The Golden State Warriors and Dallas Mavericks had media availability today. The Mavs were at their practice facility and the Warriors at their team hotel after having a film session in a conference room. Later, the Dubs would have what looked like a “get what you need” day (whichever players that wanted to get shots up, i.e., not a formal practice) at the arena; we’ll include the footage provided by @warriors in tomorrow’s pregame video. Today, Jason Kidd, Dwight Powell and Jalen Brunson spoke for the Mavs and Steve Kerr, Jordan Poole and Stephen Curry answered questions for the Warriors.
Below are the videos. Below those are the notes and quotes, including some quips from Klay Thompson, who spoke exclusively with TNT’s Allie LaForce.
KIDD & BRUNSON
• Kidd: “How to learn from, from Steph or from Klay, being able to execute when teams do make a run, how to answer. And they answered every time we tried to make a run.” (me via Brad Townsend video)
• “When you look at a lot of these teams that have had success multiple years, they had to start somewhere. They didn’t just start winning championships. They had to go through the good and the bad and learn from it, and that’s what we’re doing right now.” (Callie Caplan)
• Mavs just doing treatment/film today, but Jason Kidd said there’s been some physical work on rebounding ahead of Game 4: “We’re trying to grow right now. We’re stretching our smalls. They’re hanging from a pole, trying to stretch and get taller.” (Caplan)
• Jalen Brunson: “No matter what, we’ll be together…we just gotta extend it a little more.” (me via Townsend)
STEVE, JP & STEPH
• Steph and Jordan chatting with us today. Curry is preaching staying in the moment and said he had to tell himself that during the game last night. Poole says he’s loving this experience and leaning on guys like Steph and Dray as he navigates it. (Jason Dumas)
• Otto Porter Jr. is doubtful for tomorrow, Kerr says. Kerr says Porter is feeling alright today, but if it comes down to a close call tomorrow, they’ll rest him. But, there’s an overall positive attitude regarding the injury that it’s not too serious. “He wasn’t feeling terrible this morning” and it’s “definitely good news” considering how it looked. (Shayna Rubin, Kendra Andrews, Madeline Kenney, Anthony Slater)
• Kerr on the reconstruction of the Warriors: “I think the (Andrew) Wiggins trade is the key to all of this.” (Slater)
• Kerr with some scary words for Warriors opponents w/his team 5 wins away from a title: “I think we’re getting better as the playoffs go, not just individually but collectively i think we’re making improvements & guys are really filling roles well.” (Dickinson)
• Jordan Poole had a quiet night and then hit the dagger 3 in Game 3. Here’s Poole and Steph Curry discussing that shot and Poole’s confidence to always take it. (Slater)
• Jordan Poole on Wiggins poster dunk on Luka was bummed the offensive foul call diminished Wiggins reaction: “Oh that’s up there. That’s top 3 (in-person dunks he’s seen in his NBA career)…Wiggs isn’t a super expressive person and it was ready to come out.” (Dickinson)
• Stephen Curry on what makes this Warriors team unique: “When we started the playoff journey we knew we had a lot to figure out.” (CJ Holmes)
• Steph, as promised, came back with a critique of Luka’s shimmy. “A+. But he could have did it a little longer, that is my only critique.” (Ann Killion, Ohm Youngmisuk)
• Klay: “EVERY DAY of that rehab was worth it being one win away from NBA Finals”
• Klay: “I love my teammates. They all bought in and understand that the whole is greater than the parts and it has been so fun to be a part of.”
• “I know with time anything is possible, and I will have full functional strength again. I almost do now…I will never take hanging on the rim in an NBA game for granted ever again! That felt better than a transition three…just to tear the rim down.”
• On being one win away from the Finals: “It is a lot of butterflies, even though it’s more than 24 hours before game time. I appreciate every second of it because I know how it can be taken from you in an instant. I really dreamt of this moment every day through the rehab process.” (Allie LaForce)
KLAY
• Klay: “EVERY DAY of that rehab was worth it being one win away from NBA Finals”
• Klay: “I love my teammates. They all bought in and understand that the whole is greater than the parts and it has been so fun to be a part of.”
• “I know with time anything is possible, and I will have full functional strength again. I almost do now…I will never take hanging on the rim in an NBA game for granted ever again! That felt better than a transition three…just to tear the rim down.”
• On being one win away from the Finals: “It is a lot of butterflies, even though it’s more than 24 hours before game time. I appreciate every second of it because I know how it can be taken from you in an instant. I really dreamt of this moment every day through the rehab process.” (Allie LaForce)
👍👍💛💙