NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: MAVERICKS VS. WARRIORS

May 18, 2022

Jalen Brunson

Dallas Mavericks

Game 1: Postgame

Warriors 112, Mavericks 87

Q. Jalen, do you feel like you guys were getting the kind of shots that you did against Phoenix and they just weren't going in?

JALEN BRUNSON: Yeah, I think we had a lot of good looks. Just the ball didn't go in for us tonight. I mean, yeah. That's really it. Ball didn't go in for us as much as we'd hoped.

But we'll come back. We'll get better and be prepared for Game 2.

Q. What happened there late in the second quarter? It was a two-point game at one point, and then it kind of got away from you guys?

JALEN BRUNSON: I mean, they're a good team. You've got to give them credit. They're a great team. They've been a great team for a long time. They made a run, and we kind of knew that we needed to finish quarters better because we know in the third quarter they're a great team. They come out firing and that's usually when they do their damage.

We've got to do a better job finishing quarters, and in the beginning of the second half we've got to play with a little more determination on the defensive side of the ball knowing that that's when they try and go.

Q. It's always different in every series, but you guys have been down 1-0 in the first two, as well, and came back. Is the confidence factor still there and the experience factor having done that before, is that good for you guys?

JALEN BRUNSON: Yeah, we've been in this position before. We're not going to dwell on it, but at the same time we know that we have to get better. We have to be better. I have to be better, most importantly.

Just have to go back to the drawing board and get ready for Game 2.

Q. In what ways do you think, specifically for your game, can you improve or what could you take advantage of better going forward?

JALEN BRUNSON: I think for us, it starts on the defensive end. We've got to play better defensively. We've got to be more connected, talking, just be on the same page. I think that's the beginning of it. Our offense is going to come. We'll be fine on offense. We had a lot of good looks tonight, and we just trust our work ethic and our technique. I'm comfortable with the shots that we got tonight that will go in in Game 2.

Q. In totality how do you evaluate the defensive work you did tonight? It seemed like you were at least effective in chasing them off the three-point line, but it seemed like every mid-range look they had they hit.

JALEN BRUNSON: Yeah, they're a team that keeps playing. They're not just looking for the first option. They know that if the first option is not there, they're going to run something, keep running, and if the second option is not there, they're going to keep going, third, fourth, however long it takes them to get a good clean shot. That's how they've been for the last decade.

It's just that we've got to have the same effort on the defensive side of the ball. It's not going to be the first or second thrust, it's going to be the third, fourth or fifth.

Q. Jason Kidd said the Warriors were more physical tonight and you guys need to do a better job of that moving forward. It seemed like their defense did a good job of frustrating both you and Luka when you guys were trying to create on offense.

JALEN BRUNSON: Yeah, their defense, they stepped up the game plan tonight, held us under 100 points fairly easily. We've just got to be better. Plain and simple.

Q. They put Draymond Green on you at the start tonight. That was the matchup for a lot of the night. How does that change things for you personally trying to attack and the team having one of their bigger guys and one of their better help defenders on you?

JALEN BRUNSON: Yeah, I think for me and our team, as long as we stick to our game plan and do what we're supposed to do, will put us in the best position to be successful, no matter who's guarding who.

Q. I know adjustments start with the coaching staff. How much do players adjust? How much are you already thinking about things you saw, things you did, the ways they played you and how you would want to improve at that?

JALEN BRUNSON: Yeah, I think it starts with realizing where you can be better, where I can be better. I had a lot of open shots tonight that didn't go in, and I think I've just got to concentrate a little better, concentrate at the free-throw line, just be a little more focused, pay attention a little more detail, and those details can be a big factor in the game, and I've just got to focus on that.