NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS: WARRIORS VS GRIZZLIES

May 13, 2022

Steph Curry

Golden State Warriors

Game 6: Postgame

Golden State Warriors 110, Memphis Grizzlies 96

Q. Mike mentioned the discussions between you and Draymond to put Looney in the starting lineup, beginning even as early as towards the end of Game 5 on the bench. Do you remember that discussion taking place? What made you green-light that it should be Looney as the fifth starter?

STEPH CURRY: It was a feeling in terms of like, we don't know that -- I ain't have advance analytics in front of me or numbers and all that, just a feeling in terms of how the series had changed how after Steven Adams came back Game 4, or Game 3, and then his impact in Game 4 or 5 that we needed to start with some size, kind of counter that knowing we could figure out the offensive end and get to some dip patterns and make some adjustments on that end of the floor. It would give us a chance to take that physicality that they were copping at us with, get off to a better start defensively, and settle into the game.

We finally won our first quarter and obviously Loon was unreal in the second half with his presence, his rebounding and the way he impacted the game. It's a testament to our experience in terms of the feel on the court knowing that the series changed dramatically from one game to the next and we needed to make that adjustment.

Q. To see Klay going off in Game 6 and you have a big fourth quarter, does all feel right with the world when Klay is in a Game 6 playing well?

STEPH CURRY: It absolutely does from the first shot he hit, it was like this -- it's what he's been looking forward to since he got hurt back in the 2019 Finals. It's a different joy. It's a different energy. When you see him getting off, especially in front of our home crowd, it's just fun to watch.

I think we can obviously continue to play better. When you say all is right in the world, we won and we figured out, we showed our competitiveness and our know-how to win down the stretch, but we can continue to build on this as we move forward to the next round no matter who to play.

Not lost on this journey is the fact that we are still trying to peak at the right time as a team that's going through this for the first time together. So it's an exciting time to get past this series and look forward to what's coming next.

Q. With 70 rebounds and the way that Looney and Wiggins crashed on the offensive glass, how important was that when shots weren't falling for a stretch that you got all those extra opportunities and made a difference late?

STEPH CURRY: All three of those guys obviously, 22, 15, 11, me and Klay with 15 combined, like, we remember how it felt in Game 5 when we lost the possession game by a mile. And for us to even overcome 17 turnovers with playing pretty solid defense, even though Brooks and Bane had a good game, like we still made them work for it, and then on misses we were able to get rebounds and got extra possessions on the offensive glass, and we took advantage of it, and it kept us in the game until that fourth quarter run when we kind of went for the jugular.

Great adjustment a mindset and approach perspective knowing how dominant they were in Game 5. We said it's going to show a lot about who we are tonight, and we answered the call.

Q. With this Grizzlies group, your updated feelings about who they are; when they came into the playoffs, they took a lot of pride with how they pushed you out last year. With the edge and how it was back and forth, how do you see the group?

STEPH CURRY: I have a lot of respect for every single guy on the team in terms of how they are built as a group, the individual talent. They have a lot of energy, a lot of potential in terms of you know winning at the highest level.

They were the higher seed for a reason. They had an amazing regular season and dominated throughout the course of those 82 games. For us to be able to come out of the series with a W, like there's definitely respect. There's definitely an understanding that they made us better; I'm sure we made them better. And who knows what happens down the road but they will be here for a long time just because they have a lot going for them. So definitely respect.

Q. Is this the loudest you've heard it at Chase so far

STEPH CURRY: Yeah, deepest we've played, so hopefully it continues. Haven't lost here, and it's predicated on just the ability for us to -- hopefully it's not a situation where you have to keep flipping that switch. I think Klay's three with a minute and a half, something like two minutes left, that was the loudest I think I've ever heard it. And I didn't even go crazy. I just took a second to look up and embrace it and enjoy the experience. It was really dope. And for us to have an opportunity to keep playing, hopefully it continues to get better.

Q. What did Memphis do to give you a hard time, not only in the series, but especially in this last game when Ja goes out and they changed their defense. What did you have to figure out to come through in the fourth?

STEPH CURRY: They have personnel to bother a lot of your normal actions in terms of Dillon is going to press up knowing that he's got help behind him, and he's a pretty good defender where at the first line of attack, it's not going to be easy.

Then you get into the paint and you've got Steven Adams trailing you. You have got Jaren Jackson pulling over and his presence and size, and rim protection is crazy.

Then they made adjustments where they try to funnel us into specific spots on the court, make us throw it out and just try to stay home and force tough shots.

We felt all that but we felt like we could have shot it better but there definitely was an impact in terms of just their personnel in the way that they defend perimeter, the paint and force you to just make tough plays. So over the course of 48, we till couldn't figure out how to control those turnovers, but we created enough good shots that we can pick up momentum and create separation down the stretch, which was obviously helpful.

Q. This team has been through a lot over the last couple of years, but how does it feel to be back in the Western Conference Finals?

STEPH CURRY: It's unbelievable knowing what we've been through these last few years, and six out of the last eight, we have an opportunity to play for the Finals.

And like I said, I think me, Draymond, Klay, Loon, we've been in this position before. We understand the emotions, the adrenaline, how much you want it, how hard it is. For Klay -- I'm sorry, for JP and Wiggs and Otto, guys, Belly, D-Lee, guys that were in the rotation tonight, like everybody is going through this for the first time, and it's a pretty cool vibe when you figure it out as a group because we haven't done it with this group together.

Definitely special. Never take it for granted and understand this is what it's all about, and then for us to have another opportunity to get four more wins and play for a trophy, that's special.

Q. What have you thought about the Mavericks/Suns series? I assume you will watch Game 7, as you kind of start to look forward to those matchups, what are your initial thoughts?

STEPH CURRY: I'm just going to be a fan. That series has been unbelievable, back and forth. The home teams won every game, right? So we'll see what happens in Game 7.

It's been pretty entertaining, high level of the basketball. They are two different teams, so it's kind of hard to -- I'll probably talk about it on Monday or Tuesday when we figure out who we're playing.

But I'm just going to be a fan and enjoy watching two Game 7s on Sunday knowing we get four days off which is pretty special.

Q. Did you know Wiggins was going to come up large in this game, and what does it tell you that he did?

STEPH CURRY: I had a dream last night that he was going to hit some big shots in the fourth and step up the way he did, and planned out just exactly how I saw it.

I made a three at the five-minute mark or whatever, it was the fourth quarter and I went to the bench and first person I saw was him and I yelled at him, like he gave us life to start that fourth quarter. You know, made the big three. I think he hit a tough -- in the shot clock two that kept the momentum, got to steal the dunk, and then he got that three, right wing I think, and those are huge plays because it's a one-, two-possession either way.

Still didn't get a reaction out of him yet. I just wanted -- I got one this series when he dunked on Brandon Clark but the rest of it, he's just good old Wiggs making plays.

Q. He looked pretty happy after you saw him. He was hugging everybody.

STEPH CURRY: No, I missed it. I have to hit up everybody for the videos, absolutely. I need those. Wiggs smiling is always good for us.

Q. Morant posted online that you remain his favorite match-up in the league. What do you think of the first three games, going against him, the unfortunate fact that he was out of the series and just in general him moving forward?

STEPH CURRY: He's a problem. I mean, his numbers are crazy. We were up 2-1. So still had confidence he could finish out the series, but he requires all of your attention. Is he in his third or fourth year? Sky's the limit.

Like I said, they are going to be around for a long time, you know, fighting for Western Conference prowess. So it's going to be -- we'll enjoy this and keep moving towards our goal but you have to understand that they are going to be around for the long haul, and he's a problem.

So definitely an amazing match-up, fun, entertaining, high-level basketball, all the antics and pettiness and all that stuff, I love all of it. So see what happens destroyed.

Q. What was it like to hear Chase Center and "Whoop That Trick" late in the fourth quarter?

STEPH CURRY: I don't know even know if they believed it. It was phenomenal. You had to do it, obviously, but yeah, it's part of the fun of the playoffs, the fans get to enjoy the celebration however they want to.