing your own teammates, even if it's done in an indirect way? Well, that's newsworthy.
Barnes and Iguodala caused a minor uproar in the Beehive State earlier this week when, after learning they'd be facing the Utah Jazz instead of the Los Angeles Clippers in the second round of the playoffs, they expressed disappointment and bemoaned the lack of any nightlife or anything else much fun to do during their upcoming stay in Utah.
They basically threw out the "b" word — boring — to describe life in our pretty, great state.
And on Friday afternoon, their Golden State teammate, Klay Thompson, had perhaps the shortest, sweetest and best response to any such criticism in response to a reporter's question following the Warriors' team practice at Vivint Arena.
"I always go by the saying, 'Only boring people get bored,' so I'll find something to do," said Thompson, who also pointed out "they do have good restaurants here" along with "a nice movie theater by the hotel."
Golden State's two-time league MVP, Steph Curry, brought along a "tour guide" of sorts — his father, Dell Curry, who spent his first NBA season with the Jazz in 1986-87 before going on to have a solid 16-year career.
"I brought my Dad," Steph said. "He's an old-school resident back in '86, so maybe he knows some of the spots to go to from when he played here."
SWEET MEMORIES: When the Warriors and Jazz square off Saturday night at Vivint Arena, it will mark Thompson's first playoff game in Utah.
But he's well aware of the Jazz franchise's rich postseason past.
"It'll be fun," he said. "This place has a long history of being rowdy in the playoffs, so I'm excited to experience it. I've never been here in the playoffs.
"I used to watch this team back in the '90s when they had those great runs to the Finals, so I'm excited to play in that atmosphere. It's gonna be a lot of fun. ... It'll be fun to take on this challenge tomorrow."
INJURY REPORT: Golden State's do-it-all forward, Draymond Green, went down with a knee injury in Game 2 on Tuesday night in Oakland, California, but he returned to the court later in the game.
Asked about Green's status for Game 3 on Saturday, Golden State's acting head coach, Mike Brown — taking over the reins from head coach Steve Kerr, who's been sidelined by a painful back problem — didn't hesitate to say his tough guy will definitely play.
"We listed him as 'probable,' " Brown said. "I don't know what those things mean, but in my mind, he's playing."
Brown, too, has some familiarity with the Beehive State. His brother played football at the University of Utah, and his sister played basketball at Weber State.
EMAIL: rhollis@desnews.com