Xmas Game: “I like it because it means you’re one of the marquee teams…I personally don’t like it because I haven’t played well 🚨…trying to think what my best game is, I’ve struggled a lot…rectify that…I got three kids…balance being present with them…nine straight…that means you’re doing something good…take the good with the bad…”
Fighting slippage when COVID taking out guys: “…our depth…Otto Porter step in…9 rebounds…Bjelica…knocked down some big shots…Juan Toscano-Anderson was incredible…he had his imprint…very key guys out and this is your opportunity…especially if you’re someone who plays behinds Wiggins because Wiggins doesn’t miss games…Wiggs will walk out there dead 🚨 …we saw Gary take advantage of the moment…Cheese gave us great energy…know that you can rely on it.”
No b2b road games: “…I wanna spend some time with my kids too…we’re not playing against a defending champion…frustrating to have to go on the road, second year in a row. So now I’ll missed my daughter’s first Christmas and now I’ll miss her second. That’s kinda fucked up…I can’t explain that to her…we’re not robots…actual human beings with actual feelings with actual families…” 🚨
Q4 dominated boards: “…we knew that coming in. You know Steven Adams coming with 4 offensive boards…the way to beat that is to (rebound and go in transition)…from there it’s Winning Time 🚨 …Otto…Loon…”
Marcus makes reference to Monta, you GP work together? “Tallest 6’3 guy in the world 🚨 …offensively he occupies a lot of different spots…knows how to work off of the other four guys…this is part of his identity (on defense)…we don’t have Wiggs/JP/DLee…a lot of minutes to eat up…”
Shot with Otto oreb: “I’m trying to make it first…you can get your defense set and play the possession game…three straight times tie game…turnovers have killed us…four pretty good possessions after they tied the game…defense set, our defense has (done a good job)…”
GP: “…hound (Ja) all game…stepped into some big shots for us…beginning, the way that they were guarding us…paint touches…they stayed with it…tide started to turn…pressure on the rim and then knock down open shots…impact on the game was awesome…”
PHX keys: “Understanding their patterns…using that CP-Ayton pick and roll…DBook scoring and playmaking…(bench players) know their role…turning the ball over, that hurt us a lot…CP running in transition he’s got options everywhere that’s almost impossible to stop…gotta be able to rebound too…kept them to one shot…gotta do that on Saturday.”
Challenge of no JP Wiggs: “…gonna see a crowd most every possession…getting us into the right sets…how to space the floor…guys being confident to shoot their shot when they’re open…Wiggs and JP are great play-makers…can bail us out late clock…without those guys stay diligent…be ready for your shot when you’re open…create good momentum on offense…picking and choosing my spots, when to force…be a decoy…”
Dray really wanted to win this game also vs Dillon Brooks: “familiar with their team…definitely wanted this one. Definitely felt like one you can’t let slip by…what it was gonna take to win this with, what, six of our top nine out?…chip on your shoulder…protect your home court…teams that have beaten us a couple times here…I don’t get into the antics with this microphone in my face but it’s all about how you play…” 🚨
Frustration last few weeks? “(Long pause)…lot of it was kind of around the record stuff…my shot selection, kinda dominating the narrative…never get too high or low…over 82…never lose confidence…right perspective about the big picture esp as you get further in your career…never really get too low when shots aren’t falling.”
Intensity of Xmas Game vs regular: “…everybody is at home…sitting at home watching TV…intensity is gonna be ramped up even more, you gotta step up and meet that challenge…I expect us to do that.”
GP: “very impressive…extremely aggressive on the offensive end…you’ve grown to expect (his defense)…all over the floor…you gotta stop the head of the snake…takes a lot of energy…most importantly he took those shots…”
Mad at GP2: “…this was a game I wanted to win very bad…it’s a mental thing as well…I was a little more riled up this game…once you can’t see your guy’s number you need to crack back…nothing you can do there if I got you stuck under the rim…I got pushed into him (Ja, under the rim)…we’re playing a lot of guys more minutes than they usually play…didn’t want to say this a big game and add more pressure…(but) we really need to win this game…we went to the timeout, we moved past it.”
Steph not as efficient lately, vs Dillon Brooks: “…nobody in the world likes to guard Steph so I ain’t buying that sh— stuff 🚨…messed up some switches and he got clean looks…starts an avalanche…”
PHX DEN DEN UTA coming up, contributions without JP and Wiggs: “…esp scorers, you pretty much have to find a couple guys making shots each night…margin for error is definitely slimmer…defend…”
Steph hit rim and Otto got the oreb: “That was a huge play. That’s not easy to do under duress…Otto who made so many big plays tonight…blocked shots…verticality play against Ja late…”
Steph frustration? “Couple times…a lot going on (with record last week)…such a competitor…but he also wants to play an efficient game and make shots. Tonight he was deadly.”
Steph has been less efficient, tired, hangover vs tonight: “…I think there was some pressing going on as he was nearing the record…over 82 games you know there’s gonna be some ups and downs…didn’t surprise me, the law of averages is gonna catch up.”
Non-Steph threes: “JK made a couple in the first half, that was big…Beli made some big shots…if you make 19 threes you’re usually gonna win…but the defense was solid too, 42%…they were smoking…cooled them off…”
More GP2: “…the roster around Gary…last year…hard to find combinations that fit…allows Gary to play the way he plays…knew we needed a defensive-minded guard to complement…a game like this, that’s 4/7 from 3…I didn’t expect that.”
GP2: “spent the summer really hard on that 3pt shot. He revamped it…shoot with confidence, a guy who had to claw his way…fearless…big minutes on a good team…seize the opportunity…”
*** GSW PR SAYS NO PRACTICE TOMORROW ***
Xmas Game no two years on road in a row? “Sure why not?…last year was weird because it was post-Bubble…”
Xmas Game: “I like it because it means you’re one of the marquee teams…I personally don’t like it because I haven’t played well 🚨…trying to think what my best game is, I’ve struggled a lot…rectify that…I got three kids…balance being present with them…nine straight…that means you’re doing something good…take the good with the bad…”
Fighting slippage when COVID taking out guys: “…our depth…Otto Porter step in…9 rebounds…Bjelica…knocked down some big shots…Juan Toscano-Anderson was incredible…he had his imprint…very key guys out and this is your opportunity…especially if you’re someone who plays behinds Wiggins because Wiggins doesn’t miss games…Wiggs will walk out there dead 🚨 …we saw Gary take advantage of the moment…Cheese gave us great energy…know that you can rely on it.”
No b2b road games: “…I wanna spend some time with my kids too…we’re not playing against a defending champion…frustrating to have to go on the road, second year in a row. So now I’ll missed my daughter’s first Christmas and now I’ll miss her second. That’s kinda fucked up…I can’t explain that to her…we’re not robots…actual human beings with actual feelings with actual families…” 🚨
Q4 dominated boards: “…we knew that coming in. You know Steven Adams coming with 4 offensive boards…the way to beat that is to (rebound and go in transition)…from there it’s Winning Time 🚨 …Otto…Loon…”
Xmas Game memories: “just spending time with the fam. Idk if the Hornets ever played a game on Xmas…normal memories…enjoying being a kid…”
Marcus makes reference to Monta, you GP work together? “Tallest 6’3 guy in the world 🚨 …offensively he occupies a lot of different spots…knows how to work off of the other four guys…this is part of his identity (on defense)…we don’t have Wiggs/JP/DLee…a lot of minutes to eat up…”
Shot with Otto oreb: “I’m trying to make it first…you can get your defense set and play the possession game…three straight times tie game…turnovers have killed us…four pretty good possessions after they tied the game…defense set, our defense has (done a good job)…”
Ankle twist: “it’s fine, it’s the first one I had all year…not feeling anything…”
GP: “…hound (Ja) all game…stepped into some big shots for us…beginning, the way that they were guarding us…paint touches…they stayed with it…tide started to turn…pressure on the rim and then knock down open shots…impact on the game was awesome…”
PHX keys: “Understanding their patterns…using that CP-Ayton pick and roll…DBook scoring and playmaking…(bench players) know their role…turning the ball over, that hurt us a lot…CP running in transition he’s got options everywhere that’s almost impossible to stop…gotta be able to rebound too…kept them to one shot…gotta do that on Saturday.”
Challenge of no JP Wiggs: “…gonna see a crowd most every possession…getting us into the right sets…how to space the floor…guys being confident to shoot their shot when they’re open…Wiggs and JP are great play-makers…can bail us out late clock…without those guys stay diligent…be ready for your shot when you’re open…create good momentum on offense…picking and choosing my spots, when to force…be a decoy…”
Dray really wanted to win this game also vs Dillon Brooks: “familiar with their team…definitely wanted this one. Definitely felt like one you can’t let slip by…what it was gonna take to win this with, what, six of our top nine out?…chip on your shoulder…protect your home court…teams that have beaten us a couple times here…I don’t get into the antics with this microphone in my face but it’s all about how you play…” 🚨
Frustration last few weeks? “(Long pause)…lot of it was kind of around the record stuff…my shot selection, kinda dominating the narrative…never get too high or low…over 82…never lose confidence…right perspective about the big picture esp as you get further in your career…never really get too low when shots aren’t falling.”
*** GSW PR SAYS STEPH IS NEXT ***
Intensity of Xmas Game vs regular: “…everybody is at home…sitting at home watching TV…intensity is gonna be ramped up even more, you gotta step up and meet that challenge…I expect us to do that.”
GP: “very impressive…extremely aggressive on the offensive end…you’ve grown to expect (his defense)…all over the floor…you gotta stop the head of the snake…takes a lot of energy…most importantly he took those shots…”
Momentum into PHX: “for sure…with so many guys down, it’s easy to have slippage…our starting group…build a little familiarity…”
Mad at GP2: “…this was a game I wanted to win very bad…it’s a mental thing as well…I was a little more riled up this game…once you can’t see your guy’s number you need to crack back…nothing you can do there if I got you stuck under the rim…I got pushed into him (Ja, under the rim)…we’re playing a lot of guys more minutes than they usually play…didn’t want to say this a big game and add more pressure…(but) we really need to win this game…we went to the timeout, we moved past it.”
Steph not as efficient lately, vs Dillon Brooks: “…nobody in the world likes to guard Steph so I ain’t buying that sh— stuff 🚨…messed up some switches and he got clean looks…starts an avalanche…”
No JP and Wiggs: “…paint is a little more clogged (for Steph)…”
*** DRAY NEXT ***
Xmas Day special? “Watched every year just imagining what it would be like. I’ve been waiting pretty long…nothing special…”
Xmas memory: “energy we have here at home and take it down there to Phoenix…favorite Xmas memory? Will be tomorrow…” 🚨
Discussion with Dray: “It’s just Dray waking me up…I got a little lackadaisical…he just wants the best for us…we need him to keep doing that.”
Klay likes watching his defense: “…can’t wait to see what he does.”
30 mins, how did it feel? “No it did not seem like 30 minutes…just try to wear (Ja) down…helps my games and I can get better…”
Xmas Game: “…ready to compete and see DBook.”
PHX game: “Good momentum to go into Christmas…any game can be anybody’s day…clean it up a little on defense.”
Ja: “Just make it uncomfortable for him. Last time he got downhill…”
Hesitancy? “…they go they go…had a couple bad ones today…just let them go…”
Your 3s: “(laughs) Coach just tells me to shoot them and I shoot them…”
No Wiggs JP: “Just next man mentality…30 and Draymond puts everybody in a good position…opportunities to make plays, just make plays.”
*** NEXT UP: GP2 ***
Boards Q4 13-5: “went hand in hand with our defense…they are a monstrous team…14 offensive boards…”
PHX DEN DEN UTA coming up, contributions without JP and Wiggs: “…esp scorers, you pretty much have to find a couple guys making shots each night…margin for error is definitely slimmer…defend…”
Steph hit rim and Otto got the oreb: “That was a huge play. That’s not easy to do under duress…Otto who made so many big plays tonight…blocked shots…verticality play against Ja late…”
Steph frustration? “Couple times…a lot going on (with record last week)…such a competitor…but he also wants to play an efficient game and make shots. Tonight he was deadly.”
Steph has been less efficient, tired, hangover vs tonight: “…I think there was some pressing going on as he was nearing the record…over 82 games you know there’s gonna be some ups and downs…didn’t surprise me, the law of averages is gonna catch up.”
Non-Steph threes: “JK made a couple in the first half, that was big…Beli made some big shots…if you make 19 threes you’re usually gonna win…but the defense was solid too, 42%…they were smoking…cooled them off…”
More GP2: “…the roster around Gary…last year…hard to find combinations that fit…allows Gary to play the way he plays…knew we needed a defensive-minded guard to complement…a game like this, that’s 4/7 from 3…I didn’t expect that.”
GP2: “spent the summer really hard on that 3pt shot. He revamped it…shoot with confidence, a guy who had to claw his way…fearless…big minutes on a good team…seize the opportunity…”
Steph: “vintage…showed every bit of his talent and his will.”
*** FIRST UP POSTGAME: KERR ***