Kevon Looney vows to improve on rebounding and hustle plays in Game 5
Warriors forward Kevon Looney outlined how he can improve in rebounding and hustle plays against the Rockets in Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals.
Klay Thompson subscribes. You can too for just 11 cents a day for 11 months + receive a free Warriors Championship book. Sign me up!
OAKLAND – The Warriors mostly center on Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andre Igudoala. Therefore, the Warriors only expect Kevon Looney to check off specific needs.
Play with energy. Grab rebounds. Convert on putbacks. Set good screens. All of the little plays that make a big difference.
Looney has fulfilled that job description for most of the past two seasons. Though Looney described his post-season play against the Houston Rockets as “solid,” he admitted he needs to do more when the Warriors play the Rockets in Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals on Wednesday at Oracle Arena.
“I can rebound better and get all the 50-50 balls,” Looney said after morning shootaround on Wednesday. “I think I can do a better job of that. Talk more on the weakside. I feel like I have to talk more, let Draymond, KD, Andre and the guys know let them know you have their back.”
Granted, the Warriors’ success has rested more on Durant’s productivity and Green’s defense, while their struggles have centered on James Harden’s dominance as well as Curry and Thompson shooting poorly. Yet, Warriors coach Steve Kerr have increasingly relied on Curry, Thompson, Durant, Green and Igudoala for reasons beyond their talent and experience. The Warriors have limited bench options.
Looney represents one of the few exceptions. Through four games against Houston, though, Looney has struggled to offer the same level of consistency he showed in the regular season and the Warriors’ first-round matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers. Looney has averaged fewer points (4.3) than he did against the Clippers (7.3) and in the regular season (6.3). He has averaged fewer rebounds (2.8) against Houston as he did against the Clippers (4.5) and in the regular season (5.2). Granted, Looney has logged fewer minutes against the Rockets (16.8) than against the Clippers (18) and in the regular season (18.5).
Yet, Looney remains aware of the need to become for the bench to become more reliable. That starts with him.
“Our job as a bench is to make those plays, all the effort and 50-50 plays,” Looney said.
Those 50-50 plays start on the boards. The Warriors outrebounded the Rockets in their wins in Game 1 (38-26, 8-3 offensively) and Game 2 (45-41, 18-10 offensively). Then, the Rockets flipped the outcomes by outrebounding the Warriors both in Game 3 (55-35, 17-7 offensively) and Game 4 (50-43, 13-8).
Looney’s presence could help the Warriors change those numbers in Game 3 and Game 4. How he does that, though, involves a different strategy against the Rockets. The reason: Houston averages a league-leading 43.3 3’s during the postseason. By doing that, Houston often features small-ball lineups that maximizes floor spacing and long rebounds.
“As a big, it’s tough to get those. Also as a big, you’re switched out onto the guards a little bit more,” Looney said. “We’re in different positions. So some of the long rebounds, I’m used to walking in and going to the ball. It’s something you have to learn. For the guards, they’re underneath the basket dealing with [Clint] Capela or P.J. Tucker, it can be tough sometimes. As a big, we have to come and help them out.”
Looney has also helped out with defending Harden, Chris Paul, Austin Rivers and Iman Shumpert with mixed results. Harden’s efficiency has varied in Game 1 (9-of-28), Game 2 (9-of-19), Game 3 (14-of-32) and Game 4 (13-of-29). Same with Paul in Game 1 (5-of-9), Game 2 (6-of-14), Game 3 (4-of-8) and Game 4 (4-of-11). In fairness, the Warriors can’t do much to stop Harden or Paul. What about the Rockets’ reserves, though? After missing Game 1 with a stomach virus and flu, Rivers played productively in Game 2 (14 points), Game 3 (eight) and Game 4 (10). After shooting a combined 1-of-8 in Games 1 and 2, Iman Shumpert had 10 points in Game 3 and five points in Game 4.
“It’s our job as bench players to match their intensity for the other team,” Looney said. “The first couple of games, I think we can took them out of the game. I think they got loose the last two games. It’s our job to make it tough on those guys.”
Instead of making things tough on the Rockets, the Warriors have struggled with foul trouble. Curry (4.5 fouls), Thompson (3.5) and Durant (3.0) have all heard the whistles frequently. So has Looney, who collected four fouls in Game 2 and Game 3.
“We need those guys out on the floor,” Looney said of the Warriors’ scorers. “We can’t really let those guys be fouling like that. It’s my job and the other bench guys to get the fouls.”
Perhaps Looney fulfills all of those responsibilities in Game 5. After all, the Warriors became appreciative for Looney doing that for most of the season.
WARRIORS HQ PODCAST: Be sure to visit our podcast page at mercurynews.com. You can also get notified of new episodes on iTunes, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher and SoundCloud.
* * *
Follow Bay Area News Group Warriors beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.