Brown: Lue thinking Celtics harder to guard than Warriors is 'cute'

The Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers have circled one another in a silent detente ever since last year's Finals, but the tension is starting to bubble over.

Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue, still yet to dispose of the pesky Boston Celtics, paid his Eastern Conference opponent a compliment by saying their offense was harder to guard than that of the Warriors. The comment was made in explaining how the Celtics were unpredictable in the absence of Isaiah Thomas.

Nevertheless, word got back to the Warriors, and associate head coach Mike Brown couldn't resist a dig at his former organization.

"That's his opinion," Brown said of Lue, according to ESPN's Chris Haynes. "It's cute."

With or without Thomas, the Warriors are a more difficult defensive matchup than any Celtics lineup. Golden State ranks second to only Cleveland in offensive rating throughout the postseason with both Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant firing on all cylinders through their unbeaten run.

Both coaches' comments might provide some bulletin-board material ahead of their likely Finals matchup.