NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: WARRIORS vs KINGS

April 20, 2023

Kevon Looney

Media Conference

Warriors 114, Kings 97

Q. Kerr said the mood was set yesterday you're not feeling sorry for yourself and thinking about Draymond getting suspended and you were focused on this game. Did you feel that; things were clicking in and this game basically started yesterday?

KEVON LOONEY: Definitely. We knew what we had to do to win the game. We had the right game plan for the first two games. We kept falling up short. We didn't execute it how we wanted to, and we was all locked in and watched a lot of film and just the mood around the whole team that we was locked in and our focus grows rolled even more.

Q. Last week Bob Myers called your offensive rebounding Rodman-like. I know that's big names, big company but with the rebound performance tonight, did you feel like everything coming off the rim was yours?

KEVON LOONEY: Definitely that's great praise, especially from Bob. He's seen a lot of basketball, so that's big time.

You know, sometimes in rebounding, you can get in the zone. Just how Steph and them these as a rebounder offensive side of the ball the same way sometimes, like I know where the ball is going and every time I touch it, it seems to go my way, tips go my way, and different things like that.

I wanted to come in and focus on getting more rebounds, the first two games. I didn't think I did a good job rebounding. Me and Deji talked about it before the game, be more aggressive, using more position, not just pushing and shoving but using the skill that I have, and I think I did a good job of that.

Q. How essential were the contributions from Moody and Donte and the guys off the bench who maybe haven't been prominent in the first two games, and curious going back in time why you guys seem to get big contributions from the bench in the playoffs in particular?

KEVON LOONEY: Yeah, I think they were great tonight just setting the tone of being physical. Donte was four or five steals, he was everywhere, flying in, offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds, Moses was great, his physicality, hit a couple threes, finishing at the rim and they all provided a spark. JaMychal was great and rebounding and setting the tone physically and that's what we've kind of been missing.

Steve usually gives everybody a shot in the playoffs, and I think everybody stepped up and we need it continue to step up to win this series.

Q. Knowing with Draymond out you were going to get more play-making opportunities, how did you balance not wanting to tougher the ball over, but also wanting to make quick, good decisions?

KEVON LOONEY: It's something that we as -- me, Draymond, other bigs, we all practice this every day in practice. It's something we go over since I've been here. Playing out of the pocket, Steph and Klay draw so much attention that you have to be able to make the right plays.

So I just hit the open man and not rushing, slowing it down and try to make the right decisions. Guys were making shots and I was able to get a lot of assists tonight. So I don't get a lot of play-making opportunities all the time but tonight was my night and did the right decisions.

Q. After the game on TNT Steph said, they say Draymond has a history, so do we. How does your history motivate you guys?

KEVON LOONEY: We are a team with a lot of pride. We know how to respond when our back is against the wall. We always usually to show up. I think Draymond knew that. He knew, with him not playing tonight, he knew I was going to respond and he knew we can kind hold down the fort while he's out, and we are excited to get him back next game.

We don't want to keep having to do that, but for one game, he know that we can take care of business we have a lot the guys who are champions for a reason and made a lot of history in the league for a reason.

So we know how to win games. We'll continue to do that. We know it's a series. One game is one game, and continue to take care of business.

Q. To follow up on that, Steph Curry tonight, 36 points, one turnover. You've been around him so much as a competitor. Can you feel when he's locked in, back against the while like you were talking?

KEVON LOONEY: Definitely, you know, his focus level was the same tonight. He did everything for us, getting us in our spots, knowing when to push the pace and knowing when to slow us down, knowing when to get guys shots. They threw a lot of different defenses at him and he was able to manipulate all of them and get us in our spots and get us good shots and I think he had a great floor game and that was a big part of the reason why we won.

Q. Did Draymond give either you personally or the team like a pep talk yesterday?

KEVON LOONEY: Definitely, yeah, he definitely gave us a pep talk. He usually always give us one before the playoffs but it was a good one in practice the other day. He told us what the keys as for to us win, and yeah, we went out and there and executed tonight.

Q. Steve said the past couple games, there's been a lot of ball watching when it comes to rebounding, so what was the mindset heading into just being more aggressive and limiting yourself from watching the ball more?

KEVON LOONEY: Yeah, we wanted to hit first today. I think the last, on the road, we were ball watching and they was running in and they was hitting us first and they was the aggressor. I think Donte Moses, all those guys, Steph, Klay, Wiggs, they was locked in on that end of hitting guys first and then going to get the ball, and I think that made a big difference in our rebounding tonight. We gave up some offensive rebounds, but we didn't give up a lot like we did the first two games.

Q. Several of your assists came after your own offensive rebound. How much of a scrambler, how wide open is the court often after an offensive rebound?

KEVON LOONEY: Definitely it's always a scramble. We have the best shooters in the league on our team. So I know if I get the rebound, everybody is out of position; if I can find them, they usually are going to get a wide-open three.

When you first came to the league, usually when you get an offensive rebound, you are taught to just go back up and try to get your own points. But I remember Ron Adams kept yelling at me to kick it out, we have Steph Curry and Klay on our team, pass it to them. And it's been working for me and gives them a lot of opportunities to give them open shots.

Q. When did you decide to try put it back and immediately turn and look?

KEVON LOONEY: It kind of depends, like if I got two feet in the paint when I get the rebound, I usually try to go back up. But if it's a long one or I feel like it's not going to be an easy layup I kick it back out. If I'm not wide open, I usually pass it.

Q. The smothering defense you guys played in the paint, how much did that lead to some of the spectacular plays, like Kuminga down the stretch with the dunk and dive? You took on a big load with Sabonis and that really sparked them.

KEVON LOONEY: Yes, definitely whenever we are able to rebound and get out in transition, we are pretty deadly. I think the first two games, they beat us on all the boards so we had to play light in the halfcourt.

But tonight we were able to get rebounds and get stops and able to get out in transition. We are pretty tough to slow down when we get out on in room. We have got athletes like JK and Wiggs and shooters, Klay, Steph and JP. We are pretty tough in space, and I think we did a good job of just getting the ball and pushing it.