SAN FRANCISCO — Stephen Curry and Draymond Inexperienced sat many of the second half of Sport 5 of the Western Convention semifinals on the bench watching their workforce get obliterated by the Memphis Grizzlies. However somewhat than sulk over the demoralizing 39-point defeat, one of many franchise’s worst playoff losses in historical past, the 2 Warriors stars have been already pivoting their consideration to the subsequent sport.
Curry and Inexperienced knew there wanted to be a change within the beginning lineup to assist jumpstart the Warriors, who had been struggling to seek out their rhythm early within the three video games since Gary Payton II went down with an elbow harm. Rookie Jonathan Kuminga wasn’t slicing it, and there was no approach the Warriors have been boarding a airplane again to Memphis for Sport 7.
The dialog continued on the workforce’s flight again to San Francisco, however the reply grew to become apparent.
The Warriors wanted dimension to fight revitalized Grizzlies middle Steven Adams and extra rebounding. Massive man Kevon Looney match the invoice.
“Kevon, he’s been a type of guys that has been a mainstay in every thing that we do and it doesn't matter what — any level in his profession when his quantity has been referred to as, he’s been prepared,” Inexperienced stated. “We knew we couldn’t do it with out him, which is why we have been lobbying for him to get again into the beginning lineup.”
The choice to start out Looney in Sport 6 was primarily based extra on a intestine feeling Curry and Inexperienced had somewhat than superior analytics. And boy, did he ship in a significant approach.
Not solely did Looney assist the Warriors begin higher than in earlier video games, however he was the very best rebounder on the ground. And in a sequence the place rebounding was an space of focus, he made all of the distinction for the Warriors of their 110-96 win that earned them their first Western Convention semifinals in three years.
Looney grabbed as many rebounds within the first quarter as the whole Grizzlies workforce mixed. His 11 rebounds within the opening 12 minutes have been probably the most for any quarter for him in his profession. He additionally matched a Warriors playoff file set by Larry Smith in 1987.
Looney stated he hadn’t realized he grabbed 11 rebounds in about 9 minutes till Andrew Wiggins instructed him.
“I used to be even paying consideration,” Looney stated. “I wished to go after everyone, particularly at first of the sport, I wished to set the tone that it was going to be bodily.”
By the ultimate buzzer, Looney snagged a career-high 22 rebounds — a feat he stated he hadn’t completed since faculty.
“Holy moly,” performing head coach Mike Brown stated of Looney’s efficiency off the glass. “When was the final time someone had 22 boards? It’s incredible.”
Led by Looney, the Warriors pulled down an astounding 70 rebounds, probably the most in any playoff sport since Might 4, 1983, when the Spurs recorded 75 in opposition to Denver.
However Brown was much more impressed by the opposite profession excessive Looney reached Friday night time. The 26-year-old logged 35 minutes for the primary time in his profession and performed the whole fourth quarter.
“I ran them 17 straight minutes and I saved taking a look at him as a result of after the primary 5, he seemed like he was dying, after which the subsequent two he seemed like he was worse,” Brown stated. “I don’t know if he may get any worse and each minute after that I used to be saying, ‘Loon, maintain on, Loon, maintain on.’ And he did.”
Curry referred to as Looney “unreal” and Klay Thompson, who seemed like basic “Sport 6 Klay” on Friday, went so far as to say Looney was “probably our MVP tonight.”
“Wow,” he continued. “I’m so happy with him.”
Looney has battled accidents all through the course of his seven-year NBA profession. However after a number of years of struggles, Looney was lastly wholesome final summer season. That’s why he set a purpose at first of this season to play in all 82 video games, which he completed and now wears as a badge of honor.
“All of the exhausting work and willpower and the prayers… all of the hell I put my physique by to get right here is paying off,” Looney stated. “That’s the very best feeling on the planet, if you work exhausting and also you request one thing and also you pray about it and it really comes true and makes you be ok with your self.
“To have moments like these is large, [and I] need to make extra moments and make extra recollections.”
That’ll proceed throughout the Western Convention Finals, which begins Wednesday.
However for now, Looney will take pleasure in much-deserved relaxation.