Steph Curry expects ‘fun' NBA play-in tournament game between Warriors, Clippers
Warriors point guard Steph Curry speaks to reporters after Golden State's 115-110 loss vs. the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night at Intuit Dome.
Steph Curry expects 'fun' NBA play-in tournament game between Warriors, Clippers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Video Transcript
I feel great.
I'm, you know, I'm above minutes just a little bit, and, try to get as prepared for Wednesday as possible.
So physically, you know, in a, in a decent spot, and got hopefully enough rest to be on south for Wednesday.
What do you think about just the matchup, early thoughts on the matchup?
It's gonna be fun.
I mean, we know who they are.
we played 'em, you know, twice since the trade deadline, and they're a little faster pace, you know.
Obviously without Kawhi tonight, but we know what he's about and how well he's been playing.
so it's just gonna be which team can, you know, underst- get obviously their game plan together, but stick to that as much as possible.
They're a physical defensive team, like to switch a lot, so we gotta be, you know, properly spaced on offense.
And, we had, you know, some, some good stretches tonight to kinda show that, without Draymond.
So, you know, it'll be great to have him back for Wednesday.
It's still a small sample size, but what chemistry do you think you and Poor Sing has have been able to forge so far?
Just two threats out there, I think that's the biggest thing.
he can stretch the floor as a, as a big, he can take advantage of mismatches in the post.
And, you know, when we really get the ball moving, we try to create good shots for him, and he can create driving l- angles 'cause as a guy, wherever he is, you don't really wanna sag off of him too much.
So like you said, it hasn't been a crazy, you know, big sample size, but I think we, we figured out enough of the chemistry, even in the pick and roll.
There were some things tonight that we worked on, just knowing where he, you know, where he likes to be on the floor, timing, and all that type of stuff.
Yeah.
Which we got to put it together in a do or die game, on Wednesday.
Last four games, the scoreboard hasn't meant, meant too much.
It's been about, more about rhythm and health.
How easy or hard is it to shift into that one game do or die kind of mentality?
Super easy, 'cause we've been there before, whether it's a game seven or the many play-in games that we've been fortunate enough to play in, so.
mentally, it's just come with the right approach, the right mentality.
You know, you're gonna have to, as a, as a group, we're gonna have to withstand some runs.
We know the ups and downs of you're not gonna play perfect, but can we just play hard for forty-eight minutes and not shoot ourselves in the foot with turnovers like we did in the Sacramento game, or, allowing a team to play to their strengths, and that's just game plan discipline.
So if we can do those things, you can give yourself a chance, and that's all you want.
It should be fun either way it goes.
Darius said he appreciates playing against you because you're a guy that- Who?
Darius Garland.
He was just saying that right now, that he appreciates playing against you, and you're a guy that he grew up watching, and he says that you really affected the way that he plays.
I'm just curious what you think about his game and also still at this stage of your career competing against guys in games like this who are saying things like that about you.
That's, that's, that's still weird, surreal that you're this deep into your career that you have that influence.
But, he was a guy when, when he first showed up in Cleveland that you knew he was gonna be a problem in the league just 'cause of his skill set, his composure, obviously his speed.
But, you know, he's just a gamer, and I know he's been dealing with some injuries, earlier in the year and over the course of his career, but when he's out there, he's, he's always a threat.
it's great to see him kinda continuing to grow, and even in a new set, in a new setting, continue to figure it out.
How grateful are you for, for the play-in?
This is no joke.
I mean, in years past where it's probably been bad for y'all that, that the play-in was created, but this is the type of season where eliminated one game .
Yeah, we got bit by in the first one, right?
Yeah.
In AC?
Yeah.
Is this, is this the third or fourth time that you've been in it?
Fourth.
Fourth.
Fourth.
Lost the first one.
Last year you were in a- Lost the second one Kings game, a couple- Oh, yeah, we were nine, so.
Got out of it last year.
You were ten that year.
We've been ten twice this time?
Yeah.
I guess, yeah, you're, grateful for it now just to be able to have another game and hope another game to keep your season alive.
this is such a unique year just 'cause of the way it's gone.
It's not like you've underperformed.
You've just been hit with so many injuries that your expectation had to shift because of, you know, availability, so.
And then the trade deadline, we made a move, and, you know, we're scratching and clawing, trying to get as many guys back, you know, to play in time to make, you know, that, this, this play-in game on Wednesday worth it.
So, I'm excited to have another game for sure, but, you know, you, you came into the year with a different mindset, but now you gotta, you gotta adjust.
Kawhi's averaging a career high in points, three-point attempts, and makes.
How do you begin to prepare for a guy like that?
Same way we do, you know, every night.
You know who's keying on, you know the tendencies, you know what our game plan's gonna be.
just come with a level of focus.
And you obviously know a guy like K- Kawhi, you can play your best defense that you want, and he still can get his numbers.
It's just how, how he gets them and making him work.
And, you know, I feel it all the time.
You gotta be able to impose our will, even if, you know, he still gets his 'cause that's the challenge to try to, you know, beat those guys.
How much confidence- Last one how much confidence is having a guy like Draymond be able to throw, throw him on Kawhi kind of give you confidence that you guys can do that?
Had that confidence for thirteen years now.
Is that right?
Fourteen?
Fourteen.
