NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: MAVERICKS VS. WARRIORS

May 24, 2022

Jason Kidd

Dallas Mavericks

Game 4: Postgame

Mavericks 119, Warriors 109

Q. What did you think just about the team's overall poise, focus, intent tonight, knowing their backs were up against the wall like they have been a couple times already this post-season?

JASON KIDD: Yeah, I thought the guys came out no different than Game 3 and Game 2 in the sense of executing and playing at a high level, making shots was something that we've done in those games. Then defensively being able to rebound the ball. To have 30 assists, that means we're making shots.

Again, being able to score, they're going to play zone for a majority of the game, so that's going to present a problem for them in the sense of giving up threes. We were able to capitalize on that tonight.

Q. Reggie and Maxi both struggled so much in Game 3. What did it say to you they were both able to have such strong bounce-back performances?

JASON KIDD: That's who they are. That's their DNA. It's not about just one game. It's about the journey. It's about being able to bounce back. That's what they've done. They've helped us as an overall team having that DNA of being able to have a bad game, being able to come back and play at a high level.

Again, making shots is something we need those two to do and they did that tonight.

Q. What is running through your mind in the fourth quarter as that lead shrinks from 29 to 8 at one point?

JASON KIDD: They were going to have to put their starters back in, and they did. We did just fine. We won the game. Their starters had to come back in. They cut the lead. Our group continued to play.

But they had to make a decision. They had to put their guys back in.

Q. At that point were you hoping their starters came back in?

JASON KIDD: It's a game of runs. The third quarter -- the Warriors, they're always going to have a big quarter. We did pretty good in the first three. They went on a run to start the fourth. There's no panic. We had a pretty big lead. They had to make a decision. They brought their group back in and couldn't get it done.

Q. Coach, what were your thoughts on that extended halftime? Obviously there was a leak on the floor. Do you say anything to your guys at that point as they were getting back in about carrying over that momentum from the first half?

JASON KIDD: We've been there before. We've had the basket tilted. We've had rain delays before. We've been able to execute in both those scenarios.

So this wasn't the first rain delay we've had. To be able to stay warm, stay ready. Again, this group doesn't let anything faze them. They went out there in the second half, in the third quarter, as we talked about at halftime, we had to win it. That's what that group did.

Q. Typically in these Playoffs, each game is in and of itself. I wonder if you feel like this gives you momentum that you guys have really needed to get in this series?

JASON KIDD: Yeah, we've felt all along we're getting great looks. Sometimes they go in, sometimes they don't in this series so far. It's a matter about making shots.

The biggest compliment we've gotten is they got to play zone because they can't play us one on one, right? This is a championship DNA team. They're giving you a compliment that they can't guard you. It's pretty cool.

They're winning the series. But we believe if we can continue to we keep getting the shots that we got, if we make them, it puts pressure on them.

Q. I heard God Shammgod say to Tim Hardaway before the game, it's the first night of us beginning to rewrite history. I'm not expecting you to repeat that word for word. What is the confidence level for you guys as a team this you're still very much in this?

JASON KIDD: We believe it's just one game at a time. We did our part tonight. We found a way to win. The next part is to find a way to win on the road.

Again, we can't get ahead of ourselves. It's still 3-1. We know going into Golden State it's a tough place to win, but we've won there before. We just have to continue to take care of the ball, make shots.

Q. Luka played like a first-team, all-NBA guy.

JASON KIDD: Pretty cool.

Q. He was named to it tonight. What are your thoughts on his game tonight and his season?

JASON KIDD: I don't think anybody is surprised that he's first team. It's really cool for him to be named first team. It just shows the talent level. The other four are pretty talented, too.

So it just shows where he's going, his growth. Again, what he does for this team is incredible, not just points and assists, but being able to rebound the ball. At the end he came up with a nice little block shot to pad his defensive stats.

Again, he's our leader. When he goes, we go. He loves that stage. Again, being first team with the other four, it's a great honor for him.

Q. What do you got to do to get Dwight Powell to be more active like he was in the regular season?

JASON KIDD: Well, I think we didn't see this much zone in the regular season. So for Dwight, he's doing everything we've asked him to do against the zone. In the zone we're getting wide-open looks. For him, we need him to rebound the ball and bring his energy.

But when you see zone for a majority of the game, it takes him out of the game for his role in lobs, the things that he does best. But also, you know, for us, we don't judge them on the offensive end. I think he got us off to a really good start tonight.

Q. I want you to talk about the mental strength of your team. It's clear it wasn't easy for you guys to win this game. How much are you happy with the mental strength of your team?

JASON KIDD: Yeah, I think this group has shown it all season. We got off to a slow start, but we stayed together. We've been through, again, just like everyone else, COVID, injuries. This is a team. I've said this before, it's a special group of young men in that locker room who truly believe that they can win.