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NBA PLAYOFFS ROUND ONE: CLIPPERS vs WARRIORS

April 21, 2019

Steve Kerr

Los Angeles, California: Game Four

Warriors - 113, Clippers - 105

Q. How do you compare and contrast how Kevin and Klay carried you guys through different stretches of the game.
STEVE KERR: Well, they both had big nights shooting the ball and I thought both were very engaged defensively, as well. Both of them were fantastic.

Q. Can you talk about what you saw from the youth of the Clippers and just their future?
STEVE KERR: I thought the Clippers were fantastic today. Their effort and their energy, they were attacking us all over the floor defensively. I didn't think we fully engaged in the game until they kind of took it to us in that third quarter, took the lead, and once that happened, I thought that's when our guys engaged. We started taking care of the ball and defending at a higher level.

But I love their team. They're a young group that fights and scraps and plays together, plays hard, and I just told our guys in there, that's what we're going to see Wednesday, too. Can't be any let-ups because this group is connected and young and energetic and playing hard and well-coached, so we've got to make sure we continue to lock in.

Q. Steph started out 0 of 6 from the field and 1 of 5 from three. When he gets a rough start like that, is it more so about trying to get him going early or letting everybody to continue to play within the flow of the offense?
STEVE KERR: No, you just keep playing and you trust that he's going to impact the game because he's such a great player whether his shots are going in or not. But yeah, tough day for Steph, but this is the way the game goes. Guys sometimes have a huge night, sometimes they struggle, but the great players like Steph, Kevin, Klay, they bounce back pretty quickly from tough shooting nights. So that's what I would expect on Wednesday.

Q. How important was that mini-stretch at the start of the fourth where you got Durant and Curry on the bench and you bumped the lead up, and how important will that pocket of the game be during this stretch?
STEVE KERR: Yeah, we're mixing and matching a little bit and we had to change our rotation because of Steph's early foul trouble. But the third quarter we were able to keep a pretty regular rotation out there, and as I said, I thought the last part of the third and the early fourth were really important moments for us in the game. The guys who came in to start that fourth did an excellent job executing. We got some good buckets and some stops and kept the game going for us.

Q. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is compared by some people to Shaun Livingston or even Andre Iguodala. What did you see from him tonight and do you think those comparisons are appropriate?
STEVE KERR: He's a really good player. For a rookie to come in and attack with confidence the way he did, that shows you what he's about. I thought he was great. He really hurt us, especially in that first half, and I thought we did a better job on him in the second half. He's got a great future.

Q. How big was Alfonzo McKinnie there in that little stretch in the fourth quarter where he tipped that offensive rebound out to Steph?
STEVE KERR: Yeah, Zo has been great these first four games of the Playoffs. He has the athleticism to not only hang in an NBA playoff game but even to stand out in a playoff game. He gets a lot of offensive rebounds. He's good defensively. He's smart. And I thought he gave us huge minutes tonight.

Q. You mentioned Steph's foul trouble. Why do you think that's been a problem for him these last couple games?
STEVE KERR: He just hasn't been focused. I don't know if you saw his shoes. Did you see his shoes? One shoe said "no" and the other shoe said "reach." He didn't reach as much tonight, so that was good. But Steph sometimes loses focus. He's such a fascinating player because -- the same thing that makes him not hesitate to shoot a fadeaway 30-footer maybe is the same thing that gets him in foul trouble. You know, he doesn't overthink much, and so he's just gotten into a habit lately of reaching, and instead of showing his hands and trusting the help behind him. Did a better job in the second half. I don't think he picked up a foul. Maybe he did late, I don't know. But he'll be fine. I mean, he's just in a little bit of a rut right now with that stuff, but second half was a good spell for him where he was disciplined and stayed in the game.

Q. Obviously Gallinari has had some tough shooting against you guys. How do you attribute the credit for what you guys have been able to do defensively on him this series?
STEVE KERR: Well, the Playoffs are -- they're a different deal for everybody. You know, you're so much more locked in defensively. You can see what the Clippers are trying to take away with our three-point shooting, and that's what we're trying to do to them, too. We're trying to take away guys coming off screens, and we know what a huge factor and key Gallinari is for them. So we're doing our best to try to pressure him, stay in front of him and challenge every shot because when he has big games, the Clippers generally win, and so he's a real key for them.

Q. To follow on the note on Alfonzo, what were you expecting he could give you knowing this is his first go-around?
STEVE KERR: This is exactly what I expected. The thing I love about Zo is he's fearless. He's never shied away from a shot. He has scrapped and clawed to get to this point in his career. He's played everywhere, overseas and G-League. So he's making the most of his moment. This is not surprising to me from a guy who's had to fight his way into a job. As I said, I thought he really helped us tonight.

Q. Can you talk about what you saw from Klay in the first half and what it means when he has a first half like that, what it does for your offense along with Kevin Durant and Steph Curry?
STEVE KERR: Well, when Klay gets going like that, it fuels the whole bench. You can see everybody jumping around. Everybody gets happy. We all love when Klay gets hot. It fuels our momentum. It didn't surprise me at all. He kind of had a quiet first few games of the series, so it was only a matter of time until he broke out.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports

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