NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS: WARRIORS VS GRIZZLIES

May 13, 2022

Tyus Jones

Desmond Bane

Memphis Grizzlies

Game 6: Postgame

Golden State - 110, Memphis - 96

Q. What's the message like with the team? What's the feeling right now. I mean, we just seen Taylor, Jaren, Dillon all come in here basically say this is the most fun they have had with a basketball team.

TYUS JONES: Honestly, it has been and it, this is a unique group that we got, we've said it all year, but just been a fun, fun season. Something that you got to cherish because this is not normal, this is easily the closest team that I've been on and been a part of, this team we've had the most fun, this is the most fun I've had since I got into the league and yeah, it's just, it's a special group, special unit that we had and definitely something that you can't take for granted. It's just special what we have is special.

Q. Des, in a series that was probably even closer than 4-2, a lot of games could have gone either way, what will you take from this series as a group do you think and into future post-season runs?

DESMOND BANE: Yeah, I mean I think it's kind of similar to last year. The feeling that we have right now, last year we felt like we had a good year, went into the playoffs, made the playoffs, and then we came back this year on a mission to build off of that. I think we did a good job of that and same mentality. Obviously celebrate for a week or so but then after that it's right back to the drawing board and trying to prepare for next season and build off of what we did.

Q. Des, has the way that this season has gone for you, you made a big leap, you did the Rising Stars, you're here in the playoffs, in what way has that changed your outlook going forward to next season and beyond that?

DESMOND BANE: I mean, nothing. Going into the off-season the goal's always to improve and get better. So that's the main goal and we're going to come back next year, add some things to my game and be able to help this team hopefully make a little bit deeper run. But going into the off-season, same mentality. Make another leap.

Q. (No microphone.)

DESMOND BANE: Yeah, yes and no. I mean, yeah in some areas. I mean, I want to, I pride myself on being healthy, and getting hurt, kind of tweaking my back at a time like this kind of shows me that I probably got to do more in the off-season to be able to withstand the long minutes and long season. So that's one area that I'll prioritize this off-season.

Q. Coach Jenkins didn't want to get into it without playing without Ja. Jaren said that he's 40 points and eight assists and everything else that he had. Did you guys feel like you were playing with an arm behind your back in this series or did you just try to put that out of your mind knowing going in without Ja?

DESMOND BANE: I didn't feel that way at all. Obviously Ja's a superstar, but Tyus filled in and was huge for us throughout the whole series. I mean, he gave us that lift that we needed throughout the entire series.

So to say that we were playing without or with one arm behind our back, I don't think that's the case at all. Obviously when you're missing anybody that plays in a rotation, you know, this late in the season you feel it and you feel for him. But I think Tyus and everybody did a great job stepping up.