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Post by Admin on Jun 13, 2022 10:39:46 GMT -5
Warriors’ Kevon Looney ready for rebound duty if Curry, Thompson off the mark
Is the Warriors' Kevon Looney ready to deliver another late-series surge of rebounds in the NBA Finals?
(Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) By Cam Inman |
SAN FRANCISCO — How do you become an elite rebounder when two of your teammates are among the NBA’s best shooters ever?
Kevon Looney is showing how in these playoffs and now the NBA Finals.
“I’ve kind of got it down to a science,” Looney said ahead of Monday’s Game 5 against the Celtics.
Thanks to years of up-close viewing when Steph Curry and Klay Thompson shoot, Looney’s learned how to position his body, use his strengths and anticipate how the ball might bounce his way.
“It’s from getting used to where Steph’s going to shoot it from, where Klay’s going to shoot it from, and how their misses are going to come off (the rim),” Looney said. “It definitely comes from experience, just playing with them for such a long time, knowing what spots they like to get to.”
How Curry and Thompson shoot likely will determine if the Warriors will win their fourth NBA championship. How Looney rebounds their misses — and those of the Celtics and other Warriors — is also greatly factoring into the equation.
Looney is coming off an 11-rebound effort in the Warriors’ Game 4 win Friday in Boston, where they evened the series at 2-2.
He came through with 18 rebounds in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals, when the Warriors finished off the Dallas Mavericks at Chase Center.
And he had 22 rebounds when the Warriors eliminated the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 6 of the conference semis.
Looney’s 6-foot-9 frame has shown a propensity to anticipate where their shots and others might veer off the mark.
“They’re some of the greatest shooters ever, so they’re not going to have a lot of bad misses,” Looney said. “So it’s just knowing where their misses are going to go to, knowing when Steph is going to drive and shoot a step-back.
“You just learn from watching and playing with them. You get a great feel for how things are going to go. It helps me with offensive rebounds and knowing when I should attack.”
What’s it like to know when Curry is dead-on accurate, like his 43-point barrage in Friday’s Game 4 win at Boston?
“I know Steph’s going to make it so I don’t have to go (to the boards) sometimes,” Looney added. “A lot of times he gives you a hint, because he just turns around before it goes in. Usually when he does that, it goes in.”
Kerr wouldn’t say if Looney will start or come off the bench for more grunt work Monday night.
“Part of this series for us, and part of the whole playoffs, frankly, has been trying to figure out rotations,” Kerr said. “We didn’t have our whole team together until Game 1 of the Denver series, and then Gary (Payton) got hurt. Andre (Iguodala) got hurt. So it feels like almost every series, we have had to search a little bit for combinations and for substitution patterns.”
The Celtics are looking to go 8-0 following a loss in these playoffs.
Looney is expecting another physical battle in the paint.
“It’s physical down there,” Looney said. “I usually hit first. But a lot of times this series I’ve been getting hit first. They do a great job. Sometimes I’ve got the ball and the guards come in and dig it out. It’s been real physical.”
“… We are both great teams, and I think we both have been showing that all year, that whenever you lose or get punched in the mouth, we always come back and impose our will. We have to protect home court, and we know what they are built of and made of. We know they are not going to lay down.”
You know what else Looney knows? Where the ball might go when it isn’t bouncing the Warriors’ way through the net in case Curry or Thompson, you know, miss.
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Post by croc on Jun 13, 2022 12:44:48 GMT -5
Next few days I need to get up super early slim chance I'll see any of the next two. They always do better when I don't watch. ...You could say I'm doing my part
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Post by petey62 on Jun 13, 2022 13:57:32 GMT -5
I tossed and turned in bed last night/this morning from about 2:45 to almost 4 am. It's gonna be tough staying with this one tonight.
Definitely won't be watching the post-game pressers.
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Post by quagmire on Jun 13, 2022 14:07:26 GMT -5
I tossed and turned in bed last night/this morning from about 2:45 to almost 4 am. It's gonna be tough staying with this one tonight. Definitely won't be watching the post-game pressers. If the C’s win you will find your second wind and then end up watching one of the post game pressers!
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Post by petey62 on Jun 13, 2022 14:38:30 GMT -5
I tossed and turned in bed last night/this morning from about 2:45 to almost 4 am. It's gonna be tough staying with this one tonight. Definitely won't be watching the post-game pressers. If the C’s win you will find your second wind and then end up watching one of the post game pressers! You know, you are probably right.
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Post by croc on Jun 13, 2022 14:42:04 GMT -5
2:45 is when I'm getting up. Maybe the post game pressers will still be on.
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Post by drewski6 on Jun 13, 2022 16:10:22 GMT -5
Pick up Steph in transition, shadow him all game. Take away his space, be physical with him.
Go Celtics!
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Post by cole on Jun 13, 2022 16:24:21 GMT -5
I just feel like one way or the other the nba wants this to go 7. I guess we'll see
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Post by petey62 on Jun 13, 2022 16:26:18 GMT -5
Our bigs cannot drop so deep on pick and roll. They have to show high and, if necessary, double Steph hard to get the ball out of his hands.
In 4 games thus far, we have made no adjustments in that area. When Steph comes off the pick he's wide open and will continue to be open until we stop dropping so low.
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Post by drewski6 on Jun 13, 2022 16:48:35 GMT -5
Our bigs cannot drop so deep on pick and roll. They have to show high and, if necessary, double Steph hard to get the ball out of his hands. In 4 games thus far, we have made no adjustments in that area. When Steph comes off the pick he's wide open and will continue to be open until we stop dropping so low. Nothing has been so infuriating as Steph getting open off screens. I use to think we could remedy this with a shadow defender. But with all the screens, it's prob gonna have to be a team thing more than an assign 1 individual thing. Good post, like where your head is at.
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Post by croc on Jun 13, 2022 17:07:20 GMT -5
Pick up Steph in transition, shadow him all game. Take away his space, be physical with him. Go Celtics! Make him work all game, try to wear him down so when it's late his has little in the tank.
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Post by cole on Jun 13, 2022 17:12:25 GMT -5
Pick up Steph in transition, shadow him all game. Take away his space, be physical with him. Go Celtics! Make him work all game, try to wear him down so when it's late his has little in the tank. To make him work we have to play less white. I know it's counter-intuitive but he totally rests on d when white is in. He won't switch off either When white was out brown and Smart punished him
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Post by kdp59 on Jun 13, 2022 17:31:03 GMT -5
if we are going to continue ISO ball late in games ( and I hope they don't), Udoka better consider having Both Grant and Pritchard in the game as spot up shooters.
Tatum especially holds on to the ball until deep in the clock and when he passes it there is little time on the clock for much except a quick shot. Might as well have your best three point shooters on the year out there in that case.
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Post by kdp59 on Jun 13, 2022 17:32:18 GMT -5
on another note two out of the three refs tonight were game two refs also!
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Post by quagmire on Jun 13, 2022 17:56:58 GMT -5
I am thinking that as hard as this Celtics team makes On themselves, what other way to in the season then have them lose tonight be down 3 to 2 in the series and come back and win the last two to win the world championship in the most difficult way possible! Lol
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Post by quagmire on Jun 13, 2022 17:57:39 GMT -5
on another note two out of the three refs tonight were game two refs also! that bodes well for Draymond and the Warriors.
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Post by kivancb on Jun 13, 2022 18:11:25 GMT -5
Game on at 3:00 AM at night here. Went to bed at midnight and set the alarm at 3:00, but could not sleep and got up. C's better win this or I'm gonna be real pissed.
I think we got this, but we'll see.
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Post by croc on Jun 13, 2022 18:32:34 GMT -5
if we are going to continue ISO ball late in games ( and I hope they don't), Udoka better consider having Both Grant and Pritchard in the game as spot up shooters. Tatum especially holds on to the ball until deep in the clock and when he passes it there is little time on the clock for much except a quick shot. Might as well have your best three point shooters on the year out there in that case. Be aggressive drive to the net. Hunt the hoop, not fouls.
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Post by DaCeltics on Jun 13, 2022 18:37:38 GMT -5
Our bigs cannot drop so deep on pick and roll. They have to show high and, if necessary, double Steph hard to get the ball out of his hands. In 4 games thus far, we have made no adjustments in that area. When Steph comes off the pick he's wide open and will continue to be open until we stop dropping so low. Same for Klay and Poole
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Post by elvissurfs on Jun 13, 2022 18:47:44 GMT -5
if we are going to continue ISO ball late in games ( and I hope they don't), Udoka better consider having Both Grant and Pritchard in the game as spot up shooters. Tatum especially holds on to the ball until deep in the clock and when he passes it there is little time on the clock for much except a quick shot. Might as well have your best three point shooters on the year out there in that case. Be aggressive drive to the net. Hunt the hoop, not fouls. I like that...hunt the hoop and the fouls will come...hate it when guys look for the foul instead of the shot...
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Post by cole on Jun 13, 2022 19:25:13 GMT -5
Just read the injury report. We're in luck...Wiseman is out tonight.
Let's see if dre makes good for Magic. Did Magic make a bet on the celtics? Hope he tries to shoot because of that.
If Dre sucks or doesn't play much, I'm going to liken him to Tristan Thompson
I don't see Tatum as looking for the foul so much as trying to slide or snake around people and not being in good position once he gets to the rim. Better to stay upright and strong. The iceman Gervin flip-ups just don't fall for him
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Post by Admin on Jun 13, 2022 19:57:17 GMT -5
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Post by cole on Jun 13, 2022 19:58:39 GMT -5
Let's go Celtics!
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Post by sfbosfan on Jun 13, 2022 20:12:04 GMT -5
They can drive to the basket at will!
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Post by sfbosfan on Jun 13, 2022 20:13:26 GMT -5
Game 4 Encore!
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