NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS: LAKERS vs WARRIORS

May 2, 2023

Steph Curry

Media Conference

Los Angeles Lakers 117, Golden State Warriors 112

Q. You always call Game 1 a feeling-out situation. Is that too easy to write this off as that or did you feel like some things you were trying, saw some things that are going to carry through this series?

STEPH CURRY: I feel like it was obviously a drastic difference between our last series and style of play with how the Lakers come at you, both ends of the floor, their personnel.

Obviously AD had a big game but for the most part it was that little run in the third quarter where they got some momentum and took it to what was it, a 14-point lead at one point. But we obviously clawed our way back and tied it with a minute and some change left. Gave ourselves an opportunity. We know we need to clean up some stuff, a few too many turnovers on my part.

I understand that AD's presence in the paint, he's -- you know, he has length and the way they are trying to funnel us into the lane, we've got to be able to see the floor a little bit better. But you know, a long series.

Like I say, it's the first of four and I think we found some life down the stretch that hopefully we can capitalize off in Game 2.

Q. There's always this big against small debate for you guys internally that I'm sure will pop up in this matchup, the run late, you went small. How do you view those two different options in the series, staying too big or going small, and even when you are too big, how do you score more efficiently?

STEPH CURRY: You've just got to -- that's obviously Coach making calls and decisions on how the game is going and flowing. If we can rebound, going small is to our advantage. There's probably three, four possessions where you can see we got a stop, we got the rebound, we got the push. Somebody was open. That's kind of how we like to play.

If it's traditional and the way that they are playing us, we just have to be more organized in terms of our overall spacing, and like I said, respect how they are trying to guard us and where they are trying to push us on the floor, and just make the right reads. I got my shot blocked, I think three or four times, trying to get little floaters off. Because you get one step too deep, and that's just on adjustment that you've got to make.

You know, we'll be a lot better, a lot more organized on that front in Game 2.

Q. This is the 23rd time and you LeBron have faced each other in the postseason, or LeBron has faced the core of your team. He just said it feels historic. How is it for you to play him? Obviously this is the first time you've played him at Chase, different team, but how was the experience of seeing him again in the postseason?

STEPH CURRY: You have to reflect on everything that we've all gone through since the '15 Finals, and just appreciate the opportunity to have another chapter in that battle and that competition.

Obviously once the ball drops, it's a different feel just based on how the Lakers play versus the old Cavs teams, and even just a different style that he's playing a little bit. He's trying to come at you a little differently and space you out a little bit. He's shooting a lot more threes and stuff like that; it's just a little different vibe.

But there is a reflection of how awesome and special this battle is; and the fact that we get to do it again, you know, we want to come out on top and it's going to be a fun series all the way around. But there is a moment of reflection, for sure, just how cool this is, all these years later.

Q. What was going on when he was walking with you to the sideline when you were coming out of the game? Was that just a conversation, or was he just trying to sneak on to your bench or something? He walked all the way down the court with you.

STEPH CURRY: He was just joking around about having to guard me all the way till I got to the bench.

Q. What did you think about Jordan taking that shot, you were getting doubled, it was early; you did have a time-out. Are you fine with that shot?

STEPH CURRY: For sure. He made six of them tonight. We talked a little bit about certain adjustments we made to make throughout the course of the game to keep creating good looks, but it was the decisive. It was a shot he was open and flowing. Considering how they guard us on that possession, you know, trapping me at the halfcourt, Draymond swinging it over to him, it's kind of an in-rhythm shot.

I'm sure he felt pretty good about it. That's why he shot it. There's no kind of regrets on that. It's just a make-or-miss type situation, and a lot of trust in him and his ability to put the ball in the basket.

Q. The Lakers got 25 free throws, so how do you guys make an adjustment to control the foul trouble?

STEPH CURRY: You know, AD is going to put pressure on your whole game. So you like to not let him get eight off, but that might not kill you. It's more the other guys, especially the ball handlers. Schröder gets ten free throws. Like, that can't happen; whether we think it's a foul or not, we can't put ourselves in that situation. That's how he makes an impact because he's super quick in his first step and we have a certain strategy around him but you can't let him get to the line ten times. That's a killer.

So we'll make those adjustments. Understand, again, quick turnaround from Game 7 against Sac, and locking in on what the Lakers well do well, and confidence is high. We can bounce back.

Q. You mentioned AD's length in your first answer. Is that ready hard to gauge until you play him once or twice in this setting? He was jumping out on the pick-and-rolls and contesting a lot of things, even outside the paint. Does it take you a game or two with someone like him because he's long and quick?

STEPH CURRY: For sure. And it's also because of how they are playing us. They know they want to take away our threes, even though we got 50 of them up. Like they want to try to put pressure on the perimeter, funnel everything into the paint and allow him to disrupt a lot, and closing space pretty quick.

It's kind of deceiving. You feel like you have a good look to get over the top and gets a finger tip on it. You've got to respect it. Like that's how he makes an impact on that end of the floor, and can't be stubborn thinking you can just keep going in there. You've still got to be able to drive and put pressure on the rim but you can do it in a creative way, so, yes, you've got to feel it because it is impactful.

Q. With AD in the middle like he is and being a deterrent, really, blocking some shots obviously, does that offer maybe with spacing a little more -- a few more drive and quick opportunities, in other words attack, and then sort of get him and then --

STEPH CURRY: Yeah, you just -- depending on who is out there, there's probably, you know, whether it's Draymond and Loon, or JaMychal out there, he got some clean looks. You've got to trust that somebody's going to be open, and whoever it is, have confidence to knock down a shot or get to the next action.

But can't have two guys on top of each other where, you know, one guy can guard two, and your spacing gets kind of killed and the ball stops. That's what they want. I think a little bit in the third quarter, that's what kind of happened to us, and we figured it out a little bit in the fourth and kept putting pressure on us, how we got back in the game, but the guys do that from the jump in Game 2 to give ourselves much more flow and offense.

Q. Talked to George Kittle and asked him about the Looney jersey, and he says Looney is a bonafide tight end. My question to you is: What are we going to need from Looney the rest of the way, and talk about his performance tonight and what he's done to help you get to where you are now?

STEPH CURRY: More of the same with Loon. He's unbelievable. 20-plus rebounds again, killing it on the offensive glass, giving us extra possessions, and that physicality is in the paint. Just more the same. I love the way that he's playing and the way that he's impacting the game.

And obviously he understands he has a tough matchup with AD. AD is going to get his points. He's unbelievable offensive talent but just making it tough on him, and we've got to help him. You know, try to secure some more of those rebounds and give him some support down there but he's doing an amazing job. I'm not up here to give Loon more advice. He's doing it perfect.