MY ACCOUNT
Stephen Curry has backed his Golden State Warriors team-mates to “figure it out” after their Game 1 defeat to the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals.
Game 2 of the championship series takes place in Chase Center on Sunday and Curry called on the Warriors to “flip the script”.
The Celtics won the first encounter 120-108 on Thursday, turning things around dramatically in the fourth quarter, scoring 40 points to the Warriors’ 16 to take the win.
However, Curry – who still top scored with 34 points – believes his team can respond to that setback, outlining after practice on Saturday when he had seen the necessary resilience from the Warriors this season.
“Even moments throughout the regular season where things are starting to get away from us a little bit at times,” he said. “And kind of have your ‘come-to-Jesus’ moment, like we need to play right. How are we going to flip the script and get things back on the right track? We usually responded pretty well.
“It’s the first time for a lot of things with this particular group. We are here in the Finals for a reason, because we figured it out along the way. If we’re going to get back in this series, we’ve got to figure it out again.”
Draymond Green, who claimed 11 rebounds but made just two of 12 field goal attempts on Thursday, said the Warriors need to improve their defensive performance.
“We have to play with more force on the defensive end,” he said. “I think there were times in the game when they didn’t feel us; when you’re playing against a great team at this level at this point in the season, they have to feel you every possession.
“We just have to make sure they feel us every possession.”
Coach Steve Kerr added his assertion that the experience of Curry and Green will be vital for his team if they are to win their first championship since 2018.
“Draymond and Steph have been in the Finals six times now,” Kerr said. “They have seen it all. They have seen everything. They have won championships. They have lost championships. They have had their heart broken. They have had parades.
“This is all part of it. So that’s the right mental approach, and that’s one that’s born out of experience.”
