Andrew Bogut and Matthew Dellavedova might be great mates but there will be little love shared between the two Australians during the NBA Finals series.
Bogut's Golden State Warriors host the first game of the best-of-seven championship series against Dellavedova's Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday (Friday AEST) at Oakland's Oracle Arena.
It is a repeat of last year's finals won by the Warriors and the Cavaliers are desperate for revenge.
"No," said Bogut firmly when asked if he has had a chat with Dellavedova in the lead-up to game one.
Dellavedova is not concerned about getting the cold shoulder, but he did note he was wary of getting hit by one of Bogut's trademark screens.
Bogut uses his 213cm tree trunk-like body as an obstacle to opposing guards like Dellavedova to give the Warriors' sharpshooters Steph Curry and Klay Thompson space and time to drop three-pointers.
"I'll just try and look out for his big screens," said Dellavedova.
There's a question mark hanging over just how much time on the court Bogut and Dellavedova will get during the best-of-seven game series.
Bogut, the Warriors' starting centre during their record 73-win regular season and through the playoffs, seems resigned to spending plenty of time on the bench as the Warriors go with a smaller, mobile lineup with power forward Draymond Green playing centre.
The strategy worked in the Warriors' 4-2 finals win last year.
"I anticipate it being a small ball series," Bogut said.
"That's fine.
"I'll have my spots in the series where I need to come out and play a role."
Dellavedova, who clocked up 40-minute games in last year's finals when Cavaliers' starting point guard Kyrie Irving fractured a knee cap in game one, is back to being a back-up.
Both teams are viewing this year's finals as an almost completely different match-up, with the Cavaliers healthy and rested after facing little resistance in the first three rounds of the playoffs.
Irving and All-Star power forward Kevin Love, who was out last year with a shoulder injury, have been in top form and team leader LeBron James is desperate to win the Cavaliers' first title.
The Cavaliers, under new head coach Tyronn Lue, have found success by following the Warriors' lead with a small ball line-up.
They leave lumbering centre Timofey Mozgov on the bench, just as the Warriors did last year.
The Cavaliers have also added athletic 211cm three-point shooter Channing Frye.
"They are dramatically different," said Warriors coach Steve Kerr, comparing this year's Cavaliers to last year's.
"Not only are they healthy they've changed their style.
"They tried to grind us to a pulp last year playing big."
Bogut and Dellavedova are both focused on the finals, but they both mentioned how keen they are to get together for the Australian Olympic team's training camp next month.
"Yeah hopefully, when I'm screening him," said Bogut, when asked if he expected to come in contact with his countryman during a game.
"We're arch enemies right now.
"We'll see enough of each other in three or four weeks once the the Olympics camp starts."
Game one is at the Warriors' Oracle Arena on Thursday (Friday 11am AEST).
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