NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: ROCKETS vs WARRIORS

April 28, 2025

Brandin Podziemski

Game 4 - Postgame Media Conference

Warriors 109, Rockets 106

Q. Brandin, Coach Kerr said you are a two-year player that plays like a 10th-year player. How big was it for you to have the big game tonight?

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: I think it was big just because we won the game. I seen some stat on ESPN today of the leading scorer in the series was Steph, then a bunch of Rockets, then Jimmy, who has only played one game.

Just try to do my best to help him out. Ended up getting the win. That's all we really wanted tonight.

Q. Given everything they threw at you tonight and in the series, how important was it to stay composed?

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: I think it was very important. As the series has gone on, they've tried a bunch of different things with their defense. I think having high IQ players on our side, being able to recognize that kind of thing, make adjustments throughout the game, within the game, has been huge.

I think our coaching staff has done a good job in-game adjustment-wise. Obviously the starting lineup with Buddy kind of put Sengun on me, which is fine with me. They made an adjustment playing Adams and going zone most of the night. That's how you saw Buddy and I get most of our threes.

Q. What kind of effort did you see from Jimmy, the lift he gave you guys tonight?

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: That's what he's been doing for a long time. Here, Miami. Wherever he's been. Playoff Jimmy. Just to see him do everything in his power the last couple days to get back to this point and just trying to be out there for Game 4, even though we won Game 3 without him, just to see his perseverance, do all the things he was required to do to get back. You can see that he wants to win. He's a winner.

Q. You started the third quarter on 18-1 run. What was the key to that?

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: Same as the start of the game. We start on that run. Forcing them to play through Sengun, letting Draymond playing one on one defense with him, keep everybody else out of the game. Run in transition so they couldn't get their defense set. I think the start of the first and third were big for us.

Q. What were you thinking when they tried to post up Sengun, let him iso on that last possession?

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: Why him? I don't know why you'd go after the defensive player of the year.

Q. Draymond noted your skill and all the work you do, but said you have irrational confidence. Where does that come from? Where does your self-belief trace to?

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: First, you got to tell yourself you belong in the moment. Good and great players want to be in the moment, thrive in the moment, don't back down from it.

I think it's just from building evidence, all the things you put into the game, that collects over time. From that collection, you just I've done this so many times, now just 'cause it's a different moment, it's still the same thing.

There's no pressure. Everything I do, I'm never going to have a regretful decision. I'm just going to go out there and know and tell myself I belong, because I do.

Q. How much of your scoring tonight was connected to them bottling up Steph?

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: Yeah, I think that's what makes a team. You want to commit two players for one, leave your guys kind of in zones to help off. I think it's what a team is about.

I think we did a good job or Steph did a good job of getting off the ball. When they're doing that for 48 minutes, there will be, Hey I need to get a shot up, I need to do this. He was super cognizant, especially in the second half, of just getting off the ball.

I think we had one turnover as a team the second half. We were taking what the defense gave us. A lot of times me, Jimmy were on the baseline or corners with Sengun and Adams closing out to us. Getting the ball there, driving a closeout, making a play.

Q. As good as the scoring must have felt to you tonight, you always do the intangible things. How good did that block you got on Van Vleet feel?

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: Given the situation, obviously it's magnified a little bit because it was a key possession. But just understanding watching film, he's not the best finisher in the paint. Either he wants to spray it out or shoot threes a lot of the time.

I wasn't too worried when he got past me. Just kind of rode the drive. Obviously he went for a floater. I just tried to help Dray out a little bit and get a piece of it.

Q. What is going through your mind when Draymond picked up that fifth foul?

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: I think for me, as a point guard, it was what can we do defensively to counteract Sengun. He got going a little bit when Dray was out. I think it was just if we can get a three and trade it for a two with Sengun, make him work for it, we'll kind of live with it.

I think for the most part in the second half we kept the three out of the game, which is kind of how they score if it's not Sengun.

Q. Can you describe that sidestep three in front of the bench.

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: Yeah, low shot clock, got it on the wing. That's a shot I practice all the time. Like I said, good players want the moment. They want to take those shots. Just happened to be my shot.