Warriors-Bulls notes, quotes & video

[Kerr, Poole, Curry, Draymond, Atkinson, Lamb]

I decided to try and bring back postgame copy-and-paste of my notes (which all pretty much end up on the YouTube channel in the Description and Comments anyways). The following notes from the Golden State Warriors win over the Chicago Bulls and the preceding practice day are in reverse chronological order, with Draymond Green, Stephen Curry, Jordan Poole, Kenny Atkinson, Steve Kerr, and Anthony Lamb.

DRAY POSTGAME

DISCLAIMER: These are all just notes for my main workflow of YouTube videos, tweeted by beatwriters, as listed, or transcribed by me. I used to transcribe every interview but it became too tedious and not worth the investment for the small amount of views we got on the soundbites on YouTube. The links to the tweets are not available because sometimes I don’t use the full tweet and just having a ton of tweets on this website imo isn’t aesthetically pleasing and gets away from the main goal: transferring information (not so much entertainment) to the brains of DubNation asap.

• Draymond was preparing the entire possession to take the clutch three: “wanted to keep stepping in and taking it with confidence…my game feels great…I was preparing for it the entire possession. I knew I would end up open…if I caught it I was shooting it…it went in. Pause.” (NBCSBA, me)

• On Looney rebounding: “He stole my triple-double rebound. He’s always been a very good rebounder. Some of it is also, three-pointers keep going up and up…good at that elbow area…opens the floor up for other guys in transition.” (me)

• On his touch feeling good: “Ton of time in the summer with Travis (Walton)…every workout we work on touch…Jacob Rubin, same thing…the more confidence.” (me)

• On what he talked about with Anthony Vereen: “Randy Moss (smiles).” (me)

• On the challenge that prevented Steph from fouling out: “Steve has a good feel for that…sometimes as players we all can be a little bit overzealous.” (me)

• On his off-season regimen: “I just never stopped. The only breaks I took, I think I only took a week off…and after my wedding…in whatever part of the world I was at, we found a gym…as you continue to get older to not get out of shape…if you get injured during the season and it’s a week off, you’re not out of shape…’y focus was jus to never get out of shape…previous seasons, tend to take more time off…allow your body to heal and recover (but nowadays can do both).” (me)

• On the stop-start back injury: “That’s another reason I didn’t want to get out of shape…uphill battle…the back injury is huge…learning more and more about your body…because it changes…I also try to take a page out of the Olympic year…I also played a little more this summer.” (me)

• On the out-of-character shots and when to let the shooters know: “allow them to be themselves…you’re gonna take a few wild ones…making some tough ones on shots you shouldn’t take…let them guys go and figure it out as we go…I think we are figuring it out.” (me)

STEPH POSTGAME

• Steph Curry on Draymond’s clutch three: “I mean, he's been shooting it in terms of he’s open and shooting with confidence and that was a big shot considering how the game was flowing down the stretch. We needed it. And everything he was doing on the defensive end was Draymond-esque, but he was unbelievable and turn it into some offensive success for us with a big shot. It was it was huge. We want to see more of it because he's capable.” (Warriors PR)

• On the many traveling violations (18 over the last two games): “Yeah, maybe we talked about the last game just to the consistency of it. Seemed very consistent tonight. I have a bone to pick with them they missed one carry, but all the ones they did call were pretty clear travels. Not much to argue about just make the adjustments based on how the game is called and we're talented enough to do that, but again it's just making sure it's consistent on both sides and game after game so that you have a nice rhythm to it than you have an understanding of what's being focused on those calls.” (Warriors PR)

• On mentoring Jordan Poole: “(References practice video, see below)…confidence is always there it's just a matter of sticking with it through some of the rough patches that you have that every shooter has. I think the only biggest difference is just aggressiveness. Like, look for your shot, don't be passive out there, just find ways to create space and make the game simple. And if you have a shot, take it. Don't think about what the box score says, don't think about what your percentage is. You think about the reps you put in and shoot the ball and we all live with it. It's nice to hear him say something similar to that and then be rewarded in a game like tonight. That’s the ebb and flow of the season, you have to approach the game the same way no matter whether you are hot/cold or streaky as he said.” (me, Warriors PR)

• On his long pass to Draymond Green for a layup: "It was like a classic Sam Darnold to DJ Moore connection. Nobody’s said that ever — ever." (Dalton Johnson)

• On executing late in games: “I feel like we were perfect. Just playin (then jokes with Draymond, who says he was Randy Moss)…having pet plays.” (me)

JP POSTGAME

• Jordan Poole game recap: “I’m just not gonna stop shooting.” (me)

• On Steph foul trouble, turning up the aggression: “Nah I just go in there, play my game…just be aggressive and try to get our guys going.” (me)

• On Caruso and Mikal Bridges matching up with him: “Of Steph’s out, I’ve been seeing the best defender…it’s a sign of respect…try to get him off the ball a little bit…hit shots and just play the right basketball.” (me)

• On Draymond: “If they’re gonna sag off of him and he’s feeling comfortable…feels really good…gotta keep it rolling.” (me)

• On what he’s seen from Draymond off the court: “Guys over here on our team do a really good job of being professionals…focus on your body because it’s a quick turnaround…everybody’s locked in on their bodies.” (me)

• On the celebration technical: “I don’t really remember it.” (me)

• On if it’s difficult to cheer: “I don't know when they tried to start controlling everything…we’re a couple inches from the bench…probably tried to stop us from winning the game but it didn’t.” (NBCSBA, me)

KENNY ATKINSON POSTGAME

• Kenny Atkinson game recap: “Sporadic lapses…we’re trending upward but I still think we got a long way to go.”(me)

• On defense: “A little better…still not there…ball pressure not quite where it needs to be (not as good as last year)…fouling…lack of discipline (fans chant Warriors)…but again, let me turn a positive, we’re trending upwards…but we’re not championship level.” (me)

• On Draymond: “His performance on DeRozan…put him on (a 5 any other night)…it started with that team meeting. He’s our Lawrence Taylor, man…he made that LT catch tonight…spiritual leader, gives us toughness…I’ve never seen a guy screen like him…Loon’s not far behind…it’s just basketball 301…another level.” (me)

• On Klay: “He was 1-for-6 but he was making extra passes…Draymond keeps it real (talked with Klay at team meeting).” (me)

• On Steph: “I’ve been around Tracy McGrady (and others), there’s no comparison…kind heart for everybody…I have never heard him complain on the bench one time.” (me)

STEVE POSTGAME

• Steve Kerr game recap: too many fouls in first quarter.

• On Draymond’s three: “shot of the game…phenomenal…All-Star…staying physically strong and healthy…looks lean and strong.” (me)

• On 2nd quarter defense: “we stopped fouling…we rebounded pretty well tonight…Poole…having to take Steph out because of the foul trouble…never really playing with a sense of purpose. A little bit of a pickup game…mindless out there at times.” (me)

• On low-percentage shots: “I thought we were out of rhythm…Caruso is one of the best defensive guards in the league…we just got stagnant…that Draymond three really bailed us out.” (me)

• On saving the challenge to save Steph from fouling out: “you realize two points is two points…the other reason to hang on to it is foul trouble to key guys.” (me)

• On traveling calls (8): “We are traveling, we are really traveling. Like we're not just doing the half-step, we're going all in on traveling. Some of them were just mind-boggling. We were mindless out there. There were about 4 or 5 of them that were so obvious…nothing to do with the league cracking down on them, just blatant.” (Janie McCauley, me)

• Kerr was surprised Jordan Poole was given a tech for stepping on the court in the fourth quarter. (NBCSBA)

DRAY ON-COURT POSTGAME

• Draymond postgame oncourt says the Warriors are poised to make a run: “We’re definitely getting close. It just feels a lot better…we’re starting to connect the game.” (me)

• On his aggressive offense: “make myself a threat, it opens up the floor.” (me)

• On being with the second unit: “Guys are really settling into their roles…for Jordan not to have to worry about what set we’re gonna get to.” (me)

STEVE PREGAME

(Video is unavailable)

• Steve Kerr pregame Bulls on what needs to improve: “I think we need to see a little bit more out of everybody defensively. I don't think we've quite had the same edge we had last year when we were the second ranked defense in the league...We're defending champs, so there's probably less of a sense of urgency.” (KNBR)

• Bill Wennington asks if Klay is being held to too high of a standard: “That’s not a question that we ask internally. What we ask is can Klay play to his potential and I think he’s done that the last 6-7 games…wasn’t in great shape because he didn’t get a full camp…frustrated…can he settle down and can he get his legs under him…tough shooting night in Dallas…just being patient…we saw in the playoffs…high level defensively…doesn’t have to do what Derrick Rose does with the ball..:for everyone player there’s always that battle against injuries and Father Time.” (me)

• On Wiggins and his defense: “understanding where his shots are gonna come from…in Minnesota…kinda the lead guy…(now) guarding the top players and playing off our other guys…I think we need to see more (defensively out of everybody).” (me/Ron Kroichick/Tim Kawakami)

• On the Bulls: “Chicago gets to the line a lot…things we were pretty good at…awareness and the edge.” (me)

• On free throws being mental (Wiggins only 59%): “fundamentals…and what’s going on in your head…too much time to think…good groove…technically and emotionally/mentally…there’s no reason why he won’t get back…” (me/CJ Holmes) 

JP AFTER PRACTICE

• Jordan Poole on the emphasis on traveling/carrying: "You can obviously slow it down and rewind it and catch the violations if they're there...they get paid to do this (refs)...we need to be better as a team and try to be more fundamental...not much we really can do about it...it does not matter (if you talk to refs about it before the game)...they kinda got a mind of their own...how polite or impolite you are." (me)

• On what he saw in the Dallas game with the second unit: "guys are knowing their roles...gaining chemistry...I don't think anyone's worried about the first unit...tough stretch...we'll be fine soon...everything's gonna fall into place." (me)

• On having Draymond in the second unit: "another facilitator out there...early in the seasonI was out there being the primary play-maker...more space...hitting him in the pocket or having him make whatever decisions he needs to make...I can be more aggressive, if I need a shot...I know where to go to...play-make and make the right plays...if need be I know where I can go to for a shot." (me)

• On Donte helping him: "It's tremendous playing with Donte...tremendous defender, extremely excellent on the offensive end...we really play well with each other...guys on the court who wanna make the right play." (me)

• On what's the difference when he's hot or not: "(long pause) Sometimes they just don't go in (laughs). If I had the answer I'd tell you...It's just reps, over and over...I was talking to Steph about it the other day. He had a stretch last year for a couple months...happens to the best of us, the greatest shooters of all time...Steph and Klay...a couple weeks ago (people were down on Klay)." (me)

• On if he can get 60 on 11 shots like Klay: "I'm on the other side of the spectrum...definitely not less than 11." (me)

• On if he views shooting as streaky: "I don't think anyone wants to be streaky...style of basketball we play in 2022 is a lot of layups and a lot of 3s...constantly around Klay 24/7...try my hardest to learn...there are gonna be games, weeks, possibly months where you don't find your rhythm...what separates the elite...never stop shooting." (me)

• On Kuminga: "Everybody knows how talented JK is...as a young guy...how am I gonna get on the floor...find that balance...fitting into the system...doing whatever it takes...pivotal stretches...we know he can go get his own bucket...asking questions, seeing what it does take to get those extra three minutes...asking the right questions to the right people...we wanna see everybody succeed." (me)

• On if he identifies with JK: "One hundred percent...you wanna be able to showcase your talents and abilities, but if you aren't on the floor then you can't do that...kicking it out to the corner because it's getting you 20 minutes, do so...gain the coaches' trust...get more leeway." (me)

• On Lamb: "He's out there and he's playing his role. He's asking a lot of questions...the system was a bit complicated at first...wall-up, a lot of the simple stuff...knocking shots down...give that second group a little bit of life...he's making it, we ain't gonna say nothing. We've seen worse shots." (me)

• On Wiseman and longer term G League experiences: "I check in with him...I don't wanna overwhelm him...regular conversation, it's not even always about basketball...my situation was a bit unique (G League Bubble)...me personally, was strictly games...they're having to travel...spaced a little bit more...first couple games are a little bit different due to the style of play...having fun...catching a rhythm...panned out by itself...this is what we signed up for, we have to adapt." (me)

• On being a better defender being a shift in mindset: "Yeah (nods and smirks)...I think after playing in the playoffs...bit more physical, like, you get to play more physical...seeing a lot of the schemes (this year)...having a couple years in the league, it starts to get more comfortable...see the picture...seen it so many times...with age, you get a little more stronger, a little more physical...obviously you want to improve...it's been a focus...help our team win." (me)

STEVE AFTER PRACTICE

• James Wiseman spent part of Thursday at Chase Center (NBPA meeting, non-practice), per Warriors coach Steve Kerr. He, along with Patrick Baldwin Jr and Ryan Rollins, will travel with the G League team to Stockton today. After their games this weekend, the Warriors will re-assess Wiseman’s status. On Wiseman and his role whenever he returns to the big club: “just play, play, play…Basic coverages, pick and roll…weak-side help, boxing out…put those reps on top of each other, stacking them…b2b games in Stockton…figure it out from there…The NBA has a way of sort of sorting things out. We’ll just keep going with the process.” (me, Monte Poole, Kendra Andrews, CJ Holmes)

• On Moody: “The biggest thing right now is it’s just been a numbers game…fantastic practice in Dallas…going so hard, he’s so committed…Lamb has played really well…circumstances have called for Lamb’s skill set and positioning…we’ve been winning…staying with what we’ve had…Moses’s time is coming.” (me)

• On Lamb: “The first time I saw him play was a year ago in Santa Cruz…he was playing for RGV. He jumped off the page, his passing, skill…he didn’t go to Japan with us…first day of his time with us he scrimmage and again he jumped off the page…spatial awareness…strength…still stay in front of guards…quick three-point shooter…does a lot of things well that contribute to winning.” (me)

• On Poole’s 3PP being up and down: “he’s been in a rush this year…trying too hard…slow down a little bit…over-dribbling on some possessions…simplify the game…very similar to Klay…Jordan is in a hurry with his play-making…as he slows down and simplifies his game the same thing will happen for him as it happened with Klay.” (me)

• On Lamb and scoring on Draymond in practice: “When I saw him last year I noticed the passing…Kent Lacob was really responsible…shot 37%…high volume and a really consistent number.” (me)

• On Lamb’s hitch in his shot: “If it goes in, it goes in. What I like about it is, he gets it off quickly…0.5 basketball…not just the decision to pass or drive.” (me)

• Kerr said Andre Iguodala is going through every practice, hasn’t been in a full contact scrimmage and any season debut is still off in the distance: “We’re more interested in him being healthy in the second half of the season. So we’re not going to throw him out there yet…I don’t think he’s had a full-contact scrimmage yet.” (Anthony Slater)

• On the uptick in traveling calls in the Mavs game: “Gotta he the most by far of any game I’ve ever been involved in…I’m all for enforcing traveling but it has to be done all the time. It just can’t be selective.” (95.7 The Game) • On Kuminga: “He’s really locked in defensively…I think what's happening is he's realizing his role and how he can make an impact. Using his gifts — his athleticism and strength and size. Making an impact doesn't just mean getting the ball and putting it in the basket.” (95.7 The Game, KNBR) • More on the young guys: “I think what JK is showing is he’s going to make a contribution and I think there’s no question James and Moses can do the same thing.” (95.7 The Game) • On if they’ve turned a corner: “Oh, for sure. But the exciting thing is I still think there’s a ways to go…we’re better but we’re not where we need to be…It feels like we're in a much better place now than we were a couple weeks ago.” (95.7 The Game, KNBR) • On Steph Curry’s halfcourt heaves at the buzzer: “My favorite thing about Steph is these 3-point shooting numbers come with the caveat of like 0-for-10 on halfcourt shots...he's like the only guy in the league who doesn't care about the percentage (on those heaves).” (KNBR)

LAMB AFTER PRACTICE

• Anthony Lamb being in his position: "Every chance you get to play, it speeds your development up...playing NBA minutes literally doesn’t compare to anything else in the world...honestly there's so many games you can't really get caught up in feeling good about it, the next one is gonna hit you in the mouth." (me)

• On the second unit chemistry: "We've been doing extra film...first time playing with any of these guys, ever." (me)

• On having a great plus-minus in the Dallas game: "The first unit's really good at (reads)...everybody's trying to feel out where they fit in the system...starting to figure it out." (me)

• On Draymond helping the second unit get more comfortable: “He’s like a master orchestrator. He doesn’t have to talk as much because his communication is so direct and very precise. He’s telling you early where you need to be or he’ll point and just real quick I’ll know exactly where I need to go…real simple...a little more patient in the corner…Because he knows (the system) so well that everything seems a lot slower when he gets on the court. So I think that that does definitely help us with our development.” (Marcus Thompson, me)

• On the two-way contract: "This has been my only NBA experience...and the 10-day...how fluid it is...it's really quick so you have to be very aware and alert about what the situation is...every day counts, every second, every rep...I don't take that for granted. Every chance I get...I'm not gonna get down on myself...if I waste the next second then that's just gonna spiral." (me)

• On new two-way rules, 50 games, how he deals with it: "Not really. You play so much you can't really focus on that too much. They'll probably talk to me more as we get closer...the comparison between a two-way contract and the G League is unbelievable...it's such a better situation to be in, that's why I'm so grateful...pay for stuff, feed my family sort of...I'd much rather be on a two-way than not...still get a peek at the NBA and still learn." (me)

• On if he's aware of what his scouting report is by opposing teams: "I don't really think they pay attention to me yet. We have so many good players...still use my ability to get to the rim, to create wide-open shots...I can ball-fake and kick it out...just as easily as I can score...people don't know me as much." (me)

• On the 50-game limit: "I haven't had any (conversations about that). Just been playing. I don't think we're close enough. Upper-30s left?" (me)

• On if college or G League has helped acclimate to the Warriors: "In college I was 4-5...post-split game, so I think that helped me...G League with the Vipers I got exposed to every position...versatility...play with your line...make a read and make a play at the right time...the game is more fluid than what a lot of people make it to be." (me)

• On how much he studied the Warriors before he got there: "It kinda helps that they go to the Finals every year...I've seen so much Warriors stuff growing up...had a feel...seeing how the starters play...subtleties of how they move, get out of screens...how sharp some of the stuff they do really is." (me)

• On how great Steph is: "You get normalized to how amazing he is to playing basketball and shooting the rock. Everyday I see him do something that looks so smooth and effortless and I know how hard it is...so seamless...most amazing part to me, it seems so natural...he has all this stuff really well-put together. I love watching him." (me)

• On mental health and depression at Vermont, adding a mental health designation on the injury report: "because you know the schedule and you know what the games are, a lot of the work has to be done beforehand. For me, I've really struggled with depression...being able to learn and grown and work with people beforehand...ability to navigate my own mental terrain...gives me more confidence...I'm on a two-way so every day counts, so it's harder to say that...the more work we do to front-load...so we don't have to get to that point...I have to do soft-tissue work...it's even more important to do the mental work...you've got physical trainers...we should have more access to people to help navigate the stuff that goes through our heads...a lot of my work is on myself...how can I see that before it comes...(for example) I can't even talk myself out of this...I started to see when those times are...take extra time, or come to the gym a little later...as far as like the travel...time constraints, that's the hardest...you don't have much time to focus on your own stuff...even when you say I just want to chill." (me)

WARRIORS PRACTICE BTS

(See Description for aforementioned Curry x Poole interaction)

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