NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS: WARRIORS VS GRIZZLIES

May 7, 2022

Steph Curry

Golden State Warriors

Game 3: Postgame

Golden State Warriors 142, Memphis Grizzlies 102

Q. We can just kind of start with the Morant/Poole play which I'm sure you've seen?

STEPH CURRY: The what?

Q. The play with Morant and Poole near halftime that the Grizzlies seem to have indicated that that's where Ja got hurt. Have you seen it?

STEPH CURRY: Yeah, I saw it.

Q. I figured. What's kind of your view of it?

STEPH CURRY: It's unfortunate that that's a conversation right now because obviously nobody wants to see anybody get hurt. But there's nothing malicious about what Jordan did. There's no comparison to what Dylan did or Draymond, like nothing in that vein. So it's not a joking matter that Ja is hurt but all the rest it is total B.S. in terms of the conversation right now.

I remember that term that came up with hot stove contact, that's what it felt like. Keep it moving.

Q. What went right offensively for you guys in we've seen you get hot but this was sustained, kept going, shoot 62 percent as a team, what was going so right to that awe all that to happen?

STEPH CURRY: Just composure and intentions on offensive end. Everything that we learned from what we didn't do well in Game 2. Even a little bit in Game 1 where the way they defend, they are extremely athletic and they make multiple efforts. You really have to just keep things simple and hit the open guy and make the right cut and let the game come to you.

Obviously the way they started, it's even more impressive that we settled in knowing it was, what, 28 at one point and they were hitting shots from all over to let the offense just work for us. We still had 14 turnovers in the first half and we can get better with that how we start the game.

But three in the second half, which why the game opened up and we started to make shots and you get to the rim, get ball moving, and just have great offensive possessions that then let you get the defense set and give you momentum where you're not chasing them in transition.

Just a great night of execution in terms of things we know will help us win games.

Q. You've been in the shoes where the defense is attacking you before Game 2, that's what they did to Jordan. What do you think of how he responded and the way he went on the attack?

STEPH CURRY: It's going to keep happening, whether it's me, him, whoever. That's the nature of the playoffs. But you just have to take that challenge seriously. You have to have some pride around it, knowing that they are trying to put you in the actions for a reason. That doesn't mean you're going to get a stop every time. It just means you did your job. First point of attack, be physical, don't have any break downs. Whether they score or not, you just try and make them earn it and obviously not foul.

I think he made the right adjustments and got to keep doing it because when playoff basketball slows down, those matchups matter. And if you do your job on the ball, you have help behind you. More times than not, you'll be in a good position.

Q. How do you see Klay approach this game tonight compared to the first two games of the series?

STEPH CURRY: Just let it come to him. Be patient. I don't think he took a three in the first half, and then came out in the second half and besides the one-footed runner, everything else was pretty under control, and it shows in the numbers and efficiency. I was the only one that brought the three-point percentage down.

Just a matter of just being confident over the course of your minutes, you're going to get good looks. Might look a little different in terms of the amount of attempts or the way they come but if we all use each other, good things will happen, and they can't guard everything. So he was able to finish a lot of plays because he just was patient.

Q. Late first half, Wiggins gets a rebound, goes coast-to-coast, becomes a bully, get the dunk. What did you think of that segment there from Wiggs?

STEPH CURRY: I told him in the fourth quarter that that was the switch that was flipped in terms of our energy and welcoming himself and the whole team to Game 3. Like it was an assertive play that, honestly, I was like surprised. I just saw the look in his eyes, and he was not worried about anything other than just getting to the rim and finishing.

You need that fire. You need that level of physicality on the offensive end for him because he has the ability to do that. It was not just for his confidence. It was a great play for all of us to get the crowd into it, get our juices flowing. You saw Draymond's reaction; yelled three straight times at him. We love to see that come out of Wiggs.

Q. You guys are now eight games into the playoffs and with Kuminga starting tonight, you're still trying out different lineups to start the game. What's it like trying to navigate that at this point of the season?

STEPH CURRY: It's the challenge that we have to accept, knowing all year we had kind of a revolving door of starting lineups. We expected there to be a little bit more consistency coming to the playoffs, and unfortunately with GP's injury and matchups in the first round with Denver, it's kind of a roll-the-dice situation where you're trying new looks.

But for everybody, the approach to how we play, it's all the same. Our keys are very simple in terms of basketball. Like don't turn the ball over, take good shots and don't foul, and rebound. How everybody approaches that, whether you start or coming off the bench, that shouldn't matter. So for him, just stay confident knowing he's going to get an opportunity.

Q. Another game where Porter is fighting for every loose ball, boxing out, plus 30. When did you know he was this kind of player, not just a spot up, hit some threes. As Draymond mentioned, he was a max player, got hurt. But when did you know he was this kind of player?

STEPH CURRY: I don't know a specific moment but at some point in the regular season where -- he just has a high IQ for the game. A lot of times during the regular season, the rebounding would be one thing. But he would always just be in the right position and set a good flare screen, or we would do a swing-swing and he would pin in on his own guy; plays that you can't teach. You just have a read and a feel for how things flow.

There's always kind of good confidence when he can make those type of plays, because again, like our motion offense, like find yourself in positions where you have to create some type of advantage, and he did it in very kind of creative and clever ways.

The rebounding is just an added bonus in terms of, especially if we're playing small and he's at the four, getting his extra possessions and all that. So he just finds a way to make his presence felt. Obviously tonight he made shots, and it was even better. So you can trust him out there no matter what he's asked to do.

Q. Saw you talking to Ja's father; and the relationship that you have with your father, is it good to see his dad coming out here supporting his son? You've gotten that over the years. What do you think their closeness is like and what does that mean to a player like yourself when your dad supports you like that?

STEPH CURRY: It's everything. Just I don't know much about the history in terms of his upbringing but to have your pops there supporting you, bringing good energy, enjoying the highs, the lows of this level of basketball, it means a lot. You could tell how much it matters in terms of like making it about Ja, not so much about him. Like every day he talks about even if it's criticism or play, it's about uplifting your son and he canning great things out of him.

So you love to see it. I think the way that him and Karl Towns, Sr. were going at him, he talked to my pops about it a little bit. It's just about a sense of pride of your son playing at the highest level of games that make you feel something, and you love to see your dad out there supporting you, but also happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there.