Game Links #R1G4: Golden State Warriors 118 vs LA Clippers 97 - Warriors pile on small ball to the Clippers' problems

Monday 4/28/2014

- Lots more Donald Sterling stuff. Tomorrow's Game 5 at Staples will be a circus.
Bruce Jenkins: Warriors enter L.A. firestorm surrounding Clippers' Sterling | (Mobile)
Rusty Simmons: Donald Sterling uproar overshadows Warriors-Clippers Game 5 | (Mobile)
Scott Ostler: No blueprint for dealing with Donald Sterling | (Mobile)
Probasketballtalk: Sterling’s wife: ‘I do not share these despicable views’
Probasketballtalk: NBA announcement on Donald Sterling: Tuesday morning
Associated Press: Donald Sterling's alleged remarks cause two corporations to pull sponsorship deals with Los Angeles Clippers
CSN Bay Area Staff: Several sponsors end, suspend business with Sterling, Clippers
Monte Poole: Mark Jackson, Doc Rivers built for crises

- Notes from practice.
Rusty Simmons: Warriors small lineup came with a big blessing | (Mobile)
Diamond Leung: Warriors' Jackson suggest fans boycott Game 5
CSN Bay Area Staff: Jackson: If I was a fan, I wouldn't show up for Game 5
Monte Poole: Jackson wants Clippers fans to make loud statement

- MT2 has a story about Harrison's Barnes, from his struggles during this season to the standing ovation in Game 4.
Marcus Thompson II: Thompson: Warriors' Barnes bounces back

- The latest warriors.com blog has highlights of Klay Thompson's dunk on Glen Davis.
warriors.com blog: Klay's Monster Mash

- Leftover SCWarriors stuff.

Sunday 4/27/2014

Box score | Gameflow

SBNation Network

Warriors: Golden State of Mind
Recap: Recap: Warriors and Clippers Are Even Steven (Curry) Through 4
Postgame: Warriors vs. Clippers post-game celebration thread: Golden State wins 118-97
Game thread 2: Warriors vs. Clippers second half game thread: Golden State up 66-48 at halftime (930+ comments)
Game thread 1: Golden State Warriors vs LA Clippers Game 4 Playoff Community Live Blog: GET LOUD! (890+ comments)
Preview: Golden State Warriors vs LA Clippers Playoff Game 4 Preview: Must win against a team owned by racist Donald Sterling

Clippers: Clips Nation
Recap: Distracted Clippers lose Game 4, 118-97
Game thread: Round 1 Game 3 Clippers Warriors open thread
Preview: NBA Playoffs Round 1 Game 4 Clippers-Warriors preview -- What distraction?

Recaps

Associated Press: Steph Curry has seven 3-pointers as Warriors even series at 2 | Photo Gallery
Sports Network: Warriors add to Clippers' turmoil, even series
Rusty Simmons: Smaller, quicker, hotter-shooting Warriors even series | (Mobile)
Rusty Simmons: Game 4: Warriors 118, Clippers 97
Bruce Jenkins: Stephen Curry's hot start sparks great team win for Warriors | (Mobile)
Diamond Leung: Amid Donald Sterling furor, Warriors rout Clippers
Carl Steward: Clippers unified in protest of Sterling, but fall apart on court
Jimmy Durkin: With basketball relegated to the background, Warriors play their best game of the series to tie it at 2-2
Monte Poole: Instant Replay: W's jump on Clips early, even series at 2-2
Monte Poole: Rewind: Warriors' win keeps all hopes bright
Feltbot: Game 4 — Warriors 118 Clippers 97: The Sins of the Past
Adam Lauridsen: Big Changes (Warriors 118, Clippers 97)

Pregame News

- Previews of the game.
Monte Poole: Fast Forward: Warriors, Clippers attempt to refocus

- More reactions to the Donald Sterling comments.
Associated Press: Magic Johnson: Donald Sterling 'shouldn't own a team anymore'
Brian Day, San Gabriel Valley Tribune: Deadspin: Extended recording reportedly of Clippers owner Donald Sterling's racial comments released
Tim Kawakami: Kawakami: Warriors' Joe Lacob discusses Donald Sterling controversy
Probasketballtalk: Michael Jordan issues statement on Donald Sterling
Associated Press: Obama: Alleged comments by Sterling are 'racist'
Bay Area News Group: Clippers players stage subtle protest amid Donald Sterling controversy
Scott Ostler: Ouster of Clippers' owner Donald Sterling overdue | (Mobile)
Diamond Leung: NBA players association seeks maximum sanctions against Sterling

- Notes from pregame.
Rusty Simmons: Mark Jackson on Donald Sterling: ‘By handling yourself with dignity and class, that’s how you respond’
Rusty Simmons: Doc Rivers: ‘Nothing stops us from what we want to do’
Diamond Leung: Warriors starting Draymond Green over Jermaine O'Neal

Pregame Videos

Postgame News

- This afternoon's performance was what fans have been waiting for from Stephen Curry.
Marcus Thompson II: Thompson: Stephen Curry is back in the series

- Notes from postgame interviews.
Rusty Simmons: Iguodala helps back promise of victory in Game 4 | (Mobile)
Monte Poole: Warriors' O'Neal volunteers to step aside

Postgame Videos

- Postgame quotes and stuff from warriors.com recap:
Photo Gallery

Show Quotes

Mark Jackson
On how they got Stephen Curry good looks early:

"We made plays, set great screens. There were times we got them off the basketball. We got stops, which is huge. There's no secret we're at our best when we're pushing the basketball off missed shots, turnovers. I thought our energy was spectacular. 39 points in that first quarter was huge. But we played with a sense of urgency, and I think our superstar basketball player was special."

On if Stephen Curry had a different mindset coming into tonight's game:

"I'm sure he wanted to take over every game. The difference is that they trapped him. They got the ball out of his hands and he made the right plays. Tonight with Draymond in the lineup, it makes it much tough ter to do, a price to pay. He sets great screens, and not only that, he's a live threat at the 3‑point line. We have to make a conscious of getting back to him. 32 assists for us is a tremendous sign of taking care of the basketball, being patient, being unselfish, and I thought Steph just made great decisions."

On if he'll stick with today's starting lineup:

"That's going to be our lineup. So, yes, I think it gives us a great chance. Draymond did a great job of ‑‑ Blake Griffin playing at an extremely high level, but he made him work. And I give a lot of credit to Jermaine O'Neal. I was thinking about making the switch, and Jermaine came up to me and said, Coach, what do you think about starting somebody else and bringing me off the bench? And not enough credit is given to my guys or to a guy like him, who is a total team player, who, when the lights are the brightest and it's the back nine of his career, took a back seat and was thinking how could we figure this out, how can we make an adjustment, and made the suggestion. And then even the last ‑‑ trying to get another guy in the game, he comes in and says, Let me go get Harrison or somebody else so that these guys can get a round of applause. Just unselfish true professional that I don't take for granted and I appreciate."

On if he thought this game was affected by the controversy:

"No. No, I think certainly I believe everybody was affected by what took place. I don't believe it was just the Clippers. I don't think there was anything said directly towards the Clippers and their players. I think it was insulting to all of us. So I wouldn't minimize ‑‑ we got blown out in Game 2 with no controversy. We own that. At the end of the day we played extremely well today and we won the ballgame. I think both teams were somewhat bothered by what has taken place the last 24 hours. But my guys just played with great energy, great effort, and now we go to LA."

On how he determined his rotation tonight:

"It will be a flow thing. I thought my guys played great. I thought they had fresh bodies. And every time I asked them, they felt like they were good. So it didn't look like they had been worn out where I needed to get other guys in. So I think it worked out perfectly this afternoon, and we'll see how it goes going forward. I've got total confidence in my guys on the bench and what they bring to the table. But this game was a big‑time victory for the guys. Look at Hilton. He's a guy that came in, gave us great minutes. And there's subtle things. He comes up to me before we leave the court and said, Thank you for believing in me, thank you for trusting me. It goes a long way man. It goes a long way."

On Andre Iguodala's performance:

"He was spectacular. I thought this was some of his best work in a Warrior uniform. Scoring the basketball, attacking, rebounding the basketball, facilitating, making plays, defending at a high level. He said to me at the end of Game 3, We're going to get Game 4. It was a throwaway line. I'm sitting there, we just lost a big game. But he was sincere. And he came out with the right mindset, another guy. I'm at the gym tonight, he's probably going to show up and get shots and work on his game."

On how Draymond Green did defensively, especially guarding Blake Griffin:

"Oh, he's going against a guy that is playing incredible basketball, has been a handful for us to match up against, making all sorts of shots at the rim, jump shots, post moves. I thought Draymond did a great job of battling him, making him work. And against a great player is what you want to do is make them work. They're going to still be able to score the basketball. But one thing I know is Draymond's not going to quit. He's going to fight. And he gave us a spark."

On David Lee:

"Yes, he was much more aggressive. I thought it was off of the unselfish play of other guys. Put them in pick and rolls. We moved the basketball, great ball movement and man movement. And he was a live weapon where he was able to use his angles. And I thought he played outstanding. And I thought he did a great job defensively also at times. Because now he's gotta be that weak‑side guy. But he had a big night. And we need him to have big nights against this team, because their bigs have to work."

On the competitiveness between the two teams:

"But it's playoff basketball. At the end of the day obviously both teams have feelings towards each other and we compete at a high level. But to the core I believe that both teams respect one another. We knew going in it's going to be a physical series. We knew going in it would be a great battle. But we've got great respect for them. And obviously Doc is a tremendous coach. So it's not going to get to that. It's not going to get to that."

Stephen Curry
On what was different about this first quarter:

We tried to come out with a sense of urgency. That's been a big problem in the first three games, as a team we haven't started games off well and they've gotten, I think, a double‑digit lead each first quarter. So we moved the ball well, gotta set screens, but we executed at a higher pace. And we do that, it's tough to guard. Obviously you've gotta make shots and try to get momentum on your side.

On if he was more urgent this game:

"I was looking for any space I could get. And like I said, I come off screens, usually they have been trying to trap, and the passes is pretty much open and into the paint, and guys were able to make plays, but tonight I was able to step into a couple of quick 3s. And once you hit a couple early, it seems like there's more space that opens up."

On his late-game block on J.J. Redick:

"You're trying to close out the game, and game is like, four, five minutes left, and you understand you get a couple stops with the lead we had that we could pretty much seal the deal for tonight and tie the series. So we've gotta be playing some great defense the whole game as a team, flying around, helping each other, talking. And when you make a play like that, I don't get too many blocks. So I was definitely happy. And I had to realize that there was still time on the shot clock and get back into the play. But just excited that our attention to detail on the defensive end allowed us to play a more complete game tonight and make it tough for them."

On if he was looking for his shot early to avoid being double-teamed:

"It's not good offense if I go out there trying to force stuff because we have so much talent on the floor that if I can be aggressive, attacking angles, drawing two guys, eventually they're going to have to make an adjustment because I trust every single guy that's out there with me to make plays. To be able to move the ball, you know, and allow guys to get to their spot to make plays, that's great offense as opposed to me just flinging up contested jump shots all day. But early in the first quarter I was able to find a way to set my man up so we could get a good screen on him and come off a lot freer than I had in the previous three games and able to step into some rhythm jump shots. And I was looking for it. But not going to force the issue to the point where I'm taking away from good offensive possessions for the rest of the team out there."

Andre Iguodala
On his confidence coming into the game:

"You can kind of see that they had it all going for them. They had a really good rhythm and they were feeling really good about themselves and they were really excited after they won Game 3. Like really excited. And that kind of let me know that they just gutted it out. I mean, right there, we're not even playing our best basketball. So I think Jermaine O'Neal mentioned it to us, we found something that will work for us. And I knew we'd be ready to play. The thing I'm most happy about is that we didn't panic. You go down 2‑1, kind of feels like the world's going to end from the outside looking in. And fans are kind of like panicking, we can't lose, we can't lose. But we kept our composure, did what we had to do and we got tonight's win."

On the controversy and how it is affecting the players:

"Feel bad for every single player in the NBA. It's just not the Clippers. There's a partnership with all the owners, revenue sharing, so one owner represents every owner in our league. Just like when one player makes a mistake, it's a black eye for the whole body of players. So it's not just about the Clippers, it's about every single player who goes out there and gives it their all every single night for our fans. And it's a sad situation that someone feels a certain way about the majority of the players in this league."

Notes

- We are now guaranteed a Game 6 back at Roaracle. Time and TV info have been updated.

What's next?

- I am very interested in seeing if the Clippers continue their silent protest in Game 5 and also what kind of protests and distractions they'll see from their fans. It's entirely possible that the Clippers will remain distracted in Game 5, and we can steal the game from them.

Full broadcast schedule at warriors.com/schedule.

Start Four

- It's a fun little game we've been playing around here. Pick 4 guys whom you think will produce the highest total score based on their stats: pts + rebs + ast + 2*stl + 2*blk - to. How did you do in tonight's game?
startfour.com: Golden State Warriors vs LA Clippers

Santa Cruz Warriors

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