NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: WARRIORS vs KINGS

April 28, 2023

Kevon Looney

Media Conference

Sacramento Kings 118, Golden State Warriors 99

Q. Just energy and focus-wise, what went wrong?

KEVON LOONEY: I thought we played hard but we didn't play smart. We didn't execute our game plan. We know what we needed to do to win. All the small things, getting back in transition, the box-outs, the turnovers, different things like that, we didn't execute.

Q. Steve Kerr said you guys talked about, this Kings team is going to be so hungry, season on the line, nothing to lose, really warned you about the aggression they would be playing with. Did you guys feel ready to handle that or were you a little caught off-guard?

KEVON LOONEY: I think we felt ready for the aggression and for the force they was going to play with, but I just think we didn't play smart. We didn't execute the things that we know we needed to do. I felt we were playing hard and we played with the right intention but we didn't execute and have focus throughout the whole game.

Q. How surprised are you, given the way you guys have played in this building this year, how surprised are you that you didn't play smart, you didn't find a way to get that second half rally that you often do here?

KEVON LOONEY: I would say it's a little surprising but no, they are a good team and they brought it to us. They made some adjustments. We know we can play better. But luckily we got one more chance to go there and win, and we didn't take care of business here but we know we can win there, so we got to go back to their house.

Q. Kings went small tonight. How much do you think that impacted the game for you guys?

KEVON LOONEY: I think it affected it some just because it was kind of a new lineup that we haven't seen this series, and kind of had to make some adjustments how we were going to guard it and guard the pick-and-roll and different things like that. We had been playing a certain way the wholes series.

It took some adjustments to finally get used to, and something we have to watch film and see how we can execute better against a small lineup but I think we can make the adjustment.

Q. We could see you talking with Jordan, Draymond talking with Jordan, during time-outs. What's the message for him to get a quick change, especially mentally, with Game 7 so quickly around the corner?

KEVON LOONEY: We just want him to be himself, go out there be and be aggressive, play his style of basketball. We going to support him, keep playing hard. He struggled a little tonight but we know what he's capable of and we know he's mentally tough and he can bounce back, and that's what we expect from him.

Q. How do you feel like you guys have been handling some of the foul calls as far as what you guys might perceive as no calls or their calls or managing the frustration of the whistles?

KEVON LOONEY: I think for the most part, this whole series we did a pretty good job. Today some of the tempers flared a little bit, but I think overall, we've been doing a pretty good job. They have been letting us play a little bit, so after we got used to that, I think we been pretty locked in and doing a better job, we have been doing a good job not putting them on the free throw line, and you know, sometimes we complained a little tonight but I thought overall we've done a really about job.

Q. With the Game 7 coming up so quickly, quick turnaround, what changes in terms of preparation and the kind of conversations you guys have for an elimination game?

KEVON LOONEY: I won't say we going to treat it exactly the same but we going to watch a lot of film, get some rest and you know, get out there and get ready to play. You know, when it's a short turnaround like it is, ain't too much you can do. We played this team, what, six times already, so we know what they are going to do. We know what to expect. We just have to go out there and execute, and that's it.