NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: NUGGETS VS WARRIORS

April 16, 2022

Monte Morris

Denver Nuggets

Postgame Media Conference

Warriors 123, Nuggets 107

Q. What was the difference in tonight's game? What do you think they did?

MONTE MORRIS: I mean, they did what they were supposed to do, come out, protect the home court. Points off turnovers I think was 20, and offensive rebounds, so that's like 40 points right there that we gave up that we're going to fix, watch film.

We got a taste of what they're doing now, so it's easy to prep it, but when they're out there moving and things like that, you've actually got to be in the mix and in the fire to kind of get a feel for it, but we always bounce back and will be better next time around.

Q. What's the mood in the locker room like?

MONTE MORRIS: Just stay together. It's one game. Seven-game series, first of four, no need to panic. We've been down before, we've been up before. Still a lot of basketball to be played. Our thing is just stay together.

Q. Te, you mentioned the points off of turnovers, the offensive rebounds for them, things that you know you can control. You said you're going to watch film, but how do you correct some of these things? Just coming out of this game what do you think are those corrections?

MONTE MORRIS: I mean, a lot of the offensive rebounds is just 50/50 hustle balls. We can fix that with just our effort. But like I said, you've got to be in there and get a feel for the game and the tempo that they play, the feel in the building. Game 1 could be a feel-out game for some teams. The Warriors did what they were supposed to do. Our goal is to get one here and get back to Denver, have a chance to win two.

Tonight was a learning curve. We know that the end of the second quarter really hurt us when they went on that run. But we only had 11 turnovers in this building, so I think that's a big step.

We had a lot of shots that went in and out, great looks. Like they say, make-or-miss league, but the offensive rebounds, things like that, that stuff we can fix.

Watch film, get back to the drawing board and be better Game 2. We all know Game 2 we usually come out better, with a better feel.

Q. Monte, I think it was the second quarter I saw you on the court doing these hand signals. Is that just kind of urging communication? How many of those defensive breakdowns were --

MONTE MORRIS: Yeah, our talk at the end of the second quarter was horrendous. Early on we was talking because we were switching out a lot of things, but at the end of the second we wasn't talking. Times when guys are supposed to be up the floor, I post a chase or top block, things like that, or some miscues on just switch-outs, just all about communication, man. Coach always says, communication stops any indecision. We've just got to keep talking, keep the same energy.

Q. It's not often Joker is 25 points on 25 shots. He's usually way more efficient than that. What were they doing to him to limit that?

MONTE MORRIS: I mean, they was staying home at times, then sending guys late. Like I said, man, 12 of 25, that's damn near 50 percent. It's Joker; he's usually more efficient.

Like I say, guys got to get a feel for them just like they got a feel for us. We'll be better Game 2. I'll be better Game 2. I see how they're playing me and what they're trying to do. It's not nothing to drop our heads on. It's one game. It's a lot of basketball left. We've all been here before, and we've just got to answer the call.

Q. Both Coach Malone and Will just talked about how you guys need to be more aggressive in order to get to the free-throw line more. What does that look like?

MONTE MORRIS: I think it starts with rebounding the ball for sure, getting rebounds so we can run. But just hitting first and showing the refs we're going to be the aggressors tonight. I think tonight they did that and that's why they unfortunately was going to the line like that. But yeah, we've got to be more physical, hit guys, block out. Yeah, I know I was a lot by the perimeter and on guys outside of three, but I didn't have no rebounds today. I've got to get in the mix and help those guys out as much as I can and fight.

It's on all of us, but I know I put a lot of onus on myself being a point guard. I've got to be more physical out there and set the tone.

Q. One thing you said about getting a feel for them and getting a feel for the series, you get a feel for the first time of -- I believe the first time of Poole, Thompson and Curry all playing together.

MONTE MORRIS: Yeah.

Q. How does that affect your defense?

MONTE MORRIS: I mean, we have a scheme. We've just got to execute it. They're three hell of players. They had it going from deep. We can't let them distort what we're trying to do just because they can shoot. We've got to trust our game plan and our scheme to be successful.

Like I keep saying, it's a long series. We come in here Monday night and get a win, everything is even, and it's a different conversation.

You've got to think we gave up 40, 41 points just off -- 20 off offensive rebounds and 20 off fast break. It was just like -- some of that effort, you cut that number down, it's a whole different ball game. It would be different if we was giving up a lot of stuff or stuff we went over, but offensive rebounding is all effort and getting back in transition is all effort.

We're not going to hold them to zero points the whole series or the whole game, in them categories, but I think if we can cut that number down it'll give us a better chance in the long run.