San Francisco Chronicle

Warriors lagging in a key area: drama

- SCOTT OSTLER Scott Ostler is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. Email: sostler@sfchronicl­e.com Twitter: @scottostle­r

What’s wrong with the Warriors?

They are barely two months into savoring their second NBA title in three seasons, and inside sources tell me there is already an ominous lack of resentment brewing between the various stars.

Warriors fans, instead of enjoying the enthrallin­g theater in which Cleveland Cavaliers fans are wallowing hip-deep, have to be content with wondering whether Klay and Rocco are still enjoying their walks, and whether Steph will make the cut at this week’s golf tourney.

In Cleveland, Kyrie Irving’s camp is mad at LeBron James’ camp because Kyrie’s camp believes LeBron’s camp leaked word that Kyrie asked to be traded.

“It’s sad,” one knowledgea­ble source said. “The Warriors don’t even have camps. If you mention ‘camp’ to Kevin Durant, he’ll volunteer to bring the s’mores.”

All over the NBA, it’s about camps and drama. Cleveland is Broadway right now, with the team’s two megastars not even on texting terms. Power duo James and Irving will probably require separate team buses next season, maybe separate locker rooms.

Meanwhile, the Warriors’ offseason intrigue would make a more boring reality show than “The Real Housewives of Antioch.”

Some say it’s an immaturity issue, that the Warriors haven’t developed their theatrical side.

“You see it sometimes with a team that’s winning too much,” one league source said. “The players become hyper-focused on playing together and lose sight of the big picture, that there’s much more to basketball than basketball. It’s something a team can slip into without realizing it. Turmoil and tension require work. Players get lazy and their ‘camp’ muscles atrophy.”

The Warriors need a leader, someone to push them to explore their dramatic side, to help them realize that character is forged in the crucible of conflict and social-media namecallin­g.

Often the coach can serve as the spiritual guide, encouragin­g players to break into factions, fostering creative tension. I tried to reach Steve Kerr to ask him the tough questions about his team’s ominous tranquilli­ty, but he was away at a yoga retreat.

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