You know, I know some conversations.

The private you told us not, uh, you know, last week when you and Nico was joking around, but can you tell us what happened?

Uh, Rodney McGruder in the tunnel.

I know you were laughing about it after the fact.

I have no idea want teeth holding it down for our team.

That's all I really know.

Um, I was late to the party.

Steph Kunder, Andrews, NBC Sports Bay Area.

Steve Kerr was talking about how When you guys do well on the boards, it's a sign of focus.

Do you agree with that?

And what else does rebounding well mean for you and the team?

It fuels our offense, obviously, and it allows us to gain some momentum.

Um, especially early in games.

He mentioned something about our field goal percentage defense, and they're being pretty solid.

Um, but then you give up offensive rebounds, and it's kind of a wash.

So, um, we have capable ball handlers that could push in transition once you get a rebound.

And obviously, uh, you know, defense isn't allowed to get their get set, and you're ableto get a good flow and And at the end of the day, you know, lessons there, the other team's confidence knowing that they were gonna try Thio, you know, make him take tough shots, and then they're only gonna get one shot at, and you can keep it moving.

So, um, you know, we do have some small lineups out there at times, and it requires everybody thio to gang rebound, be physical.

Sometimes you have to box out not expecting to get the rebound yourself, but to help somebody else, you know, just keep somebody off the glass and you do your job there.

So it it's a commitment thing as well.

Uh, to be physical.

I just wanted to follow up on one of the questions that Clay asked you post game.

Do you think it would be 40 or 41 games until you passed around E.

I have to make a quick math with that nine a game or something like that.

Uh, 10 A game.

Yeah.

Hey, anything's possible.

Right?

So maybe maybe 41.

I'll take the over, though.

If I was if I were a betting man, F Andre Mom was saying that he feels like he's a couple weeks away from being where he wants to be.

You've been around him for a long time.

Are you able to see him coming from where he was the first couple of weeks for sure, every game moving in the right direction.

I mean, we're all, uh what, six weeks into the season is still kind of weird talking about what the vibe was, you know, week one week to where's short training camp and him coming off, you know, but 14 days off, you know, just sitting and away from the team.

So solve new territory for everybody, especially him.

Um, but you see the aggressiveness, um, you know the sharpness of on offense.

You know, being a playmaker, obviously defensively, putting together amazing, you know, runs out there and making his presence felt.

So I take him for his word, I guess, in terms of where he thinks he's at and where where he's trying to get to Pretty soon stuff over the last maybe nine or 10 games.

Your percentages air about where they normally are 50% from the field, 45% from three eyes.

That is that because you figure you know how these quote unquote Jaenke defense's Air Guard.

You you kind of got the pictures.

It's getting better for sure.

And I think, as we have a lot of ups and downs the team, um, in terms of what we're trying to do execution wise.

But it follows my normal patterns of shooting better as the season goes on.

Just in general.

Um, but definitely getting a lot more comfortable finding that balance.

Um, no.

What type of shots we're gonna get ones that I could take and make and obviously, but don't ever lose confidence in that respect.

But you start to get a flow, and you can carry that from game to game and start to feel really good.

I'm probably gonna try and not jinxing myself.

So thanks for asking.

That question took as a follow up.

Then, um I think the last few games, maybe to total free throws.

Uh, what do you think that is?

Because there was a period you were getting to the line.

A lot is just a matter of the calls.

Or is it?

Ah, what you're choosing to pick apart in the defense.

It's a little bit of everything.

Um, I think alive or two is, uh, throughout the flow of the game.

Either we're on a roll and we're getting whatever shot we want.

Um, I find that space we're getting blown out.

It's kind of the opposite.

So I think it's Ah, it's kind of a weird vibe in terms of sometimes not really worried about.

But I do know getting easy points because I could make free throws getting to the line.

We'll help us at times and settle us down if you know the other team gets on a run or even closing, you know, games in the fourth quarter.

Um, you know, trying to get to the line, get easy points.

So yeah, it'll Yeah, I'm focused on it, but I'm not worried about.

At the same time, we've talked plenty.

You know about kind of your guys inconsistency this year, but you are seven and one against below 500 teams.

Is that something you're seeing in this team?

That you guys do tend to kind of handle business on those nights that your favorite, who is the one Knicks?

I thought they were playing like they're above 500.

Uh, I think they might have been, uh, about when you always know.

You gotta, uh they say when the games that you're supposed to win And, um, that's helped us, you know, cure some of the the bad vibes coming off a tough loss is Andre had a pretty tough schedule early.

So I think the test to the test that we've had, especially against the Clippers and Trail Blazers back on the home stand and, um, bouncing back from tough losses and winning those games against tough teams.

Obviously taking our lumps against some other good teams, we've had some really good wins.

We've had literally every experience.

But to your point into your question, winning those games that you know, whether you're at home with road, that your quote unquote supposed to win gets you in a position where you're 11 or nine.

Not feeling like you're playing anywhere near your best basketball.

And, you know, you're a couple, you know, 23 game win streak away from really being in really good shape.

So, um, that does that does help.

Steph.

Pregame.

We're talking to Steve about the lack of consistency and leak right now.

I mean, there's maybe a handful of teams that have been consistent, and he said it might have to do with the outer basketball world.

I mean, people don't have consistency under the day in the life.

I mean, kids don't go to school.

You can't see your friends.

You can go out, have a normal life.

Uh, do you see that having an effect on this team?

I mean, everybody has their own experience and how you would answer that question, I think for um, what I've noticed is just there's, you know, you're here of the facility for a lot longer.

Is all the different protocols and stuff.

Like you said, there aren't really many distractions outside of, you know, basketball.

Um, a lot of the way that you used to move out, you know, in between games and practices.

And then your normal social life, like everybody else in the world, has been interrupted.

So, um, yeah, it might have something to do with the the mood swings, if you will.

But, um, you, as we go through the season, is going to challenge you mentally more than anything, Thio to keep your focus, I think we dream I mentioned Earth and shoot around this morning.

There's a lot of things that you have to worry about on top of being a great basketball player on the floor and mentally that can be draining.

And it's our experience, and there's a lot of people that are going through a lot worse things.

But it is a challenge in terms of what we're used to doing, you know, and in our craft.

So I got a I understand, be open about it, talk about it and then, you know, understands a long season.

Gotta find a way toe to stay sharp through it All.

Seven.

Your post game interview with clay.

Mhm.

Uh huh.

Um, you guys relationship.

I mean, let's play off each other play Which other?

How have you guys made to maintain that relationship without getting tired of each other after 10 years?

Uh huh.

It's a great question.

I think love is just our personalities that we really love the game we love and appreciate what we both dreamin included.

What we all bring to the equation, how different we all are.

But we have the same common goal of just trying to win, and we've all found an identity in that and appreciation of just who we are as people, too.

So I think it all kind of blends in together.

We do get sick of each other at times, and you know, it's nice to get away and all that normal, healthy relationship type of stuff.

But then the day, um, that's the chemistry that we built.

And you know, the identity that we built over those those many years, and when you win at the highest level, obviously it only gets stronger.

So, um, yeah, I feel blessed that obviously have that that vibe and and obviously bring other guys into the to the fold.

Um, that can kind of live that out, too.

So it za pretty awesome.

No.

How would you describe clase sense of humor?

How would you describe Clay's sense of humor?

Ah is always on, but I don't think he knows how funny he is, So that's the best part about it.

It's just, uh, it's just who he is.

He's not even trying.

So that's what we like about it.

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