Gary Payton II will play basketball tonight. How many minutes will Steve Kerr play him? “He need me, he got me,” quipped Payton at morning shootaround before the Golden State Warriors take on the Orlando Magic at Amway Center tonight. More takeaways:
• Draymond Green is expected to play 28-30 minutes tonight. Kerr joked, “if he doesn’t get ejected.” The previous maximum was 28.
• Kerr said the team didn’t follow the defensive game plan at the start of the game against the San Antonio Spurs, who got an uncontested dunk on the opening possession after winning the tip. Game plan discipline “is what the playoffs are all about,” said Kerr.
• It hasn’t been decided yet if Klay Thompson (and other vets who have sat out one end of back-to-backs) will sit tomorrow. They’ll make a decision based on what happens in the game tonight.
Transcripts are below 👇 plus I have bonus quotes from when GP2 last talked to media, after practice on Tuesday, March 15, the day before the loss to the Boston Celtics. Here’s the video version:
We’ll be doing another giveaway tonight on chat on our YouTube channel, and I’ll also pick a winner from our paid subscribers during the livestream as well, so we’re back underway on that front. There are a ton of prizes to give away. I literally have Google Drive folders showing pictures of all the swag, bubbleheads, and other paraphernalia.
STEVE FROM ORL AM SHOOTAROUND
• Gary: “Gary’s playing, yes.”
• What do you hope to see from Gary after eight games missed? “…gives us a lot of energy…great defense and his ability to score in transition in different ways than our other guys, it gives us a different look…”
• Resting Klay on back to backs: “We haven’t made any decisions about tomorrow yet. We’re playing this game, we’re gonna see how the game goes, then we’ll make decisions after the game.”
• Haven’t ruled him out of playing both sides of the back to back yet? “Nothing is ruled out, nothing is set in stone…”
• Watching standings? “…My number one concern is to help our team play at the best of our potential.”
• Draymond still play 28 minutes? “Hopefully, if he doesn’t get ejected we’d like to see him up to 28-30, somewhere in that range…”
• Areas of adjustment: “Just game plan discipline…watching the tape, we give up a dunk for seconds into the game…on a blown game plan coverage play that we go over, just sets a tone. We have to be dialed into what the strategy is, what we’re trying to accomplish defensively and that’ll help us get off to better starts and build some confidence…”
• How to start the game with a sense of urgency: “By locking in…playing tendencies, playing percentages. If a guy is a driver, make him a shooter…decisions that have to be made in the heart of the moment but that’s the whole game. That’s what the playoffs are all about…”
GP2 FROM AM SHOOTAROUND
• How’s it feel to finally be off the list? “We’re back. Ready to go.”
• What are your contributions? “Defending…fill in on the offensive side, wherever I need to be, corner dunker…”
• How hard has it being out? “Just been frustrating. Get back here try to clean up what we’ve needed to clean up the last couple weeks…I have been waiting and wanting to get back…”
• No Steph: “Do what I do normally. Being defensive energy. We still have play makers on the floor…create for others, so just adjust to my teammates…”
• Hardest part of being out? “Watching…”
• Do you know how many minutes you’ll be playing? “If he need me, he got me.”
STEVE FROM PRACTICE TUE 3/15
• This juncture, are you in a good spot? “…won four in a row so we’re back feeling good about things…we have to take advantage of these thirteen games to clean up…we’re not ready yet for the playoffs…multiple errors especially defensively, transition, giving up offensive boards, giving up back cuts…can’t get away with those things…these last thirteen games are really important execution wise.”
• What has Andre provided? “Basically another coach…right with them in the locker room… he’s got their respect…when you guard Kyle Kuzma, the guys know…
• Draymond said Kuminga needs to go to screening school: “…he’s so powerful and athletic that if he sets a good screen and rolls…pull the defense in from the realize which will open up a three pointer…so much to learn, so much potential. It’s not just screening school, I’d help side defense school, box out school.”
• When players teach players: “…hard for young guys to listen to other young guys…I like the roster…built in mentors
• Haven’t played with a full squad: “…can’t count on anything like that…so what you can each day…pick matchups…Number of guys…who can conceivably play a role against one opponent…hallmark here…Nick Young…JaVale…Patrick McCaw…David West…Zaza…willing to accept the games where things don’t go their way and…where the their number is called.”
• Draymond interior defense: “…greatest defenders of all time. There’s an immediate difference …accountability…you can feel his presence…Loon and Draymond behind the play…”
• If Draymond were healthy: “JK would not have played as much…there’s always a silver lining…we’re gonna need him in the playoffs…”
• Timeline for Andre? “No.”
• Draymond and Klay saying Championship, tricky time of year? “I always equate it to a horse turning back towards the barn…the pick up the pace…sense the finish line, the sense the playoffs come so there’sa little bounce in their step…past the dog days…have to take advantage …we’ve gotta get better.”
• Wiggins and Payton: “Maybe Wiggs…”
• Will Steph Klay Poole change defenses? “Yeah that’s the whole point…knowing the way Milwaukee…has guarded Steph specifically…we thought we had to have another play maker on the floor…defenses that kinda junk it up…how Memphis guarded us in the play in game last year…we’ve seen enough that we know teams are gonna try to take away some of our pet actions …Jordan’s out there with them…”
• Chase Center becoming what Oracle was? “I don’t think you can ever compare arenas…we’ve always had great fans in this franchise’s history…they’re just different based on when they were built. The noise level…this one is becoming more and more our home…
• Question on Arizona University coach
• What did you like most from winning streak? “…our offense. Or defense is still a work in progress…our offense has really clicked…Ten our twenty games we’re number one in offensive efficiency…
GP2 FROM PRACTICE TUE 3/15
• Draymond: “…make it easier for Steph and Klay…just being Draymond…”
• Injury: “Just day to day. Working at it to get it right…if I’m able to sit down and guard…yeah it’s my knee.”
• Injury: “…frustrating not being out there with my teammates…gonna be like I never left.”
• How will you fit in? “Just like the beginning of the season…I’m there to pickup 94…I’m not worried about the offensive side…cutting…I got their back on defense.”
• Does Draymond help your defense? “…talks to us…every possession…telling us where to send him and where the help is…raises everybody else’s IQ…”
• Draymond advice: “ …don’t stop…”
• Wiseman: “…Jimmy Wise he gonna be him…just playing basketball again…”
• Community Assist Award
• Andre: “Same presence as Draymond. Vocal defensive leader. He’s seen everything…knows where guys are supposed to be…quarterback in a sense…another set of eyes…”
• Injury was in Dallas? “…play right before halftime on my knee and it just felt weird…”
• Swelling? “…It’s just a little soreness…moving defensively…”
• Contact? “…one on one…”
• Ready? “…improving every day…comfortable…”
• Keys to team success: “Staff and the front office did an amazing job putting different play makers…one through fifteen…hard for other teams to game plan for us…everybody has to step up.”
🤙🤙💛💙