NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS: LAKERS vs WARRIORS

May 2, 2023

Anthony Davis

LeBron James

Media Conference

Lakers 117, Warriors 112

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Everyone knew coming into this series when you look at the Warriors' lineup that you could be a featured part of the Lakers attack. What do you think allowed you to be so effective tonight?

ANTHONY DAVIS: The guys gave the ball to me in the right spots. A lot of it came out of pick and roll, post-ups, some offensive rebounds. Just being aggressive when I do catch, looking to score, looking to play make to the other guys.

That was the guards finding me early, which allowed them to play free later on in the game.

Q. LeBron, this team has been through challenges throughout the course of the season. What did you think of the mental resolve to withstand a 14-0 run in this building late and close those guys out with poise?

LeBRON JAMES: I mean, that's been us since we made acquisitions with our new guys. We've been able to be very resilient in games. Like I said, we've been playing lot of basketball for about two and a half months now, just trying to punch our clock and to be able to play right now in the post-season.

We've been very resilient. Tonight versus a team like Golden State, defending champions, we know how great they are on their home floor over the years. To withstand that, it's another good step for our ballclub.

Q. Anthony, thinking about Game 2 and adjustments that Golden State might make, what are the ways that you think it changes when they go smaller or Draymond plays more of a five? What do you expect from them in their building in Game 2?

ANTHONY DAVIS: It's going to be a different game. They're going to make adjustments. We're going to make adjustments. The building will be probably a little bit louder. Obviously they don't want to go down 0-2. The crowd will be more into it.

I'm going to continue to be aggressive. I know our guys are going to continue to be aggressive. Obviously we know that Draymond likes the help, so if they do decide to put him on me, figure out ways I can be effective with him doing his thing defensively.

But who knows. I mean, we'll see what happens in Game 2 if they make that adjustment. If they don't, still try to find ways to attack.

Q. What did you make of the defensive game plan tonight? Felt like you guys were controlling them defensively.

LeBRON JAMES: We've got to do a better job. I think even though late they made a run, throughout the second half only giving up 48 points, that's really good. But we had a couple lulls when they allowed those guys, Steph, Klay and Jordan, to get some looks, they were really tuned in. They're going to get their looks anyways, so we can't have our own personal problems. We got to be better. We got to be better.

We love the game plan, but we got to be better as the guys on the floor.

Q. A.D., as much as you dominated in the post-season, do you feel like you're proving people wrong or does that matter to you?

ANTHONY DAVIS: It doesn't matter to me. I don't care what no one thinks. Only the guys in the locker room, coaching staff, only opinions that I care about. Other than that, I just go out and play basketball, do what I can do to help the team win.

Opinions outside the locker room, what guys say, guys think, is irrelevant to me.

Q. Coach Ham said both you guys have kind of been a rock for him, kept him afloat mentally in a lot of ways. What kind of advice have you had for coach? What do you think about how he's grown this rookie season for him?

LeBRON JAMES: For us, we've been a part of this franchise the longest that's on this franchise right now. We've had our battles together.

For us to be able to have that relationship with the coaching staff, have that relationship with Coach Ham, him to be able to trust us on the floor that we can be a extension of his, relay his commands, his messages, it just makes it a lot calming for him that he knows he has guys on the floor that has been in a fight, has been in a foxhole and has experience in tough games.

Every game and every day is another learning experience for our coaching staff and for us. We just try to make it as seamless as possible when we step on the floor with the game plan they're giving us.

Q. You probably knew they were going to make a run towards the end. When you were not able to score and they did catch you, was that a lack of execution on your part or did you simply miss some shots?

LeBRON JAMES: No, never a lack of execution with us. At the end of the day we only had eight turnovers, so that let us know we was not sloppy with the ball. We were executing at a high level.

Just missed some shots. I can think about four or five shots. A.R. had a shot from the left wing, missed it. I had a fade-away jumper in the paint and missed it. I was able to hit A.D. on a cut. One of his patent jump hooks, he missed it, got the offensive rebound, missed it again. They lost it around their sideline, gave us another extra possession. A.D. had a wide-open three opposite of their bench.

Sometimes it's a make-or-miss league. We executed to perfection, we just didn't make it.

Q. LeBron, both you guys aren't too statistically inclined, it's about getting the W. You had the 20/20 last round, A.D. has a 30/20. He joins Shaq, Elgin, Kareem and Wilt, franchise players who have done that. How does that encapsulate him joining a list like that, what he's doing for your team right now?

LeBRON JAMES: I mean, the Lakers franchise over the years, over the course of their existence, has always had dominant big men, dominant guys that have been a force at the rim. That's why their jerseys are in the rafters. A.D. will be up there when he's done playing. The No. 3 will be up in the rafters.

He continues to show why he's one of the best players that we have in this league. For us, it's a treat for us to be able to have such a dynamic player that cannot only go out and get you 30 and 20, but also command the paint defensively, can switch out the guards, also get you five assists, as well.

It's a treat for us, a treat for the Laker franchise to have another one that wears the purple and gold that's in the present right now.

Q. LeBron, you have had a lot of great historical games against Warriors in the old stadium. How do you feel winning your first Playoff game in the new Chase Center as a Laker?

LeBRON JAMES: It's always great to win in the post-season, no matter where you are, no matter who you're playing. It's very difficult to win in the post-season.

Like you said, I got a lot of history in Oracle, a lot of battles in that arena over the years. It's definitely a different feeling walking here into a post-season game, being in the Chase Arena now, like you said.

That Warriors and the GS, those colors hasn't changed. So my focus and my respect for them hasn't changed, as well. It's just an honor to be able to play this game at a high level, play with other great players, then also look on the other side and see other great players, being a part of that's historic, something that lasts a lot longer than we are today. That's pretty cool. Thank you.