My livestream co-host Dean “of Positivity” Chambers last week first introduced the notion of the Warriors-Lakers matchup tonight being the like Game 7 we never got last year in the Western Conference Semifinals. And, you never know, it could end up with Golden State the hottest team in the NBA with world-beater momentum.
But everything requires them to beat LA in LA tonight, and then win out. Their remaining three games are, to close out the season, at Portland, a back-to-back against New Orleans but at Chase Center, and then Utah back at Chase.
Meanwhile, if the Pelicans can prove they are indeed better than the Kings and Lakers this season, as it currently shows in the standings, then GSW could make a run and maybe steal the 8th seed.
The Kings play at OKC tonight, then have the Pelicans and the Suns at home in Sacramento on a back-to-back, followed by Portland at home still, after that. The Lakers go on the road to finish out in Memphis and New Orleans after tonight. Meanwhile, the Pels and Suns, by all accounts, should stay motivated to win their games, as the sixth seed and avoiding the play-in for them is on the line.
If both SAC and LAL are beaten by NOP, and somehow SAC loses to both OKC and PHX, while the Warriors win out, then the Warriors finish 47-35, good for 8th and a first play-in game at NOP or PHX, with SAC and LAL at 46-36 in 9th and 10th.
That would be a “steal of the century” in terms of the play-in. If that happened, our squad would be rolling into that 7th vs 8th play-game like world-beaters, not only on a four-game win streak, but also pulling off a playoff heist by lingering in 11th or 10th all season, only to move up a couple slots to 8th in the final week of the regular season.
A lot has to happen, namely the unthinkable three losses in the last four games for the Kings, but then again by W-L record, the Thunder and Pelicans are supposed to win all those games. The TV pundits can’t be picking New Orleans as their darkhorse Western Conference Finals rep and at the same time not predict the Pels to beat SAC and LAL with the sixth seed on the line, again, for their darkhorse. Of course, these pundits also won’t be picking the Warriors to beat New Orleans on the second night of a back-to-back coming up, even if it is a road game for the Pels. So that one, again, the Warrior win, then they deserve the reward.
Normally I put writing on this website as secondary to uploading videos onto our YouTube channel, but the in-arena behind-the-scenes clips from the Utah win will have to wait — which includes an off-day autograph signing with Trayce Jackson-Davis and Andrew Wiggins at his daughter’s 3rd birthday party at International Smoke restaurant (rented out during the day time), chatting it up with Gary Payton II and Juan Toscano-Anderson (here’s one pic; I’m still hoping to do a DubNation Digest of off-the-court happenings, soon):
Tonight’s game is just too big not to write about, even before any YouTube uploads. Join us for the ManningCast livestream!
Below are all the transcripts from the win over the Jazz, including Steve Kerr stating he’ll stick with TJD as the starting center alongside Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga saying he doesn’t mind coming off the bench if need be, Kerr mentioning that Kuminga is learning how to take better care of his body, which may have led to the seemingly sudden surprise of missing six straight games, Brandin Podziemski endorsing Trayce for one of the All-Rookie teams, and Klay Thompson mentioning the team had an inflection point after “beach day” in Miami last month.
As for Kuminga off the bench or not, I think it will vary based on matchups, especially for important games like tonight, the play-in and, if any, the playoffs, but Wiggins has been the main guy they’ve missed. He was the missing piece when Tim Hardaway, Jr. turned the corner on Klay in Dallas and got the ball to PJ Washington at the rim on the Mavs’ last possession. I’ve said before on the livestreams that this team isn’t going anywhere without Wiggins’ defense and here are some analytics backing that up:
Wiggins’ defense vs various stars this year in terms of their FG/FGA: Luka Doncic 5/16, Anthony Edwards 7/21, Lauri Markkanen 2/14, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 5/12, De’Aaron Fox 6/15, Donovan Mitchell 5/12, Cade Cunningham 0/6, LeBron James 3/9, Tyrese Haliburton 1/3.
Incidentally, our behind-the-scenes video revealed that Draymond was wide open underneath the hoop before the buzzer sounded, but I totally understand that going to overtime in Dallas, especially on a back-to-back after Houston, wasn’t really all that practical for the old guys. Klay will make that buzzer-beater 39 times out of 100, and those chances are acceptable considering both teams were not at full strength and who knows what will happen.
I’m still hoping to do a dedicated post on the “Stephen Curry Effect” on the road, in due time. All the bts videos are here.
Back to the Jazz win and Klay, I’m told that he was not happy postgame and some of that may have been evident on the podium, despite the much-needed 32-point killer performance especially on a Curry rest day. The info I have is very vague, but I wouldn’t discount the notion, as brought to my attention by a member of the livechat, that certain Warriors media (also typical fans on Xitter, no doubt) poo-poo’ed the GSW social media team’s post of clinching the 10th seed and Klay got wind of that.
Some dots would certainly connect considering Klay said (see transcripts below), “We get a chance to compete in the postseason and I’m very grateful for that because there was a time where the Warriors made the postseason once in 18 years. So I hope people can be grateful for that, that we have a chance to chase greatness,” but again, I can only say with maybe 51% confidence that there were some locker room rumblings about the above.
Also be sure to check out Kerr’s response to chasing John Stockton and Jeff Hornacek around split-cuts back in the day, which is the basis of the actions that Steph and Dray run nowadays, at the end of the pregame transcript, way below.
 What do you think of Kuminga in his first game back? And what kind of went into the decision to bring him off the bench?
STEVE KERR POSTGAME UTA-GSW: “Yeah, JK did a great job tonight. He looked bouncy and strong, and I watched him work out yesterday. He got a great workout in and the decision to start Brandin was based on combinations, with Steph out and Draymond, we want to keep starting Draymond and Trayce for defensive reasons. And so it felt like a better combination if we started Brandin and brought Jonathan off the bench.”
You said there’s a chance that Kuminga is on the bench. I mean, when you can sub in he and Moody and then Payton, do you like that kind of, I don’t know, a change of pace, that athleticism, you can just kind of change the game a little bit with those?
“Yeah, I mean, bringing Jonathan off the bench and watching him run the floor and attack the rim, that’s a great, dynamic to have off the bench, but we have to, when Steph is back, we’ve got to find exactly how we want to do this because we really felt good about JK starting, for about 30 straight games, with Draymond at the five, but given what’s happened over the last couple of weeks, I want to keep starting Trayce. So if JK is coming off the bench and he plays the way he did tonight, then great. So we’ll figure it out.”
Steve, how much did Klay getting in an early rhythm really give you guys some momentum?
“Yeah, he was amazing. I thought early on, the ball was moving well and he had some tough shots too, but he got some open ones and second quarter, not quite the same. We didn’t move the ball as well, but Klay’s shot-making really helped us get that lead.”
You played Chris Paul 35 minutes. Is that the plan or was it just going well?
“No, I wanted to play him the first maybe three minutes of the fourth quarter. I’m going to try to keep him around 29 or 30. But they won the first six minutes of the quarter 18-10 with Klay and Chris on the floor. So the plan was to extend the lead with those guys, get them rest. But at that point, it’s a 12-point game. I’m not taking them out. So Chris played a little more than I wanted him to play…”
Coach, you guys have like a pretty tight schedule coming up with the plan and potentially, playoffs. Do the conversations now change in the locker room or do you guys just keep the same conversation?
“Well, we always talk to the team about what’s happening in the standings, playoff stuff. I know the players talk about that stuff on their own, but we always make sure we mention it as a team. So the guys are really clear about what we’re fighting for and what we’re trying to do. So, yeah, it’s going to be very interesting. Four games left and lots of different possibilities. We just got to keep winning.”
It looked like Draymond went to the locker room for a bit there. Was he available in the fourth quarter?
“He was available. Yeah.”
Was he dealing with a little lower back thing?
“Yeah, he went in to have his back checked. He said he was fine.”
Steph, obviously you rested him today because you’ve seen the fatigue in him lately. Where do you see fatigue in Steph? Like, when you feel like he’s tired, like, where does it show in his game?
“I think in his movement a little bit, maybe his judgment. I thought he looked good in Houston and Dallas. but yeah. Before that, I thought he just looked like he wasn’t moving quite as fluidly and so with Steph it’s important to get him a rest, not just for his legs, but just for his mind, keep him fresh. And so taking the day off today was, I think, a big deal for him. He just looked relaxed. He enjoyed himself on the bench with his teammates tonight, and I know this will do him some good.”
Steve, the concept of starting Trayce and that allowing Draymond to be kind of the center fielder and stuff, when did that light bulb go on? When did that start clicking?
“Well, it’s something we’ve done in the past. Obviously, we’ve started Draymond and Loon together for years. And before that, there was a series of centers who we played next to Draymond. So Bogut, David West at times, JaVale McGee, Loon. So, really good thing to do. We prefer to do that. But we really struggled with that group with Loon and Draymond and Wiggs, Steph, Klay out of the gate. That was the best lineup in the league last year, and we gave it 25 games and we just couldn’t get there. And so over the next 30 games or so, we were really searching and trying different things, and so we didn’t really get to it until when we did.”
Random question. Does anybody have more fun playing basketball than Gary Payton?
“Maybe Steph, but it’s close. Yeah, I love watching Gary play. There’s an energy about him. He also just knows he makes the right play, constantly catching the ball, swinging it immediately. He understands the importance of that type of action. And then the way he can dive and finish at the rim. He’s a terrific player. And then, I thought Loon was great tonight. He’s been out of the rotation quite a bit. And I hated ending his consecutive game streak. It was awful. But we did what we needed to do, to try to get the team going. And of course, Loon being the professional he is, he just kept going and now he’s played the last five games. He is a plus-23 and 13 minutes tonight. I mean, this is who he is. He’s the ultimate pro and winner and love that guy. So really fun to see him out there. He never got mad at you. I’m sure he was mad at me, but he hid it well.”
Lakers are down 15 at the half right now. If they do lose, you would control your own destiny against them. Tuesday’s game, obviously pretty massive. Like how big, if the tiebreaker is on the line and you do control your own destiny, how big do you view that game? And how big do you view the difference between 9 and 10 potentially with a playoff game?
“Yeah, I don’t know. We’re a better road team than a home team this year, but there’s so many scenarios, it seems like with Phoenix and I know Phoenix lost tonight and with New Orleans, Sacramento, we’re all kind of right there, but the Dallas game hurt for us because if we could have pulled that one off, I think we had a shot to even climb up to, 7 or 8 and so we’re still behind the eight ball a little bit and we’re just going to keep trying to win and we’ll see what happens.
Steve, how valuable is it to be able to switch Trayce and Brandin in particular in and out of starting roles, especially given how young they are, how early it is in their pro career?
“Yeah, it’s not often that you can start a couple of rookies and feel good about it. So these guys are wise beyond their years… And Trayce has a ton of college experience behind him that helped prepare him for this. Brandin doesn’t, but just seems to have a natural feel for the game. And both guys have been fantastic this year and our front office really nailed the draft, and it’s fun to see them developing and watching JK, and Moses are young guys. It’s been a really good year for the growth of the young talent.”
You mentioned a few times a couple weeks ago that you could feel a good run coming, who knows, a 10-game winning streak is out there. Maybe some people rolled their eyes a little bit about that, maybe, but is this what you’re saying? Or do you feel there’s better play out there for your team?
“I mean, tonight wasn’t a fair fight. I mean, they were missing all their guys and I give Utah a lot of credit because they hung in till the end and played really hard. But I think that the totality of the last few weeks, I mean, you’re seeing what we’re capable of. I think we’ve won seven out of eight, I think we have a shot to really close it out with four straight wins, maybe. I mean, if you do that and you went 11 out of 12, 10 out of 12, something like that, that’s the kind of run that I’ve been talking about. So I do feel like we’re kind of playing the way I expected us to. And we found a pretty good rhythm. Problem, of course, is the West is just loaded this year. We’re going to probably end up with a better record than last year…”
That’s what I was gonna ask you. I mean, you end up with a better record. Are you a better team than last season?
“Oh, yeah. Yeah, we’re definitely a better team. Better two-way basketball. Better. I think connection, better chemistry. There’s a much better vibe with this team. So I still believe firmly that we can do something special. Obviously, it’s gonna be a lot harder than it normally would. We’re gonna have to win at least one, probably two, play-in games and that’s not easy. But if we can get a chance, I like this group’s chances.”
Steve, back to Brandin real quick. When did you maybe notice his attention to detail? And not necessarily just on the court, but before the game, he walked up and said, ‘Hi, Scott, how are you?’ Just little things like that.
“Just thoughtfulness, attention to detail. He’s a rookie. I guess maybe if he were five years in or two years in, but those kinds of things matter. Give him time. He’ll know not to say hi to Scott (jokes). Once he gets some experience, he’s a really bright kid. He’s a great young guy and he loves the game. Some players, the game just comes naturally and you can see that the game is comfortable for him. And he’s also comfortable off the floor; he’s just very confident and loves coming in here every day and, apparently, enjoy seeing Scott, too.”
Obviously, there’s been a lot of winning going on. But how do you think the team is playing overall right in this moment?
BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: “I think we’re playing really well. Obviously, we lost last game, but we haven’t been completely healthy. So we just been finding ways to win right now, but hopefully we can get — I know Steph will be back — but Wiggs back soon. But I think we’re playing really well, offensively especially. We’re sharing the ball. It’s not sticking up there and we’re just playing together, having fun.”
How was it having JK back tonight?
“Oh, it was amazing. I’d assume when Steph comes back and Wiggs comes back, they’ll go back to the original starting lineup… So it’ll be fun to have me, Chris and Jonathan coming off the bench together. That’s what happens. But he’s so athletic and impacts the game, you know, so much force. It’s easy to play with him.”
Brandin, what’s the mindset of the team with just four games left? As well as you guys have been playing, you’re stuck in 10th place still and kind of treading water there. I mean, what’s the mindset looking at what’s ahead of you this coming week?
“Yeah, it’s controlling what we can control, which is going 4-0. Obviously, we have a chance to play the Lakers and the Pelicans who are ahead of us. And I believe Pelicans play the Kings as well. Lakers played tonight against Minnesota. So if we control, we can control, go 4-0 puts us in pretty good shape too, get above that 10-seed.”
Apart from the preparation with the team for these next four games that are really important, what is your preparation like, apart from the gym, apart from the videos? You by yourself in your room or at the gym by yourself, what’s your preparation like?
“Yeah, I think for me, just continuing to be solid, always watching my matchups, who have my guard. I know Tuesday I’ll probably guard a lot of D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, so just getting ready for that. And then for me offensively, I feel like everything just comes naturally to me. So, for me, it’s more defensively and how I can impact the game. But then yeah, just taking care of your body.”
You mentioned that second unit with you, Chris, and JK. What do you think would be the pros and cons of that combination?
“I only like to think of the pros, but I think we can play fast, but there’s also a good mix of Chris playing how he plays in the half court, getting JK his touches, where he likes the ball, and I think when you put a combination of that, it bodes well for us.”
I know guys like to have defined roles and it’s always fun, kind of better to be a starter, I guess. But do you and Chris and Kuminga pride yourselves on being able to kind of do both?
“Yeah, I think for me, I think I’m just happy that I’m playing. Obviously this organization in the past didn’t really play rookies and I’m playing close to 30 minutes a night. So just to have that, no matter if I’m starting, coming off the bench, I’m just happy that I’m playing. And I think as a rookie, that’s your job to be able to adapt to whatever situation you’re put in, and for the most part, we haven’t had a set starting lineup this year. So everybody’s kind of had to make changes to what they’re accustomed to. And we’ve done that for the most part. We’ve had a really good record since the All-Star break.”
You guys rested Steph tonight. Obviously, Steve felt he could see, like, Steph kind of have a relaxing night. I mean, did you see that? And just as a player, how much — beyond just sometimes you can limit a guy’s minutes — but when you know you’re not playing for a full day, how much more of an off-day is that?
“Yeah, I think it’s super-beneficial for Steph. Obviously, with the passing of Coach Deki and rescheduling the game, we haven’t had a stretch where we’ve had two days off. So it’s either been back-to-back or every other night and for him carrying the load how he does, I think it’s super-beneficial for him to get another couple days off so he’s ready to go for this playoff push. But yeah, I think for me, I missed two games, Boston and Toronto. The feeling when you come back and you haven’t played in a while, you feel refreshed and ready to go.”
Brandin, how much fun are you having watching Trayce with these lobs and some of the posters that he’s had in the last few weeks?
“Yeah, I’m having so much fun, just to experience the journey with him since we got drafted on June 22nd, and to see. I went to Santa Cruz together, how we came up and we didn’t play, to both of us being in and out of the rotation, to some both of us starting some games, finally getting — I think we started our first game together tonight. It’s been really fun to see his growth So I think he has a real shot of making an All-Rookie team.”
How many dunks you had this year, I think it’s maybe four, was that your best, do you think, tonight?
“Nah, I would say when I go to Milwaukee, my legs feel extra good. But yeah, it felt pretty good tonight.”
How much fun have you had this year, given the fact that playing at Santa Clara, you’re able to stay local. And then, of course, coming from Santa Cruz and being here with the Warriors?
“Yeah, I’ve had so much fun, so much experience, so much knowledge I’ve gained. It’s really, really fun. Fun for me to be so close to Santa Clara, getting to spend some off-days down there, seeing friends, teammates from last year, and then having the opportunity for them to come watch me play, kind of whenever they really want to, is something that I enjoy and I know they do too. But just the whole journey, hasn’t even been a year that I’ve been a Warrior. So, it’s been really fun and we’ve still got a lot more to go.”
Brandin, you’re always so polite and friendly and saying hello and using our names… I’ve seen you with staff members too and employees around the building. Have you always been such an outgoing guy since maybe you were little? Is that just in you, in your DNA, so to speak?
“Yeah, I think, if you guys know my dad, he’s a talker. But I think me going to military school in high school really taught me that portion. And I really found out — my dad told me all the time that life is all about relationships and it’s about who you know, not necessarily what you know. So to be able to be surrounded by you guys, the staff, just knowing different things, may help me down the road. And it’s because of our relationship that we were able to reconnect. So I think it’s super-important to know people’s names, get to know them a little bit and go from there.”
You seem to really enjoy it. Am I right?
“Yeah. Yeah. I think life is better when you’re happy. Obviously, sometimes on the court, I don’t really look the happiest, but it’s just all out of love of the game. But off the court, I try to be as personable as I can and get to know everybody gets to know my teammates, their families, like I said, it’s all about relationships.
How did the knee feel and kind of what was the process that told you when you were going to be ready to come back?
JONATHAN KUMINGA: “It felt great. I mean, I’ve been out for a little bit. I was more concerned on how am I getting better to come back today. And obviously it felt great as far as more of a, how can I say? I was more sure of my knees just being ready and I felt like today was the day.”
Coming off the bench, just what was your approach and what were you kind of looking for in that spot?
“I wasn’t concerned about coming off the bench. Like we always say, like Coach always say, it don’t matter as long as you go in there, you give it all you got, they’re gonna keep you in there. So I was just more concerned that I just go in there and just impacting winning, because a win is a win at the end of the day, and just play my game and that’s pretty much it.”
How tough was it for you mentally to be away from the team for six games in such an important stretch of the season?
“I was always with them. Not playing with them, but I felt like, especially times when you’re not playing, the main focus is just staying mentally tough and thinking that you’re in a game with them because that’s when you learn. And obviously that just gave me time to sit down and just, because they change a different pace of how they were playing. And that just gave me time to like, learn and just get my mental and my spirit and my body ready to just go out there and be with them. But obviously, I didn’t feel any difference because we’re always together.”
What did it kind of tell you — I don’t know if it was in warm ups today — but what kind of gave you the full clearance on the knee that you felt good enough?
“I mean, the time that I was off, I wasn’t just sitting down. I was just working out, getting my knees stronger, and I was just getting ready for whenever I’m ready to come back and like I said, today was just the day where I was just full. I felt like I was back to myself, and I decided to just say, ‘It’s time to come play.’”
You had 10 rebounds tonight. I mean, was that concerted effort tonight, or did they just kind of fall to you, did you feel?
“I don’t know if you remember when the season started, I think the concern was, how is JK going to rebound? And I feel like every other day I get a chance to step on the floor, it’s just getting better at rebounding because it’s big for us; everybody got to rebound.”
Kerr said they’re likely going to stick with Trayce and Draymond in the starting lineup, which probably means that you’re coming off the bench. Has he talked to you about that? And how okay are you with — you were in the starting lineup for a long time, put up some numbers.”
Don’t affect me at the end of the day, as long as I know I go out there and just affect us winning. That’s all that matters, everybody could play and At the day, it’s Coach’s decision. If that’s how I feel like, everything is moving. Well, why would you want to go away from while moving well? And me personally, I think since I’ve been out everything’s been moving just fine and it’s not because I’m out that’s why we’re moving from, but…everything is moving… we’re just gonna stick with what help us win and just keep winning games.”
You guys are in 10th place. Obviously the discussion is, ‘Are you gonna get in the play-in?’ and you know other teams are ahead of you. But you could end up with a better record than last season and Kerr has said you’re definitely a better team than last season. Do you feel like this is a better team than last season?
“I mean, obviously, like I say, ‘At the end of the day, it’s going to come down to how we’re playing.’ We’re not even worried about what’s going on at this point. We’re just taking it day by day, step by step. Every game that we get a chance to play, we’re obviously going to go out there and just try our best to win. As team-wise, I feel like we’re a better team every other day… we all together and we learn from each other every single day. I feel like we’re getting better.”
So Steve was saying, if you continue to play the way you guys have been over this last stretch, you have a chance to close out the season really strong, maybe win these final four games. What do you think needs to happen for that to happen?
“It’s just pretty much staying locked in. Like I say, it’s a day to day thing. It’s a game to game thing. and every game matters at this point. So, obviously, just moving forward is just being more focused and I feel like as long as we’re more focused, it’s gonna be hard for us to lose games.”
Pre-game shooting, was that just all day you felt good? And did that carry over into the end of the game?
KLAY THOMPSON: “I imagine. I think being home after such a long trip or trips helped a lot and I just felt really good body-wise today. I didn’t feel any pain anywhere and I thought that transferred over nicely to the gameplay.”
How often does that happen when you don’t feel any pain going into a game?
“Most of the time, but 82 games, you’re not going to be 100 percent every night. Yeah, I mean, what did I miss? Maybe three, four games this year. That’s incredible after two years of rehab plus. So that’s something I can hang my hat on and be proud of is just being durable throughout the season. Yeah.”
Klay, Steve was just saying that he thinks not only is this team probably going to finish with a better record than last year, but that it’s a better team and that he likes your chances no matter where you end up in this coming week. Would you agree with that?
“Absolutely.”
How is it a better?
“Well, that’s to be determined. We gotta obviously advance past the West semis, but I think we’re playing the best brand of basketball we’ve played all season and I am going to be very confident going into the play-in. I’m not saying we’re better than last year because we haven’t advanced further than that. So I can’t say that with as much confidence.”
Klay, Jonathan and Brandin were both just in here, and they were speaking a little bit along the lines of how whoever’s playing or in the rotation, or whoever’s coming off the bench, it’s everybody just believing in doing what you can to help the team win, and you’ve been in different positions. How much do you appreciate those guys like Brandin and Looney doing whatever he has to do if it’s not being in the rotation for a stretch and how important that is to what’s going on now with the wins?
“I appreciate both those guys and especially Loon. I’ve had 10 years with him now and he is the ultimate professional basketball player. Yeah, our young guys have been great this season, and without them, we would not have the chance to enter the playoffs and hit our stride at this moment. So, they’ve been awesome, every single one of them.”
What do you think of the play-in a few years in, and like, if this was most of your career, you guys would be desperately trying to get to eight to get in, but now you’re pretty settled?
“Just, well, lucky us. So we get a chance to compete in the postseason and I’m very grateful for that because there was a time where the Warriors made the postseason once in 18 years. So I hope people can be grateful for that, that we have a chance to chase greatness.”
Klay, you moved to the bench for a while and started really getting hot shooting there, and maybe the role kind of helped settle some things, but now you’re back in the starting lineup and you’re still shooting really well. Do you think staying in the starting lineup is the way to go right now? And do you think you’re just on a roll either way, I would guess, is the question?
“I think I’m playing with a great rhythm right now, and we have become accustomed to how to play with different guys and different lineups. Whether I start or I come off the bench, I’m gonna be myself and I’m gonna do everything I can to help this team win games. So at this point in my career, I’m just grateful to be healthy and playing a lot of minutes in the NBA.”
Klay, throughout the season, the Warriors fans were not so sure that you guys were going to make it to where you are right now. Did you ever feel like there was a specific moment in the middle of the season or the beginning of the season or towards the end of the season where you yourself felt that there was a change, and as a team, you felt that there was something pivotal that happened that really changed the future, and now you’re into the postseason?
“I think when we got to Miami, we got to have a beach day. I think that really changed everything. So, yeah. You just get to go to the ocean and you get to go to the beach and you get to throw a football, you get to swim, you get to just be free and have fun. I think that really just sets your mind free and it was just so fun to be out there with the guys and just have a day away from the court that really, I think, had us balling well together and I think that was a huge turning point.”
How many guys were at the beach that day?
“I’m sure everyone got their feet in the sand. Yeah, which is a form of grounding, which is very important.”
Klay, you mentioned the amount of games you played this season. How amazing is it given what you’ve been through? Is it amazing even to yourself that you’ve done this? And what do you think it’s proven?
“I think it is amazing because it’s easy to fall in love with the great, great shooting nights and big scoring outputs, but unless you’ve been through an Achilles rehab or ACL, it’s very difficult. And to do that in two years and come out and play in, whatever, 94 percent of games. I mean, that’s what I’m proud of. That’s what I’m most proud of, is just being available and being a constant in the lineup because the NBA season is strenuous, it’s long and it takes a lot of discipline to be able to do it nightly. That’s one thing I am very proud of this season is just my ability to play in this amount of games.”
We know you came back in the middle of the season two years ago and then played the most minutes of anybody in the playoffs last year, but how much better do you feel towards the end of the season and you’ve felt, say the past two seasons?
“I feel great but feels very similar to last year and the year beforehand. You should be in peak physical shape at this point with the amount of games we’ve played. So it doesn’t feel much different, but mentally I feel incredible just knowing what we’ve accomplished and have the opportunity to do going forward. It’s really special.”
Speaking of going forward, I mean, how do you envision the last four games going?
“I’d sure like to win them all, but that’s the goal, to win them all. You know how hard it is to win in LA. We can do it. We’ve done it before. So it’ll be nice to go 4-0, that’d be a nice cherry on top to it.”
–
 We’ve got Steph sitting out today. Steve, was that pre-planned? Is this something that you knew a couple games in advance, or is it more like, ‘Hey, going into this game, we have to think about whether he can play or not’?
STEVE KERR PREGAME UTA-GSW: “We started thinking about it in Dallas. We were concerned about the back-to-back with Houston and Dallas, but obviously that Dallas game was a really big game, and he was feeling great, so we had considered it, but he, he woke up after the Houston game, said he was feeling great, and we decided to play him and then give him tonight off, which would give him three or four days in between games. So, he needed it. I mean, this is the most games he’s played in a long time, and it’ll serve him well for next week.”
Coach, you just touched on the number of games that he’s played. I think it’s been the most in his 30s and by the end of the year it will be the most minutes that he’s played. As someone who’s played well into the 30s yourself, how amazed are you by his durability?
“So at this stage in his career it wasn’t hard for me. I played like 12 minutes a game. So even at 37, 12 minutes is very doable. So that was easy. What Steph does is superhuman. I mean, I think it’s his most underrated quality is his endurance and his strength and his ability to fly around like he does, absorb all the defensive pressure that teams are putting on him. Everyone puts him in pick-and-roll to try to wear him down, so he doesn’t kill them offensively. And he just keeps himself in immaculate condition. And he’s just been amazing in that regard over the years. But usually what happens during the last four or five years, it’s felt like maybe twice during the year, he’s gotten an injury that kept him out for a couple of weeks and that sort of allowed him to recharge, and he’d come back and go crazy and and this year, it’s a good thing he hasn’t been injured other than two very minor ones, but the end result is that he’s got just a ton of wear and tear on him this year. So this is definitely going to be a stretch that will help him and he needed it.”
As for the other players on the injury report, I think JK, Wiggs and Gary, do you know?
“They’re all going to warm up and see, and we’ll see. So, we’ll go from there. I know it’s hard to know what’s going to happen in the next few weeks, but given the age of your guys, given what could be ahead of them, if they’re assuming you’re in a play-in, play on a Tuesday, play on a Thursday, maybe get on a plane, have to play on a Sunday, how cognizant of that can you be with minutes, with maybe even giving guys days off over the last five?
“Well, I think we’ll know more every single day. We want to go out and let’s let’s take care of business today and see where everything shakes out. We may get to a point here in the next week where it’s kind of decided where we are and at that point we’ve got to think about all of our options. That’s what made the Dallas game so big. Had we won that one then we’re right in the thick of everything with the Lakers, with Sacramento, with New Orleans, but now we’re a couple games back, no tiebreaker against Sacramento, the Lakers obviously two games ahead of us. Now, if it had only been one, you go to LA and that’s for the tiebreaker. And so that Dallas game in my mind shifted things a lot and put us in a much tougher spot in terms of trying to climb the ladder. So now, it’s a matter of refocusing and figuring out what’s the best path forward for our guys.”
Steve, two questions. One to tonight. Just without Steph, you play uniquely. What are the challenges without Steph in that system?
“I think this year has been one of our best years since I’ve been here in the non-Steph minutes because we put Chris Paul in and what an incredible luxury that is. They’re very different, but Chris is capable of playing with anybody and the game looks a little different. We definitely run more sets, more pick-and-roll. We don’t play at as quite high pace, but Chris is very adaptable and gets everybody going. and he’s been fantastic.”
Big-picture question. Three-point shooting this year is less than it was two years ago. And if you take the last three years, this year is actually like right at the average for the entire three years. Do you think we’ve hit the saturation point of the amount of threes that can take? Or do you think we have another jump somewhere here along the way?
“It’s a good question. I would have guessed five years ago that we had reached that point, but I do think that everyone’s getting smarter all the time and figuring, not only the numbers, but the flow of the game. and I think it has felt to me watching games and even our own at times, where it’s like a bad three isn’t necessarily a great shot, a good mid-range shot isn’t necessarily a bad shot. There definitely is a balance with all this stuff and it’s got to be based on personnel, too. When we had Kevin (Durant), Steph and Klay, every 17-footer that those three guys shot, I was clapping, you know? So different. The shot quality maybe has gone over the top with the three, with the volume of threes, if it’s the guys who aren’t the ones you want shooting them. I’d much rather have a rhythm 17-footer than a bad three-point shooter launching from 25 (feet). So maybe the league is starting — I didn’t know those numbers. So that’s interesting, but maybe that’s where we’re heading.”
Steve, we’ve talked a lot about your guys’ defense and really anchoring it in the Trayce Draymond combo. But what do you think has kind of anchored the second-unit defense and where you guys are still getting picked up, from that group?
“Gary’s been healthy and playing at a high level. He makes a big difference. It’s been nice to have Loon back in the rotation, last five or six games. He’s always solid for us defensively. Moses as well, does a really nice job. So we’ve got good personnel with that second group, and I think all in all, over the last month or so, our defense has been pretty good.”
Did you get to watch the women’s finals game today?
“Parts of it. We were preparing for our game, but I saw bits of it.”
Caitlin Clark, obviously, lots of comparisons to Steph. And Steph, I don’t know if you know her personally at all, but like, do you see those bits and pieces of similarities between them?
“For sure. Yeah. I mean, I don’t know her, but her game reminds me of Steph’s, for sure. And I would guess that if you asked her, she would say that Steph has influenced her. It seems like Steph has influenced a lot of players, both men and women, over the last decade and you’re seeing more and more players pulling up in transition and being able to shoot, either off the catch or off the dribble, and she’s incredible.”
Do you hope to see her at the 3-Point Contest?
“I hope so. Yeah.”
Steve, can I just check with you about Jonathan Kuminga? Before you guys went on the road trip, you thought maybe he’d play against the Rockets. He missed both of those Texas games. What do you think about the time that he’s needed to get his body ready to perhaps play tonight or perhaps not?
“Well, I think he’s a very young player. And one thing that I know from playing at that age, you have to learn your body, you have to understand the difference between pain and an injury, and it’s very nerve-wracking if you feel pain and you’re worried that you’re going to create an injury or it’s going to get worse. It’s scary, and so I think a lot of this for JK, given that it’s tendonitis, is just understanding that he’s got to make sure he’s feeling right and he’s not doing anything to hurt himself. And working with the training staff, throughout, and understanding is there danger? Is there not danger? But again, I had to go through that, at the same age when I was in college. And most players, I think, at a young age have to go through that process. And it’s, you’ve got to figure it out and then that gives you a better barometer for whether to play or not.”
Did you get to know Dawn Staley via USA Basketball?
“Yes. We were in Tokyo together, a few years ago and got to know each other and stayed in touch. So, she’s great.”
What do you think about her coaching resume?
“Oh, she’s a star. I mean, what a run they’ve had, and I’m really happy for her because they’ve had some heartbreaks the last few years. But obviously she’s put together just an incredible program and really happy for her to finish it off undefeated and win the whole thing. Amazing accomplishment.”
Steve, this game is 77 years old, something like that. And now we have a league that makes a steady diet of the pick-and-roll. So you have a very unique style of playing. So my question is that, if you didn’t have those unique players, would you be one of those coaches? They’re running the pick-and-roll over and over and over again. Is it your personnel?
“I mean, it’s, yeah, a lot of it is our personnel. Some of it is that my background, playing more motion, ball movement, player movement, ball movement, the Triangle offense, I mean, chasing Stockton and Hornacek through those split-cuts was a pain in the ass, so I want to make sure it’s just as tough for our opponents to chase Steph and Klay as it was for me to chase those guys around. It is based on our personnel, a lot. The other thing is, we run a lot of pick-and-roll with Steph, but it ends up in the second action, so we’ll run a pick-and-roll, he’ll come off, and most guards in the NBA, they either shoot or get an assist, or turn it over, like, they make the play. When we run pick-and-roll, Steph comes off, we run it, then he gets off it, and then he starts running around like Reggie Miller. And that’s what makes us unique, so even though we run a lot of pick-and-roll, it may not show up as pick-and-roll in the analytics because what ends up happening is the off-ball stuff out of the pick-and-roll. So, Steph’s the ultimate weapon. There’s very few, if any, players who have that ability to be so good on and off the ball. And then because of Draymond — Draymond’s always been a point-forward — makes a lot of sense to put the ball in his hands. So, a lot of this has just morphed, It’s just sort of naturally progressed to where these guys have figured out how to play and the way they do. It is very different from a lot of people and a lot of fun.”
Pick-and-roll and a give-and-go. It doesn’t go away, does it?
“No, no, it never goes away, but it’s fun. I always enjoy watching our guys play just because there’s so much continuity with Steph, Draymond, Klay, and they know each other so well. And it is like Stockton and Malone. Jerry Sloan didn’t call a whole lot of plays, you know? It’s fun. And then they’d run it 20 straight times and I remember, that was hard, but the beauty of continuity in the game, when players get used to playing together and you’re not calling anything, to me, that’s when the game is at its best.”
0:00 Steph Curry resting, Kuminga is back (off the bench), Wiggins is still out, GP2 will play, CP3 will start alongside Podziemski, Klay, Draymond, and Trayce Jackson-Davis
1:00 Houston lost, so the Warriors have clinched at least the 10th spot
4:00 Jazz are basically tanking, young guys, they’ll retain their draft pick if it’s Top 10, so I worry about CP and Klay being able to stay in front of the young bucks
7:00 refs: Jacyn Goble (8th season), JT Orr (13th), Matt Kallio (2nd)
12:00 tipoff!
11m55 Q1 Klay misses early shot
11m25 Q1 CP loses corner 3
10m45 Q1 Sexton blows by BP on P&R ****
10m36 Q1 Klay blocked easily
10m15 Q1 Dray tov to CP who says my fault
10m00 Q1 Keyonte pull up 3, CP couldn’t get around the P&R
9m35 Q1 BP saves the day late clock again righty drive
8m55 Q1 Dray misses inside, Yurtseven misses dunk, but D is porous
8m22 Q1 BP 3 on catch by Klay — UNSUNG PLAY
7m59 Q1 Sexton blows by BP, Klay a tad late
7m21 Q1 Klay good fake, drive, lob TJD dunk
6m46 Q1 Klay 3 pull on long reb
6m24 Q1 Dray DPOY steal on Sensabaugh, but CP steps on line (ofc, once per 3 games)
5m00 Q1 Moody good POA vs Brice, leads to Klay early 3 ****
26:30 @Cholo Abenes: can’t take anybody lightly — Yes, but… if you played in the NBA for more than a decade, it’s REALLY tough to get up for these, just human nature
2m55 Q1 CP fake handoff early O — sub: BP, Mo, Gui, JK, TJD (3rd year most exp lol)
1m41 Q1 Gui great help, leads to JK downhill 94ft and1 — UNSUNG PLAY
1m13 Q1 TJD stays in front!
1m00 Q1 Juzang 3rd 3 in a row — I would’ve called timeout, but Mo hits a catch 3
0m23 Q1 Gui between the legs pass to JK jumper!
0m08 Q1 Juzang 4th three
0m03 Q1 BP one-leg 3 splash!
11m01 Q2 JK easy post up vs Sexton
10m12 Q2 BP airball at buzz, 2x couldn’t get a good shot on 24
10m02 Q2 Gui a tad late on help on Mo on split cut Sexton and1
9m41 Q2 TJD cleans up another bad possession
9m29 Q2 Juzang left completely open 5v4, Gui didn’t help Mo
8m47 Q2 Sexton bursts past GP2 **** bad POA
8m12 Q2 JK fell asleep, Juzang misses 3 wide open
6m13 Q2 CP 3 via GP via roll great pass Klay, up 20 timeout Hardy
5m22 Q2 CP to JK alley
5m01 Q2 Klay pull up 3 vs mix up of Hendricks and Juzang
3m24 Q2 Dray roll, pass to Klay reverse lay
3m06 Q2 Juzang too easy past GP
2m28 Q2 Klay misses then 5v1, no one picks up Juzang again!!!!!
1m56 Q2 BP bad POA *** George, all ball by Dray foul, NO CHALLENGE
1m44 Q2 BP blows dunk, Mo gets a reb on open 3
0m54 Q2 BP saves the day again (2/3 on those)
0m33 Q2 Dray DPOY stop, JK 8th reb, great pass to Mo to BP 94ft
0m11 Q2 Johnny past BP again*****
1:04:15 JK AUDIO
1:08:15 JD JOHN DICKINSON JOINS US!!!
11m55 Q3 CP knocks ball out, CP perfect to TJD P&R
10m27 Q3 Dray misses again inside runner
10m13 Q3 TJD good disrupt, BP can’t finish 94ft again
9m47 Q3 Klay stays in front of Sexton!!! ****
9m20 Q3 TJD block Sexton drive
9m00 Q3 CP to TJD again!!!
8m20 Q3 Dray pick corner for Klay, CP 7th ast
7m42 Q3 CP first bad pass inside to TJD
7m24 Q3 BP stays in front of Sexton but Dray throws the ball away ****
7m10 Q3 Sexton 3 over Dray (knew it’d be tough for him)
6m45 Q3 CP steal, TJD tap out wow, Klay misses reload 3
6m14 Q3 bad possession again, Klay blocked at buzz by Hendricks in corner
5m42 Q3 CP tap out again!
5m28 Q3 JK doesn’t take smaller George in the post, Mo blows a layup
5m00 Q3 CP bad TD pass Loon
4m27 Q3 JK great position inside vs Brice, Slater: Draymond grabbed lower back to tunnel
1:36:30 @zzzap rest CP3 — I mean, no Steph so need to have the 1 execute and get the win first. BP at the 1 is shaky. Several possessions went 24 sec.
4m18 Q3 Mo 3 on ATO via Loon
4m00 Q3 JK mindless grab foul
3m43 Q3 BP good get around corner, fouled by Juzang
3m28 Q3 Loon tip in!!!!
3m19 Q3 Mo stays in front of Kira, block! ****
3m03 Q3 JK should’ve crossed Juzang over (on his heels) then throws ball away — JK looks rusty
2m28 Q3 JK looks rusty on the spin vs Johnny, fouled though
1:43:15 Slater: Dray with pad on back on bench — might actually like Jacyn Goble crew lol, Nicole Diaz: WOOOOOOWWWWW!!!! How different when Steph is not playing! The refs are so polite!! 🤣😂🤣
5KCHARLIMIT
1m35 Q3 JK good patience, pass to GP cutting
1m27 Q3 GP mindless foul on Sexton, FTs — similar personality to Steph lol
1m13 Q3 JK blows by Potter after GP dunk
1m02 Q3 Mo steal to BP dunk
0m32 Q3 JK downhill and1 Potter
11m33 Q4 CP can’t stay in front of Sexton ****
11m11 Q4 JK to TJD after Klay misses
10m46 Q4 Kira past CP easily ****
10m20 Q4 Mo stays in front 2x but Potter oreb over JK
9m53 Q4 TJD bad pass, Klay take foul not called wow I like this ref crew
9m41 Q4 Kira gets by Mo on the zone ****
9m26 Q4 JK oreb hustle!
9m19 Q4 BP oreb hustle!
9m03 Q4 JK good turn of corner, TJD disrupt, BP JK TJD TIC TAC TOE!!!!
2:01:30 analyzing the last play — joy of Steve, guy on his phone courtside missing out
8m30 Q4 CP too small on close vs Juzang
8m08 Q4 JK reaches in on Keyonte ****
7m36 Q4 CP trademark J good — UNSUNG PLAY (12 to 14pt lead)
7m13 Q4 BP to JK dunk after TJD fell asleep
6m51 Q4 TJD disrupt Potter Euro
6m25 Q4 Klay TTBTTOT, Kira 94ft, now only up 12
5m57 Q4 Mo drive when Loon went to set pick
5m29 Q4 Loon gets hand in on pass, recovery
5m08 Q4 BP eats the ball on clock buzz
4m24 Q4 BP cut turns corner, draws foul
4m02 Q4 good tags GP Mo Loon
3m45 Q4 GP roll dunk, CP perfect pass
3m00 Q4 Loon finds CP for 3
0m50 Q4 Spencer keeps George in front
2:20:30 KLAY POSTGAME AUDIO
2:25:00 UNSUNG PLAYS: 1) CP trademark J 12 to 14, 2) Mo non-flagrant landing spot, 3) Gui helps, then JK downhill 94ft, 4) BP 3 on catch from Klay
2:32:00 Do you prefer Warriors at Lakers for the play-in or vice-versa?
prefer Lakers at Warriors (58%)
prefer Warriors at Lakers (41%)
Poll complete: 67 votes
2:35:45 TRAYCE POSTGAME FOYER AUDIO
2:39:15 STEVE POSTGAME AUDIO: “I wanna keep starting Trayce”, wanted to keep CP to 29 or 30 mins (played 36)
2:48:15 from Dave McMenamin: “Anthony Davis is being treated for an eye injury that he previously needed to receive medical attention for after a loss to the Golden State Warriors, a source familiar with the situation told ESPN”
2:49:30 Chase chants LGW: https://x.com/ChaseCenter/status/1777174059635425776
2:51:30 JK POSTGAME AUDIO
2:56:00 a little tangent on Women’s NCAA, are Warriors like Iowa? Dawn Staley can coach an NBA team, Steph signed Fulwiley and now we know why, 80% of NBA can’t do the behind the back on a fast break
3:11:30 BP POSTGAME AUDIO
3:20:30 KLAY POSTGAME AUDIO: pulls the 1 playoff in 18 years card a year after flashing 4 rings at Devin Booker
3:25:30 complaining about BP and Dray’s layups (James Warner thinks BP’s are more likely to drop), but it all balances out with Steph and JK and TJD
3:31:00 looking at who we want to win, we want Lakers to keep losing but ofc we gotta beat them Tue, if we were to somehow end up 8th, we would be going into the first play-in vs No. 7 with a world-beater mentality, basically need SAC and LAL to go 1-3 to close out which is doable considering they’re playing teams ahead of them in the standings (other than us), so OKC vs SAC on Tue as well
3:34:30 JK POSTGAME RADIO as we wait for the Lakers-Wolves final
Vote for UNSUNG play!
Gui helps, JK gets downhill 94ft (36%)
CP trademark J Q4 7min 12 to 14 (28%)
BP 3 on catch from Klay (23%)
Moody non-flagrant call lol (10%)
Poll complete: 38 votes
👍👍💛💙