SAN FRANCISCO – Stephen Curry has seen the Golden State Warriors recover several times this season and is confident they will do so again in the second game of Sunday’s NBA Finals.
Citing how the Warriors bounced back from their 39-point loss in Game 5 to the Memphis Grizzlies in the second round and after a 10-point loss to the Dallas Mavericks in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals before closing out the Warriors. two teams in the next game. , Curry said he has seen endurance tests this season.
“Even times in the regular season when things start to get a little different for us sometimes,” Curry said after practice on Saturday. “And have the time to come to Jesus, as if we were to play well.
“How are we going to turn the script around and get things back on track? We usually respond pretty well.”
2 Related
After suffering a crisis in the fourth quarter and dropping the first game of the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics at home on Thursday, the Warriors lost an opening game of the series only for the third time in the era of Steve Kerr. But for this current Warriors collection, it’s the first time they’ve lost 0-1 in a series to the best of seven.
“It’s the first time there’s a lot going on with this particular group,” Curry said of a team that features players like Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole making their NBA Finals debuts. “We’re here in the finals for a reason, because we’ve discovered it along the way. If we go back to this series, we’ll have to find out again.”
To the question of whether this qualifies as one of those moments of truth, Curry answered emphatically, “Absolutely.”
The Warriors will look to defend the Celtics 3-point shooter much better after delivering 21 boards in the first game, including nine in the fourth quarter.
“We have to play harder on the defensive end,” said Draymond Green, who has blamed himself for not living up to his standards in game 1. “I think there were moments in the game in what they didn’t feel to us. When you play against a great team of this level at this time of the season, you should feel every possession.
“We just have to make sure we feel every possession.”
The Warriors were able to use defender Gary Payton II in Game 2. Payton did not play in Game 1, although he was available after being out with a broken elbow from Game 2 of the second round against Memphis. Kerr, who played Andre Iguodala for 12 minutes in the first game after the veteran had not played since the Denver Nuggets’ fourth-round first leg game due to a neck injury, said Payton is feeling better and which plans to use it more.
Golden State striker Otto Porter Jr. said Game 2 was “a must-win” three times after training. The Warriors will be looking for their core championship experience to lead the way. Curry, Green and Klay Thompson expressed confidence in the Warriors’ ability to recover with the championship in play.
“Draymond and Steph have been to the finals six times now,” Kerr said. “They’ve seen it all. They’ve seen it all. They’ve won championships. They’ve lost championships. They’ve broken their hearts. They’ve had parades. It’s all part of that. So that’s the right mental focus. , and that is what is born of experience. “
Thompson said he is excited about Game 2.
“I need to make more shots,” said Thompson, who made 6 of 14 shots in game 1. “I need to make more shots. I need to make more stops. I just need to be myself. Yes, that would be one of the best I’ve ever had. ‘They’ve fired, so I’ll trust that.
“We’re going to play desperately tomorrow, and I think that’s when we’re at our best.”