Steph Curry grateful for Warriors' ‘meaningful' NBA play-in opportunity
Warriors star Steph Curry speaks to reporters Tuesday ahead of Golden State's NBA play-in game vs. the Los Angeles Clippers at Intuit Dome.
Steph Curry grateful for Warriors' 'meaningful' NBA play-in opportunity originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Video Transcript
You ready for thirty-five minutes tomorrow?
Oh, don't start with me, Jack.
Are you feeling all right?
I feel great.
Ready to, ready to go.
just understand what the circumstance is and the opportunity to keep our season alive.
So, you know, we've been here before.
I understand what the, the adrenaline's gonna feel like.
You know, just gotta lock in on the prep that we've done the last two days, try to play harder than them, you know, stick to our game plan.
and then I know just the way, you know, it, it's been, we haven't had our full rotation or our playoff rotation available to us, so just try to get to the chemistry that we need to get to pretty quick and, assert ourselves early, and hopefully we have a good night.
You, you've talked about wanting to play meaningful basketball.
Does this situation right now feel like that type of situation, that meaningful basketball that you were talking about?
Yeah, even though it's a different narrative than what we came into the season, it is, like I said, an opportunity for us to keep our, you know, season alive and give ourselves a chance to get into a playoff series.
We've had every experience, from playing to being a lower seed and winning, home court advantage, number one seed, like everything.
We've pretty much experienced it all, so you'll tap into whatever you need to to get ready for, you know, tomorrow.
What, what's the genesis of that phrase, meaningful basketball?
Is that something you heard from someone else?
And, I mean, first time I've heard someone say it often is you.
I might have to trademark it.
But, you know, just like with your dad- No, it's just, I think it was a concept just of how I wanted to frame or, how we would end this run that we've been on.
you know, it, it's hard to keep this thing together.
We all know that.
You know, what we've done over the last decade plus has been, you know, very special, unique.
Been at the, you know, top of the mountain, had to fall down, climb back up, and meaningful basketball is just a way to, for us to, you know, with the, the core, me, Draymond, Steve, you know, when Klay was here, it was just an idea of trying to keep it together and still be competitive and still try to chase championships.
But the framework of what we've built, knowing that regular seasons are always kind of an emotional rollercoaster, but you're building towards the meaningful games that matter, and this is a rep. And given that you guys have been locked into the 10th seed for a while, does this feel like your first meaningful game since game one in Minnesota?
I mean, it's hard, I imagine, to label a November game as meaningful in December.
No, those are meaningful too.
Yeah.
For sure.
I'm gonna go at the, the regular season don't matter narrative, 'cause if we as players- Right they really, like when you're out there playing, it still feels, even though there might not be do or die stakes, like your life is on the line every night, you know, when you go out there.
But, but when you say meaningful basketball, you're mostly referring to, I assume, playoffs and- Well the, the, that, I think the frame is the build up to- Right and then obviously now it is- Right you know, a playoff, you know, situation.
But I think meaningful can mean also what you're building to throughout the regular season of habits, details, and identity, and we didn't really have that opportunity this year because of injuries and, and all of that.
So yeah, now we're in a, a sprint to put it all together for tomorrow.
What's the difference between- So Steph, you and, Garrett have always had that strong connection, but what have you observed on what's gone into his growth this season, availability and just his overall progression?
I, you mean, you'd have to ask him what he's done behind, you know, closed doors to get his body right, take care of himself, put the work in.
but when he's out there, you know, he provides, he's, he plays way bigger than his stature.
He makes winning plays all over the court.
He's a match-up kind of nightmare, you don't know what position he is.
He kind of, you know, can fill a lot of different, roles for you.
and he is, you know, a champion for a reason because he's been in the biggest games and has, you know, shown what he's capable of.
So I'm just happy that he's had a great run this year where he's been able to, you know, string, a healthy season together.
and we're better for it when he's out there.
What- What's the, what's the difference between prepping for a game seven versus preparing for a play-in game?
Those other six games where you really get to know a team inside and out almost better than they know themselves, there's no replacing that 'cause game seven, it could be literally one tweak of an offensive play or a def- one defensive strategy that could swing the momentum of a game seven.
The play-in is, you're guessing a lot going into it, not knowing You know the identity of the Clippers and what they do and what their strong, their strengths are, but you have to kind of assume that they're gonna guard you a certain way or, their rotation's gonna be a certain way.
In a playoff series, you feel that out game after game after game.
and you basically have the book on them before a game seven.
So it's, the prep is different, but I think the feeling in the game is the same.
So there's a similarity there.
Steph, when you were sidelined, Draymond shared on his podcast that you promised to, to come back, obviously by the end of the season.
What does it mean to still be doing this together with him at this point in your guys' careers?
That was the biggest motivating factor, was to not let the season go by and not just have an opportunity to play, becauseWhen I got hurt initially, I didn't think I was gonna be out that long, and then it dragged on and dragged on.
And I kept telling him, you know, I felt bad for him 'cause I couldn't do anything to help him.
but he was, you know, battling, showing up every night, giving us what he had.
So for me just to even just have a chance to play, like, I'm very, I don't take that for granted 'cause two weeks ago, like I-- there was a couple days I didn't know if, I'd have the, the chance to even get out there.
So, I'm grateful no matter how it turns out.
What does this time of year bring out of Draymond?
When you give him a specific challenge, whether it's a match-up or a hustling game, you know, brings the best out of all of us.
I mean, him as a competitor, his strengths are-- I mean, obviously his IQ defensively, offensively.
And when we have time to prepare for a match-up that we know going in what we need to do to win that specific game, it's like a ultimate game of chess that he loves to play.
and it just brings a competitive spirit out of him that's built the resume that he has.
Still speaking of Draymond, he famously said there's sixteen game players and eighty-two game players.
You played at this level a real long time.
What is the difference that you see between player A and player B in those settings?
your success frames that because you don't know who you are until you go through those reps.
So it's really just production when it matters most.
Some people cave, some people show up, some people are resilient.
They were to deal with one bad game, and only leave it at one bad game and bounce back.
the ability to key in on a, on a strategy when you look across the court and somebody knows exactly what you're gonna do, but you're still able to do it, take advantage of the match-up, whatever it is.
Like, all those things kind of boil up to being a playoff-type player and enjoying those moments, when the, when the lights are bright and not running away from them.
So because you're exposed in the playoffs.
It's-- there's no, there's no hiding, there's no running, there's no catching anybody by surprise.
and the guys that can overcome all of that and do it over and over and over again, you start to get that sixteen game label.
Steph, do you remember what it felt like your very first NBA Play-in Game, which I guess is two thousand and thirteen, I guess?
Like it was yesterday in Denver.
In Colorado.
The first half was a, a blur.
I probably played the worst half of all time.
And then you-- Because you, you almost psyche yourself out thinking that it's a different game.
it gets-- But the adrenaline and the energy and the building is definitely different, but the game itself, it is just basketball.
So, I do remember that first rep.
It was, it was, it was a true, like blur.
Like, you're just out there running around, not even knowing what, you're stepping in.
The fact that you've been in so many Play-in Games over the years, but you didn't make any the first three years of your career, do you appreciate it maybe more because of that?
Do you-- I mean, how much did you sort of yearn for it early in your career when you got to- That used to be one of the jokes because Dray-- when Draymond got here, he-- we made the playoffs his first year.
Right.
Klay was the lockout year, so that kind of didn't count.
But I got-- I was the only one of those- Right those three that had experienced the non-playoff- Right Warriors and, So yeah, I definitely appreciate it a lot.
Just, you know, it's not a, a foregone conclusion- Right, right that you're gonna be, you know, one of those sixteen teams, even though it is mathematically part of what this playoffs is.
So.
Fair point.
Steph, back to Draymond.
That last one- Draymond was saying that the connection with you and Gary has been so strong that he even claims at times that it's even better of a connection than you and Draymond on the court.
How do you look at that?
I appreciate his humility.
no, it's different.
There's a-- moments in the Houston game when I first came back that first game and that lineup that closed the game, even though we didn't win, there was just a rhythm and a flow to it, and PG and, and Draymond were all, like, in unison, and it was hilarious.
There were plays that we hadn't even discussed, talked about, ran through, whatever, in months.
And in the middle of the fourth quarter, like, I'm giving him a hand signal, or at the free throw line, I'm yelling a word that he know- only us three really know what it is, and, we executed it.
It's like we, we've, you know, we've earned it based on the reps we've gone through.
So I appreciate Draymond's humility, but I got great connections with both of them.
