NBA FINALS: CELTICS VS. WARRIORS

June 13, 2022

Gary Payton

Golden State Warriors

Game 5: Postgame

Warriors 104, Celtics 94

Q. You had three steals tonight, the Celtics as a team had 18 turnovers. Is there a key or anything you guys are doing specifically defensively that you think is causing them to turn the ball over so often?

GARY PAYTON II: Just being aggressive. Bringing the force to them from the jump, and just don't let them get comfortable.

Q. When you think about lying on the floor in Memphis and how quick you've come back to influence an NBA Finals game like tonight, from that quick journey, did you ever have a doubt you could come back? It's a pretty quick recovery.

GARY PAYTON II: I had no doubt in my mind I was going to come back. I wouldn't miss this for the world. I focused on my rehab after that happened and did everything I could to put myself in position to be ready for Game 1 or 2.

Q. What did you see observing Andrew Wiggins early in the playoffs, when you were not on the floor, and his emergence over the course of the season as he continued to gain confidence, All-Star starter and being able to contribute so much on both ends at crucial times?

GARY PAYTON II: Just his urgency. He comes out with force. After I went out, he had the role to guard the best guy for extended periods of time. He took the challenge on, and he's doing it on both ends. He's doing the best he can on defense, and he's playing tremendous on offense and making plays for us.

He just stepped up and took on the challenge.

Q. Considering where you've come from, what does it mean to be a game away from the Finals, the Championship?

GARY PAYTON II: It's probably a little too early to speak on that. We have to go away over here and try to run this back for another 48 minutes and be aggressive. You know, so close but yet so far. Just try to stay locked in and go on this road and try to close it out.

Q. What do you think makes this team so special? You guys won a game with Steph Curry shooting 7 of 22, and you find many ways to win. What makes this seem so special?

GARY PAYTON II: Just the strength in numbers. We have a bunch of guys that are ready at all times. And you know when their number is called, they come in and give us a good push, good energy, good vibe on the court. Could be for 30 seconds, two minutes. You know, whoever comes in, steps up. They come in and do their job and keep the same focus that we had.

Q. You guys in the first quarter set a defensive tone pretty early. Watching from the bench, what did you see, and how would you describe what you saw from your teammates?

GARY PAYTON II: We just had a sense of urgency. We knew that whoever was going to take this game was going to shift the series.

So we came out with urgency, came out with force, and, you know, we tried to not let them hit first, and we just kept jabbing and jabbing and jabbing all the way down the line. And they made a run in the third. We responded tremendously. Cleaned up what we needed to clean up in the third heading into the fourth, and in the fourth we just had big plays from different people.

Q. When asked about Wiggins, Steve Kerr said fit is everything. What is it about the Warriors team that brings out the best in you and Wiggins? Why do guys feel so comfortable to become the best versions of themselves here?

GARY PAYTON II: I think we have a really great group, smart group of individuals. Very high IQ of the game, and we just try to make it simple for each and every one of us, each teammate. Great spacing. We have a lot of shooters, great spacing. And with Wiggs, the way he's playing and shooting and off the dribble, it makes it very tough for guys to guard and pick and choose what you want to give up.

Really, it's everybody just being themselves and being unselfish and trying to make plays for themselves, but yet again, they make plays for their teammates doing that.