Mike Brown was taking some heat from certain parts of the NBA world for the way the Warriors played in Games 4 & 5 against the Memphis Grizzlies after he took over from Steve Kerr who tested positive for COVID-19. Steph Curry even joked after Game 4 that it felt like he got traded to the Kings overnight, with the Kings, of course, being Brown’s new head coaching assignment for next season.
Adjustments were the need of the hour and one in particular duly arrived in Game 6, with Kevon Looney being introduced back into the starting lineup, and it proved to be the right call. Looney had an incredible outing in Game 6 and played a key role in helping secure the series win as the Warriors would go on to win 110-96. Brown later revealed in his press conference that it was Draymond Green and Steph Curry’s call to have Looney inserted into the lineup.
Mike Brown said it was Draymond Green and Stephen Curry's idea to start Kevon Looney in Game 6.
"They looked us all in the eye and said that's where we're gonna get our confidence." pic.twitter.com/AkkR4Q3ucW
— KNBR (@KNBR) May 14, 2022
Brown was then asked after the press conference on NBCS Warriors as to why Klay Thompson was not consulted in this decision-making process and he had a hilarious response to it:
“You know what, Klay was sleeping on the flight back, so he was part of the conversation but he had his shades on, his headband on and he had a blanket over him so we didn’t get much out of Klay when we tried to include him in the decision.”
It is safe to say that it proved to be the right call, despite Klay’s lack of input into the decision. The Warriors might have to count even more on Looney in the Conference finals and the NBA finals should they make it that far and his performance in Game 6 should serve as a massive boost to him and to the team.
As for Brown, the result should give him some respite as he hands the reins back to Kerr for the Western Conference finals. The Suns or the Mavericks will stand in their way there, as they look to return to the NBA finals for the first time since 2019.
