NBA FINALS: CELTICS VS. WARRIORS

June 8, 2022

Klay Thompson

Golden State Warriors

Game 3: Postgame

Boston Celtics 116, Golden State Warriors 100

Q. Klay, you were able to bounce back after the first two games of the series. Tonight what was going well for you?

KLAY THOMPSON: Didn't go well enough because we lost. I much rather would have had the result of Game 2 and my performance, doesn’t matter how many shots you make, how efficient you are. Only thing that really matters is the outcome of the game. Although we let one slip away, we have a beautiful opportunity Friday to even out the series and do what we're supposed to do, and that was get one on the road.

Q. What do you think you guys learned about playing against this defense tonight that you can take into Game 4?

KLAY THOMPSON: Just trusting each other and hitting the open man. We know how good they are at protecting the rim. So it's important this series just to make the simple pass and trust each other because we've got great scoring all around.

Q. What's your level of concern for Steph? I guess he was hobbling around a little bit, and only got one day off before the next one. Are you a little concerned there?

KLAY THOMPSON: Well, we need him if we want to win this thing. I know Steph is going to do everything he can in his power to play. I am really hoping he's okay because he's our identity, and without him, it will be very difficult.

Q. You guys have outscored them by 43 points in the third quarter, but they have responded and outscored you guys by 40 in the fourth. To you what might be the biggest reasoning there?

KLAY THOMPSON: I think we're making more shots in the third, and they are making more shots in the fourth. I don't know. I have to watch the film.

But it's not -- we're not going to overreact. We've been in this situation before. Getting big 2015 vibes.

Q. What were your impressions of the crowd and the environment tonight, and how much was that a factor in the game?

KLAY THOMPSON: It was not a factor. We've played in front of rude people before. Dropping f-bombs with children in the crowd. Real classy. Good job, Boston.

Q. I wanted to follow up what you said, you were feeling 2015 vibes about it. What makes you feel that way, outside of obviously being 2-1 down, what similarities do you see between that Cavs series and thus far this one?

KLAY THOMPSON: Being down 2-1, and I mean, they play a similar style. You know, a lot of one-on-one, attacking downhill and spray the court with really good shooters. That's very similar.

And they have some very good players on their team obviously. I don't think they have LeBron James, but they do have some All-NBA guys in Tatum. I think Brown is knocking on the door. With just being down 2-1 in a championship series, like we've been here before, we can rely on our experience.

Q. What do you think was the problem on glass tonight?

KLAY THOMPSON: Just, I don't know, probably not -- not boxing out. Maybe just, I mean, they did have way too many second-chance points. It's hard to beat a team when that happens. I give ourselves credit, though, for fighting back and taking the lead. It just sucks when you let one slip away like that.

Q. Draymond called himself soft tonight. How confident are you that he's going to bounce back and have a strong Game 4, and how does it affect you guys when he's not necessarily at his best?

KLAY THOMPSON: I have all the confidence in the world in Draymond Green. I consider him a brother, and we've played at the mountaintop together and played in big, big battles. As long as I see him and 30 and with Andre and our young bucks, I really think we're going to have a great night Friday night.

Yeah.