Late post but great post 😉 MERRY CHRISTMAS! See you soon on the live Xmas Game ManningCast:
First off here are the two behind-the-scenes videos from WSH-GSW and POR-GSW. Also features Jonathan Kuminga and Stephen Curry singing (cue “I thought Steph had range” joke):
Also I’m not sure if the one from BOS-GSW was officially posted on this site yet:
So I finally figured out how to anchor executions within a Substack post. Not sure if this works for the email newsletter, though, but lmk in the comments.
Best Q&A was with Steph when he revealed that Chris Paul challenged him to make a couple threes to get the team going. KRON’s Erin Wilson managed to unearth a little game-within-a-game which Wardell then quipped he was trying to make CP3 a “prophet”. Full transcripts from WSH-GSW postgame (Jordan Poole’s return to Chase) are also listed below…
You’re already a pretty good passer, obviously coming into this, but what have you learned the most maybe from working or, from playing with Chris Paul about assisting, passing and finding guys?
BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI POSTGAME POR-GSW: “Yeah, I think me, him and Steph are good at creating advantages for our teammates and just kind of realizing, when I’m out there with Chris, a lot of times teams are switching, one through five. And so finding Dario and Trayce down low, playing against our guards and then letting them make the plays out of it is something that’s been working for us, a great amount. And when Trayce is down there and they’re not switching, we have Ayton or Reath in there, just attacking the rim. And like I said yesterday, Trayce always being an outlet for any of us, just kind of got to throw it up to the rim.”
Over these last five wins, what have you noticed about the flow and what’s changed for you guys?
“I think we don’t care who gets a shot. I think by me and Jonathan, guarding the two best players every night, I think that kind of relieves some stress from Klay and Steph. And on offense, I think me, JK and Loon try to do our best and our part of getting them open and getting them some easy looks early in the game. So, when it does come to that time, they already feel the rhythm.”
Coach said a lot of it comes from great leadership, but you see Klay out there playing well and to see him kind of feeling like he’s playing, well, what does that do for you guys when you’re out there playing with them because he’s been up and down, but now it’s been kind of consistent in a upward trajectory?
“Yeah, I think he’s playing well because he’s playing the right way, I think, ever since the LA game, he’s just had that mindset. If two people come to me, I know someone’s open and I’ll let my teammates play four-on-three from there. And ever since he’s done that, it makes it easier for me and JK to make shots because he draws so much attention and a lot of times we’re just wide open. So by Steph and him playing the right way, it kind of frees everything up for the rest of the guys that are out there.”
Steph, you’ve seen plenty of times where Klay’s gotten hot and it seems like he’s on a particularly hot streak, what do you think about what he’s been able to do lately and and maybe what inspired that started after the Phoenix game?
STEPHEN CURRY POSTGAME POR-GSW: “Competitive spirit and a healthy ego of understanding who you are as a player and responding when Things don’t go your way. That’s what he’s been, what we’ve done for our entire careers, what he’s shown time after time. You’ve got to make certain adjustments and he’s done that… let the game come to him, make the easy play. He can shoot. That’ll never leave him. So, just the shots he’s taken, I mean, tonight he had some heat checks in third, but consistently, the ball is moving. He’s finding good looks and That’s the Klay Thompson we know.”
Hi, Steph. Another good one for you guys. How big will the test be on Monday when you take on Denver in Denver?
“I don’t remember the last time we won there. A couple of years ago, last year? So, obviously defending champs, they’ve been playing well… probably back to full strength, some marquee games on Christmas, going to be a great atmosphere. We’ve been in that environment before, so we understand what it’s going to be like on the road. It’s going to be fun to just to compete. It’s a test, that’s the next one on the schedule, though, too, so you kind of understand how they play, lock in on what we need to do, try to go get a win.”
Steph, Loon’s not a big scorer historically. He only took three shots today, but he still makes a huge impact with 11 boards and seven assists. When he’s doing those other things, what kind of impact does that have on you guys?
“Whether it’s the regular season game or the playoff runs we’ve had. One, it’s his availability, and he’s always, preparing himself to be out there and play physical and give us that presence in the paint. But it gives us possessions. He’s a smart basketball player that understands how to move the ball, how to set great screens. And the way our offense runs, even if he’s not the one finishing, he can set up other guys, too. He had a nice lob to JK, some DHO stuff to the guards, and the timing was great. So, don’t anybody take for granted what Loon does. If you know basketball, those little things in the margins really help you win on a consistent basis.”
There was a time where you guys ranked around last in transition offense. Do you feel a sort of shift in pace in the way that you guys are playing?
“I don’t know what the numbers look like. We talked about it probably maybe a week ago and understood a big part of that is not turning the ball over and then not fouling. Because when you foul, obviously you slow it down, decrease the amount of possessions in the game. So, I think it definitely feels different. I don’t know if it’s showing up, maybe we’re like 27th now. I don’t know.”
FESTUS EZELI: Hey, Steph. How good does it feel to have a big man that you can throw lobs to? A big man that you can pick and pop with. Another big man that’s great on dribble-handoffs. Just the variety of big men here on the team right now.
“You want me to set up the reminiscent of a number 31 I used to play with back in the day? It’s great though because like I said, Loon gives us a certain look at that position and Trayce is obviously learning from him and where to be and understanding, especially on defense, how to be one step ahead. But on offense, it’s a change of pace where it just seems like he’s understanding angles on screens and understanding the timing on those, those rolls and whether it’s a lob or whether it’s a drop down pass and him getting to the basket, it applies a lot of pressure to defenses, especially with the shooting that we have around and the way the ball moves. So that’s why he’s been making such a big impact over the last, four games.”
Just out of curiosity, as a follow up to that question, there was a play between you and Chris Paul, and Chris Paul hit you, you got a good shot out of it, but you made a beeline across the court just to make sure that you guys dapped up, and it was a little bit, it seemed from far away, I can’t see that well, but it seemed like there was a little bit of an exchange there between you two. Do you remember what was said, and what that moment was for you two?
“As you were asking the question, I was trying to remember what play it was.”
Second half for sure.
“CP threw me the ball?”
CP, uh huh. And then you beelined across the court. He was already in the backcourt.
“That I gotta look up. I’ll get back to you on that one… I made a layup?”
It was a shot. It was a three.
“Yeah. I can’t remember.”
It was a dime.
“Oh, I do remember. He told me I needed to hit a couple threes to kind of hopefully break the game open. And I made one, it was in the second quarter, I made one and that’s all I said: ‘That’s one.’ That’s all I said. And I missed another one, tried to make him a prophet.”
What does that do for you guys, challenging each other to a challenge within a challenge?
“We do it all the time, just understanding the momentum of the game. Sometimes it’s not even making a shot. It’s BP trying to take a charge. It’s, ‘How many boards can Loon get?’ It’s lobs in transition getting JK and Trayce about it. We talk about all that type of stuff. So, depending on the game, whatever it is.”
Klay, we’ve pretty much asked everybody about you. I just want to ask you about you. You’ve been playing well. They’ve all had great things to say about how you’ve been playing, but just how do you feel with how you’ve been playing?
KLAY THOMPSON POSTGAME POR-GSW: “I feel like I’ve been playing really good, and I would like to continue this momentum on Christmas. But, yeah, I feel like I can still be better.”
Steve’s talked a bit about just your shot selection that there’s kind of been a little bit of a turning point in the past couple weeks, and you’ve seen taking better shots. What has been your focus with that? And how have you been able to improve that?
“Well, I feel like every time I shoot the ball, it’s a good shot. And, uh. I don’t know. They just seem to be going in at a higher frequency these last five, six games, but I’m not going to let anyone tell me after all these years, but I feel like I could make every shot. Not every shot, any shot.”
And the mentality of a shooter, they always tell you shooters have short memory. So for you to be able to lead by that example and have so many young guys on the team, what do you think that does for them? Because I’m sure it has an impact.
“Well, I also have a long memory too of, yeah, 10 years and actually 13 now. And even before that, college high school. The best part of my game has usually been my ability to score, ability to shoot. I’m not just a shooter, though. That’s funny when people say that – score at the rim, score the mid-range, floaters. But I hope with the young guys on the team, they just see me not on the main floor, see me working on all my different moves and different spots on the floor every day. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that it happens on the court. It does feel good, but I work on different types of shots every single day.”
Klay, you mentioned the team’s kind of gotten on a roll. I think the last two games you guys have played really, really well. How much of this will be a test, though, for Denver coming up on Monday when you’re playing in their arena, nationally televised audience on Christmas?
“Be a great time. I mean, they’re the defending champs. You know how well they play at home. And we were on a nice win streak and we would like this to continue. So, something’s gotta give and I think we’ll give them a great game. And I think we have the ability to come out with the win and it’ll be fun, though, to see where we’re at against the defending champs.”
(Sees no more questions.)
“Nice.”
How would you rate if you had a great last night’s win? I know you’re playing up an opponent that’s kind of struggling, but still like you guys had a pretty complete game last night.
STEVE KERR PREGAME POR-GSW: “It was a good win. I mean, really every win’s a good win, especially this season, we’ve had so many close losses. We’re just trying to reverse the momentum and our guys are doing a good job of that. Obviously, getting back to .500 last night and just trying to carry it forward, but a lot of good things happen in the game for sure.”
Talk about those close games. Is there, when you play so many close games, how does it affect your team? I mean, what have you noticed about your team’s ability, I guess, to survive or exist in those close games and how does it carry over the course of the season to have these games so early?
“Well, we’ve got a lot of guys who have been through everything and anything so they’re unfazed by it; they’re a bunch of guys who are willing to take big shots and they don’t worry about the repercussions or anything like that. But we do have a lot of young guys and new guys and we’re so we’re trying to learn how to execute under pressure down the stretch. And I’m figuring out things that I can do down the stretch plays that I can call, actions that I can run, that sort of thing. So we’re finding our way.”
Hey, Coach. What have you seen from Scoot Henderson, both in action and on film and also how difficult is it for a rookie to come into the league and be that lead guard with the way that the league or the way the league is gone, the way that the game is now?
“He’s really impressive. I mean, he just comes downhill so fast and powerfully; he was really impressive last week in Portland. This will be the third time we’ve seen him. Yeah. So you can see he’s got a world of talent and seems to be doing a really good job. I mean, I don’t follow them closely until we play them, but on tape, he looks like a really, really good player.”
You were talking the other day about how you just, you can’t play 13 players in a rotation. It’s just too many. But your rotation has been fluid most of the season. Is that something you still feel like you’re at? Or do you feel like you’re starting to get closer to a point where you have sort of a set rotation?
“Well, right now it’s set, but then we’ve got Gary coming back. We’ve got Draymond coming back. Wiggs will come back. So we have more good players than rotation spots, which is a good problem to have, but it’s not easy for the players themselves. So we have to continue to encourage the guys to just compete and recognize that their chance will come if they stay patient. But that’s not an easy thing to convince guys of in the NBA.”
Steve, was there kind of a moment maybe in preseason or just early in the regular season where you realized, Brandin and and or TJD could be a real factor in the rotation? Do you remember kind of when you realized that we could see in camp that both guys were ready to contribute?
“It was more a matter of were they going to overtake the veterans who were ahead of them? Were they going to be able to maneuver their way into the lineup? I mean, there’s a reason we didn’t hand them jobs to start the season. It doesn’t work that way. If you did that, you’d have a revolt on your hands. I mean, you have to honor the work that the veterans have done in the past. You give them every opportunity, which we did. But while that was all happening, those two young guys were really shining. And I was there for the opening night of the G League. And they were both in Santa Cruz and both guys were just dominant out there. So you could see early on that they’re ready to play, but they’ve made their way into the rotation based on a number of factors. But, ultimately, the only way to get there is if you’re good enough, and they’re both good enough, obviously.”
How would you rate if you had a great last night’s win? I know you’re playing up an opponent that’s kind of struggling, but still like you guys had a pretty complete game last night.
STEVE KERR PREGAME POR-GSW: “It was a good win. I mean, really every win’s a good win, especially this season, we’ve had so many close losses. We’re just trying to reverse the momentum and our guys are doing a good job of that. Obviously, getting back to .500 last night and just trying to carry it forward, but a lot of good things happen in the game for sure.”
Talk about those close games. Is there, when you play so many close games, how does it affect your team? I mean, what have you noticed about your team’s ability, I guess, to survive or exist in those close games and how does it carry over the course of the season to have these games so early?
“Well, we’ve got a lot of guys who have been through everything and anything so they’re unfazed by it; they’re a bunch of guys who are willing to take big shots and they don’t worry about the repercussions or anything like that. But we do have a lot of young guys and new guys and we’re so we’re trying to learn how to execute under pressure down the stretch. And I’m figuring out things that I can do down the stretch plays that I can call, actions that I can run, that sort of thing. So we’re finding our way.”
Hey, Coach. What have you seen from Scoot Henderson, both in action and on film and also how difficult is it for a rookie to come into the league and be that lead guard with the way that the league or the way the league is gone, the way that the game is now?
“He’s really impressive. I mean, he just comes downhill so fast and powerfully; he was really impressive last week in Portland. This will be the third time we’ve seen him. Yeah. So you can see he’s got a world of talent and seems to be doing a really good job. I mean, I don’t follow them closely until we play them, but on tape, he looks like a really, really good player.”
You were talking the other day about how you just, you can’t play 13 players in a rotation. It’s just too many. But your rotation has been fluid most of the season. Is that something you still feel like you’re at? Or do you feel like you’re starting to get closer to a point where you have sort of a set rotation?
“Well, right now it’s set, but then we’ve got Gary coming back. We’ve got Draymond coming back. Wiggs will come back. So we have more good players than rotation spots, which is a good problem to have, but it’s not easy for the players themselves. So we have to continue to encourage the guys to just compete and recognize that their chance will come if they stay patient. But that’s not an easy thing to convince guys of in the NBA.”
Steve, was there kind of a moment maybe in preseason or just early in the regular season where you realized, Brandin and and or TJD could be a real factor in the rotation? Do you remember kind of when you realized that we could see in camp that both guys were ready to contribute?
“It was more a matter of were they going to overtake the veterans who were ahead of them? Were they going to be able to maneuver their way into the lineup? I mean, there’s a reason we didn’t hand them jobs to start the season. It doesn’t work that way. If you did that, you’d have a revolt on your hands. I mean, you have to honor the work that the veterans have done in the past. You give them every opportunity, which we did. But while that was all happening, those two young guys were really shining. And I was there for the opening night of the G League. And they were both in Santa Cruz and both guys were just dominant out there. So you could see early on that they’re ready to play, but they’ve made their way into the rotation based on a number of factors. But, ultimately, the only way to get there is if you’re good enough, and they’re both good enough, obviously.”
STEVE KERR POSTGAME POR-GSW: “Where is everybody, Raymond? It’s good to see the real ones are still here”
The 38 assist tonight. How does, what does that say about sort of your depth and how you guys are moving the ball around and getting everyone involved?
“Yeah, it was a beautiful, offensive game out after the early turnovers. Portland is very aggressive defensively, and they’ve got a lot of athletes. They bothered us early in the game with their pressure. And then once we got a little better organized and got more under control, we had some great possessions. Chris continues to just operate the team so smoothly and a lot of guys are really playing at a high level. So it’s fun to watch tonight.”
Klay’s been playing really well for a little while now. What have you specifically seen work for him? Is it a matter of shots just falling down or has he been changing something?
“Shot selection is the biggest thing with Klay. I think over the last five games, he’s just taking better shots and as a result, our team is more settled. We just feel like we’re operating more efficiently. He’s coming off screens. If he’s open, he’s shooting it. If he’s not, he’s moving it. And, when he does that, he’s at his best and we’re at our best.”
I mean, you take into consideration just as a follow up what he said about Klay, but then also Steph’s always shooting well, but everybody seems to be playing well. And you said after the Celtics win that it seemed as if that win could push you guys and give you a boost head into this season or the rest of the season. And it seems like that has been the case. What’s the feel? I’m always asking about the feel, but what’s the feel? Because it seems like everybody feels pretty good right now.
“Yeah, the vibe is good. We have a lot of leadership in the locker room, and I think the guy I want to point out tonight is Kevon. The last four games or so haven’t gone his way at all. Trayce has played so well. So a lot of Loon’s minutes have gone to Trayce and every single night, every day at practice, he’s a rock. He’s leading. He’s been great on the bench, advising guys, giving advice during timeouts, cheering them on when they’re playing well. I think the true definition of a leader is someone who leads when things aren’t going well for himself. And that’s what makes Loon so special is, that’s who he is. And then you just know that things are going to turn back around like they did tonight. He had 11 boards, seven assists. I thought he was fantastic tonight, and that’s who he’s been his whole career, just totally professional, kind of an old soul, a lot of wisdom and, steady as they come. So we’re lucky to have Loon.”
During this win streak, most of the spotlight’s gone on the on the young guys, how well they played but to see Steph and Klay, they scored 24 of your 32 points in the third quarter when you had some separation there, Chris with his assist-turnover ratio and Looney tonight. What does it say when you have the vets ones kind of come in and say, ‘Wait a minute, we know we’re still here’?
“Yeah, it just feels like the balance is great this year. I think Mike Dunleavy did such a great job with this roster. We have the vets who are the core of this team, the guys you just mentioned, but you look at Brandin and JK and Moses, these young guys who are contributing so much to our team. The balance feels right. We’ve got a lot of options every night at our disposal as a staff. and a lot of good players. So we’re able to survive injuries like we’ve done. But the group just feels right. We’ve got a really deep roster and guys who compliment each other… Thank you. Merry Christmas, everybody.”
GAME NOTES FROM POR-GSW
(See Comments in video for game notes)
POSTGAME WSH-GSW
You know that you’re just the third rookie to have consecutive scoring and rebound double-doubles with Chet and Wemby?
TRAYCE JACKSON-DAVIS POSTGAME WSH-GSW: “I did not know that. Just trying to get rebounds and finish lobs, play with energy.”
How surprised were you on draft night when you went 57?
“I was very surprised. Honestly, I felt like my senior year in college, I added a lot to my game, whether it be the passing, the blocking shots, rebounding at a high level, finishing. Basically everything improving my game, leaving my team’s and when I felt like that’s why I came back, but at the end of the day, I didn’t know. I tweeted it right before they told me and then they told me that we were waiting for a guarantee. But they didn’t tell me because they didn’t want it not to fall through so they don’t want me to have my hopes up. But at the end of the day, I play with a chip on my shoulder. Anyway, so it is what it is.”
I mean, this is technically the team that traded you, I mean, does that thought go through your mind at all today?
“Not necessarily. I never was. Washington, I think, called me on draft day. They called me, then the Spurs called me and they said, ‘We’re thinking about taking you.’ I think it was early and early in the second. We’re probably gonna get a pick. And then I was like, ‘Okay,’ and then it didn’t happen. And so all of a sudden, they called me. My agents called me, said the Warriors are trading Washington’s pick. I was like, ‘Okay, so is what it is’ at that point, but I’m happy to be here.”
Steve said that you kind of remind him a bit of Andrew Bogut. Are you familiar with Andrew as a player? He was a key player in the beginning of this dynasty.
“Absolutely. He’s a little taller than me, but we got some similar attributes; he was a lob threat as well. He was a really, really good passer. I feel like he’s an underrated passer. But that’s something that I still need to expand on, my passing and just knowing where guys want to be, where to get them the ball, but I’m learning. It’s my rookie season, so I just gotta continue to get better and grind.”
Feels like you’re a good mix of kind of like a rim-runner with some of that Bogey type game. Are you trying to be kind of that combo?
“Yeah, absolutely. Post still needs to get there. I had it a lot in college. And the split action and stuff of that nature, so trying to get back into that flow. But being a screener and rolling to the rim, especially with shooters around you. What big man wouldn’t love that?”
They often say that shooting can kind of get you in a groove for shooting. Do you feel like you could even do that rebounding and attacking the glass on either end?
“Absolutely. That’s kind of how I am as a player. I’m an energy guy. And when I get a block or dunk, it just raises my energy and then start jumping a little higher. I started getting more, ripping rebounds out of guys’ hands, stuff of that nature. So just energy and playing with physicality. Absolutely I feel like the game against Portland really helped boost my confidence. My teammates put a lot of confidence in me and then Boston, the same, and then going into tonight. You just gotta continue to play with that confidence.”
As you’re getting more minutes in the last few games, do you feel the game slowing down? Or how do you feel yourself maturing or evolving?
“Yes, I feel it’s slowing down a lot, actually. When I first – I remember actually, I’ll say this – when I started in the preseason against Sacramento, it was pretty slow. And then I was never used to coming off the bench because in college, I started every game, never had to experience that. And so trying to find that groove and find that rhythm was big for me. And that’s kind of why I struggled, I feel like in the beginning. But after I got my routine down and got everything like that ready, and then I feel like it’s been a lot better since.”
Can you take me through that sequence where it was you had a block on one end and a lob from Chris on the other, kind of in like 10 seconds.
“Just timing the ball, playing with that energy. Coach always says if your guy’s on the weak side, go and try to get it. So that’s what I was trying to do. Got it. And then saw CP called for it. And then I told him that I was there if you wanted to screen and then yeah. The rest is the rest. So I think he said the other night, he told you like I’ve made a lot of big guys money. No, absolutely. He has. And, he’s a great teammate. He’s great to play with, just the way that he talks about the game. He’s always trying to help me in certain situations. And he’s a great vet.”
I mean, how cool do you view that as a rookie that probably 10 years from now, you can tell people you played your rookie year with Chris Paul as a point guard?
“No, absolutely. Playing with Chris and Steph and all of these guys and they’re going to be in the Hall of Fame, which is just, it’s a blessing starting your career out here and just being able to play with guys like this. It’s not ordinary having this many legendary people on your team.”
Cool video in just the night for Jordan.
KLAY THOMPSON POSTGAME WSH-GSW: “Oh, it’s great. Gave me chills watching that tribute video, and it just shows you how fast time really moves when you play pro ball. And it was great to see the fan reception for Jordan. He deserved it. It was like walking down memory lane, watching that tribute video. Special.”
What do you think of how – I mean, Trayce’s past two games in particular – but him, Podziemski, Jonathan, all of these young guys have really stepped up and also gotten a lot more playing time than in years past?
“Yeah, it’s the nature of the beast. We’ve had injuries, guys out of the lineup and our rookie class has been really special this year. I know BP didn’t shoot the ball as well he wanted to tonight, but he fills up the stat sheet every time he’s out there, and he plays as hard as he can, and he made a huge impact, obviously, with the best plus-minus of the starting five, and then when it comes to Trayce Jr., his ability to keep blocking shots, and rebound, and catch lobs, it’s another double-dub, two in a row, double-doubles. We got a steal, two steals.”
Do you follow the draft, like, on draft night?
“I’ll watch the first 10 picks, because it’s such a cool experience for young players, but it’s hard to keep up the whole time. But it’s always fun to watch the draft.”
Do you check in at the end of the draft like who did the Warriors get or like? Do you just learn when you go to camp?
“Yeah, I’ll see who we draft. Yeah.”
Oh, yeah I’m mostly asking because, you got Trayce at 57.
“Wow.”
And I mean, are you coming to camp – you guys have had picks come and go, late picks, sometimes not even on the roster. Like, when we you like, ‘Oh, we got a center at 57 that can play now’?
“Well, I just look up his resume in college and it was incredibly impressive. I mean, he averaged like 20 and 10 and was a player of the year, I think, in his conference, or at least an All-American. And anytime you get a player like that, who’s ready to contribute, it’s awesome.”
Could you tell, in camp?
“Yeah, I could tell he could be a force in this league.”
You talked about Brandin’s hustle. He’s among the league leaders in charges taken. Moses is up there in charges taken, took another one tonight. What is that sort of, the fact that the rookies are doing sort of that gritty under the radar stuff, how much does that matter? And what kind of boost does that give the team?
“Oh, it’s huge. It’s why they play so many minutes. And it’s why they continue to stay on the floor is because of the hustle plays they do make. And Brandin saved a game for us this year from one of them, and Mo continues to cement himself in the rotation because of that hustle he brings.”
Just a quick follow up, what was that like in Portland? As Steve said, it’s pretty rare, very rare, to see basically a game-winning charge.
“It was awesome. And one of the highlights of the season. And has allowed us to continue this win streak, so hopefully tomorrow, go for win number five and go to Denver with a free swing.”
Klay, you’ve obviously played against guys who have been your teammates before, go elsewhere. What first game against somebody after they’ve been your teammate, especially for several seasons and a title like Jordan, is that almost like, he’s not here, but does that kind of make it sink in that this is just an opponent at this point?
“Yeah, it was weird, but, still gotta be a pro and go out there and win the game. At that point, Jordan’s our opponent. After the game, you can reminisce about all the great times, which we will do, and here’s nothing more than that.”
What’s Kuminga given you guys kind of consistently lately?
“An incredible finisher in the paint, incredible defender. And just someone who is so good attacking the rim and getting to the free throw line, adding a whole new dimension to our attack on offense. (Looks for another question, there is none.) Nice. (Throws paper airplane.) Heads up!”
I mean, what does it feel like out there? You’re gaining more minutes. You’re looking more comfortable, under the basket. You’re grabbing rebounds. You’re having fun. Do you feel like you’re getting better per game?
JONATHAN KUMINGA POSTGAME WSH-GSW: “Just growth. Part of growth. I want to say I got it all together, situated, but just so far, just grown as a basketball player and trying to figure it out to help the team win. That’s it.”
They seemed kind of really fired up when you kind of made that extra swing pass to Klay in the first half. I mean is that, how much easier are you seeing those plays this season?
“Klay is a better shooter. Good to great, like they always say. If it’s Klay wide-open, I’ll just, even if I’m wide open and Klay’s even open, I’ll just throw it to him back. Like I said, it’s about small details, like small things like that. They don’t show on the stat, but it gets everybody engaged, so once I see one, once Klay see one falling, that easy, it’s gonna make his game easier, ‘cause the rest of the shot gonna fall through. So like I say, a better shooter, wide-open, give it to him.”
What was it like to see Jordan?
“Oh, it was great. That was, that’s family, that’s my guy. I mean, I was excited to see him back. It was great to see him back for sure.”
What do you think of Trayce and what he’s been doing?
“Trayce been playing very well, man. It’s like, he understand everything. Just the way we play. Like I said, he just is playing really well. He knows his position. He knows what he needs to do. Like, it’s just so crazy how he’s keeping up with everything. Crazy.”
What was it like to see Jordan and also the video you guys played for him?
STEPHEN CURRY POSTGAME WSH-GSW: “It was great to see him. Obviously we have a lot of history and love to do what he brought to our team, brought back some good memories, obviously. And glad the fans gave him the response they did. It’s really weird playing against him, but it was fun. Obviously, I hope he had enjoyed the respect and the reception that he got.”
It’s gotten to a four game win streak now. What are you noticing about what’s going right flow wise in these last few games?
“Overall, you’re just playing with some good energy. As crazy as it sounds, I know we have a standard. I know we can play better. That’s how I kind of think; you appreciate the wins, but you kind of focus on the areas that we still can get better at, especially defensively. We’re winning despite our defense taking some steps back, which we can, in order for us to keep this winning streak and keep the vibes going, we have to address that. But for the most part, you’re learning lessons with winning. Guys are stepping up all across the roster. Trayce and what he’s been doing. CP steadily, plus-27 in a game where he controls the flow from the time he steps on the floor, BP giving us great energy. Klay shooting the ball, great playmaking, taking what the defense gives him. Everybody’s contributing. JK being efficient out there on the floor. So everybody’s trying to step up and make an impact and take their opportunity, run with it and we’re doing that and it’s leading the wins.”
Did you watch the second round of the draft or monitor it? What do you think?
“Probably not. At least the TV version.”
Are you on your phone like, I mean, you guys didn’t even have pick 57 so maybe you’re not even looking.
“No, I had tuned out at that point, yeah.”
When do you hear you got Trayce? I mean, right away, after the pick? You might have been part of the call, I don’t know.
“No, I wasn’t a part of it, but I got the text pretty quick that we picked him, and I knew about him having watched college basketball and a couple of Indiana games.”
Is your thought then like, ‘Oh, nice prospect,’ or he did have a pretty storied college career – are you thinking, ‘Oh, we might’ve got a guy that can come in and help’?
“I think you’re more so thinking about what his strengths could be in the league and he’s showing them right now. Athletic, like you said; those guys that play three, four years in college, they come with a level of maturity even. I think it’s wild. Saw PBJ tonight, like the joke was he’s three years older than our rookie that we had this year. So it’s kind of, there’s like a narrative around, an experienced college player coming in that he might be able to give you something, but you never really know how it’s going to play out. Just the strengths of what he has been doing for us. The way he’s impacting the game, there was hope that that’s what it would look like. So I’m glad he’s proven that.”
Pretty early on did you know early in camp like he could really help or are you just kind of learning now the way he can really help?
“There are moments in camp, but I think it’s understanding how the league has changed a little bit and for us, having that lob threat is a different look. Loon’s been unbelievable for years and still is, still impactful. Trayce gives you a little something different. And it’s a nice change of speed. I think his confidence, when he goes out there, he’s just playing hard. And that’s all – I love when young guys do that. That’s what they can control. And it’s turning into impact, so it’s a great advantage that he has and he’s using it.”
Stephen, you said it was pretty weird to face Jordan tonight. Was there any specific moment where something happened where you’re like, yeah, that’s him in that way, as you’re facing him in that way, that kind of made that sink in, I guess?
“No, I mean, his style, he’s got the flash, he’s got the speed, the quickness, you know that he’s making the shots. He knows he takes some tough ones and he plays with that flair. You are used to that. That’s just who he is. And on a nightly basis it can be really loud just depending on what the night is. But just seeing him before the game was really the – because I know there’s a lot of anticipation and build-up to this, to his return and all that, but it just brings back good memories of what we were able to accomplish in ‘22, but even just his journey from rookie year over those four years and all the ways we tried to help him, the ways he helped us. So, it brought back all those memories.”
We asked you about Trayce last game, but just like what new dimension and having a center like him? What does that bring to your team?
STEVE KERR POSTGAME WSH-GSW: “Yeah, Trayce is fantastic. I mean, he’s controlling the glass. He’s 15 rebounds tonight and he’s a lob threat. You saw a couple of plays there where he dove to the rim and guys found him. And even when he doesn’t get the ball on those plays, he’s pulling the defense and opening up other people. So he’s really giving us a different look at that spot. And he compliments Loon and Dario really well.”
Over the past, really, since you’ve been here, you’ve never been a team centered around a center that really plays a lot through a center. Can you think of anyone that you’ve had on your rosters that might have looked like Trayce or is he just really just something new for you?
“I think people forget we used to have five centers on our team for a few years. Everyone wondered why we had so many centers and now they all ask why we don’t have any. But my first couple years we had Andrew Bogut. And we ran a lot of our offense through him at the top of the key, and he was the master of dribble-handoffs and diving to the rim. That’s pretty high praise, I mean, he’s got a long way to go, Trayce does, to become Andrew Bogut, but it’s a similar threat. Trayce is also a very good passer, like Bogues was, but just being able to run those dribble-handoffs and dives.”
I think all three of your guards threw him a lob tonight. What does it do for them, when you have a lob threat like that?
“Yeah, it just, it just creates another possible play, when they’re coming downhill and he’s behind the play, then that becomes an option. But, it just pulls the defense in from the weak side. And so now, he pass out to the perimeter is usually more open as well.”
Saw you had a nice hug and long talk with Jordan after and you’re saying you’re happy to see him. Was it even a little emotional, going through it, seeing the video and seeing him play against you? And then obviously the moment afterwards.
“It was wonderful. The video and the ovation Jordan got was to me the highlight of the game, so well deserved, for what he did for our organization and for our fans and players and coaches. Just the work that he put in and obviously becoming a key member of a championship team. Jordan deserved that ovation. It was wonderful to see.”
Chris was plus 26. I think it just seemed like every time he went in, you picked up the lead. Was this kind of the game for him, an unorganized game? Maybe things were a little loose. And then did you just see CP3 just kind of take over?
“Yeah, I mean, they play at the fastest pace in the league. And that was the message before the game was, don’t get caught up in a track meet; we need to make them guard and get great shots, not just decent ones. And the first five minutes we took a bunch of ill-advised shots and they raced out to a lead. So Chris came in immediately and the game settled down. But that’s what he does. That’s who he is. He’s one of the greats of all time and it seems like every game you look at the stat sheet, he’s got eight or 10 assists and one turnover and he’s plus whatever 27 tonight.”
Stephen and a couple others got some extended rest at the end. How important is that given the load that they had over the last?
“Yeah, and playing tomorrow at 5:30. We were really hoping not to have to put Steph back in. And he heard me at the beginning of the fourth quarter. I said to the other coaches, it’d be great, be great to not have to put Steph back in. And he kind of poked in the huddle and said, ‘No, I want to play.’ And that’s who Steph is. He always wants to be out there. But yeah it was good. Nobody played more than 29 minutes and we need our legs for tomorrow. Portland’s coming in here with a team a little bit like Washington in terms of pace. But more talented and obviously capable of coming in here and beating us. So we gotta be ready for tomorrow.”
I think that’s eight straight double digit games from Kuminga. What are you seeing from him from a consistency standpoint?
“The plays that Jonathan is making that really make me smile are the extra passes. He had another one tonight where he hit Klay for a three. He wasn’t seeing those plays over the last couple of years, and now he’s really starting to feel and see. The extra pass, especially when it’s to Steph or Klay. I mean, you’re playing with maybe the two greatest shooters of all time, like, get them to the ball quickly when the ball is swung because the defense can’t recover fast enough, so he’s starting to see those plays, and then he’s also recognizing when to attack and how to get to the rim. So JK has been fantastic. I think this is the best stretch of basketball he’s ever played.”
Steve, you guys have won four in a row now. And what do you think of your defense during this period? And what do you think it needs to do to get to the next step? What did you do in the first half?
“Well, we gave up a lot of little stuff in the first half. We’re late on box outs, late on switches, and that led to fouls. And so they shot 18 free throws in the first half, and we cleaned up a lot of that in the second half, and that’s why they didn’t go to the line much. So that’s the big thing is just being the aggressor seeing plays before they happen, seeing the box out, seeing the switch getting there early. And when we do that, we’re a very good defensive team.”
You mentioned yesterday about the need to increase the pace, you’ve got to pick up better defense as the schedule gets tougher, and it will very soon. Is that something you still want to see from your guys?
“Yeah, I mean, if we can turn defense into offense, that’s the best offense, right? You get out, get a stop and get out in transition and then the defense can’t set up. And we’ve got obviously a lot of really talented players who now have space to make a play. So that’s what we’re looking for. Yeah.”
Steve, what would be your advice to someone like Jordan who’s just trying to figure out how to lead? How do you feel about having a young team like this right now?
“I don’t feel like that’s my place, to say publicly what I think he needs to do. Jordan’s a great young guy. We had a great relationship while he was here. And I figured out how to coach him. It took a couple of years, but I sort of learned how to coach Jordan. And he’s just in a different role now, playing for a young team that’s rebuilding. It’s a totally different experience, but he’s got good people around him and good coaches and they’ll help him find the way.”
You started Looney both halves and that’s the only minutes he played. Is that important to you just to have him be at the start of the game and maybe plot the rest of the minutes, however they’re going to go?
“Yeah, we need Loon. We’re going to need him. And there will be games where he plays a lot more than he played tonight or last game. Right now we’re in a good groove, with Trayce playing and Dario coming off the bench, and so we like the rotation, but there’s a game coming soon where Loon’s going to be out there a lot more, and so I want him to keep his rhythm and his conditioning, and everything always shifts in this league. Things change quickly, and Loon will find his way back into the groove and definitely be playing more minutes, but right now, I mean, Trayce is really playing well, and so we’ll keep giving him minutes.”
GAME NOTES FROM WSH-GSW
(See Comments in video for game notes)
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