NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS: LAKERS vs WARRIORS

May 10, 2023

Andrew Wiggins

Golden State Warriors

Game 5: Postgame

Warriors - 121, Lakers - 106

Q. Steve has mentioned in recent weeks just how much your defense, good stingy strong defense by everybody leads to great chances on the offensive end. How much was that a key in this game? I mean, you and Draymond just taking it to those guys, and Gary too.

ANDREW WIGGINS: I mean, it's a focus. You lock in. You play good defense you know you're going to give yourself a great chance to win the game and take control of the game. The Lakers have a lot of great talent, but we just got to make it hard for 'em and keep doing that.

Q. When you re-watch the last game did you feel you weren't as aggressive as offensively as you should have been?

ANDREW WIGGINS: For sure. I felt at times I definitely could have been more aggressive. Just looking for my shot more. Especially looking to get down hill. Whether it's to score, create.

Q. This has turned into for you guys a pretty heavy pick-and-roll series. Obviously they put Davis on you so you're the screener some of the time. What's it like just to, I don't know, how different is your offensive role in this series and are you kind of figuring that out?

ANDREW WIGGINS: Yeah, it's the playoffs. Every game's going to be different. Every series is going to be different. I feel like the good thing about this team is that we have a bunch of versatile players that can do a lot of different things. Whether it's screening and diving, popping offensively around the rim, shooting. I feel like we have a very versatile team.

Q. Everybody talks about Gary's defense, obviously, but he's been a really efficient offensive player too. How much has he changed the dynamic of this series when being inserted into the starting lineup?

ANDREW WIGGINS: He's a game changer, for sure. Because he's going to make the right plays, the right reads on offense. His defense speaks for itself. He's a lockdown defender. Doesn't matter who he's guarding. He locks in.

Q. (Question about Payton's offense.)

ANDREW WIGGINS: Oh, yeah, his offense, he's always going to make the right play. You know he's going to make that open shot. Around the rim he'll dunk you, finish. He's talented on both sides.

Q. Steph said that he loved that you got up 18 shots and he said that it was kind of sometimes on your teammates to try to get you the ball and help get you going. You seem like a pretty laid-back guy, but are there ever times during the game where you think, Hey, I've got to mismatch. Hey, I got it going. And you have to kind of like demand the ball a little bit?

ANDREW WIGGINS: We have a talented team. We have a lot of guys that can put the ball up and score the ball. So just asserting myself. Being aggressive from the start. Just making my presence known.

Q. You're LeBron's main defender. It seems like a few times tonight you were trying to push him full court, maybe tire him out. What's the strategy on that considering you want to be aggressive on him defensively but you don't want to put him in a position where he's going down hill and compromising the defense?

ANDREW WIGGINS: I feel like just be aggressive. If I see him taking the ball out, just pick up. You know, it's a long game and we know even if I put myself in a bad spot I trust my teammates behind me to have my back.

Q. Do you sense fatigue with him in games?

ANDREW WIGGINS: I feel like you never really know. You could think he's tired and the next play he might come down and get a put-back dunk and you just never know.

Q. Steph and Klay and Draymond have been down 3-1 before heading into this. What kind of tone do they set heading into this that sort of stood out to you?

ANDREW WIGGINS: The confidence. You know how confident they are and encouraging and just making everyone believe that we can do this. Just day by day and game by game, possession by possession just giving ourself a fighting chance.

Q. How much did that inspire you and obviously maybe looking at the film that helped you get more aggressive offensively, but mentally where were you at heading into this?

ANDREW WIGGINS: I was locked in. I was locked in. The whole team was. It was do or die now. So we had nothing to lose but to fight.

Q. You ever been a screener this much in your career?

ANDREW WIGGINS: I feel like in the Boston series last year I screened a lot too.

Q. Was that, do you remember specifically the schematics in that series? Was that they were switching some?

ANDREW WIGGINS: I couldn't tell you. I'm not too sure.

Q. Is it, maybe can you go back to that series, but is that different for you?

ANDREW WIGGINS: It's definitely different, but I don't mind it. Feel like it's another way to get involved in the play and make something happen.

Q. Coach Kerr said this is probably the best game you played since you came back from your extended absence. Do you agree with that? Did it take a little while to maybe get a rhythm after missing two months?

ANDREW WIGGINS: For sure. I feel like it's probably been my best game back. Just all around, defensively, offensively and just doing things, push forward and get the win.

Q. You were out for a while and since you're back you're almost like playing every other day. So how do you feel? Like how are your legs?

ANDREW WIGGINS: I feel good. I feel like everyone at this point in the season's all banged up and bruised. But I feel good. Not fresh, but good enough to compete and try to get another title.