Warriors star core one recreation from greatness as they face Celtics in Recreation 6 of 2022 NBA Finals

"You bought to remind your self of that as a lot as you may earlier than the sport begins. On the finish of the day, when you get on the market, you simply need to be within the second. You bought to be current as a lot as doable, not fear concerning the penalties of a win or a loss. The one alternative you might have is that 48 minutes.

"The extra you may trick your thoughts into being within the second and staying there, that is the most effective recommendation I may give anyone in that state of affairs as a result of it is going to be the toughest recreation you most likely ever performed in your profession due to what the stakes are."

For Thompson, it might full a exceptional comeback from two back-to-back devasting accidents, forcing him to overlook two consecutive seasons.

Over the Warriors' dominant run of the final decade, Thompson has earned himself the nickname "Recreation 6 Klay" for his explosive play in Recreation 6s of playoff sequence, and it is one thing he is hoping to faucet into come Thursday night time.

"It is clearly a nickname I earned and I wish to reside as much as it," Thompson instructed reporters.

"On the similar time, I do not wish to go in there and play hero ball. I am simply going to be in there and be myself, do what I have been doing the previous few video games. I do know that can enable us to achieve success."

'We're not scared'

Whereas the stress of a closeout recreation in a playoff sequence is excessive for the Celtics, the group has proven exceptional fortitude in high-pressure eventualities to date.

Till their Recreation 5 loss within the Finals, they have been unbeaten in postseason video games following a defeat. They've been victorious in two win-or-go-home video games towards the Milwaukee Bucks and a Recreation 7 towards the Miami Warmth within the Japanese Convention Finals.

And that run was constructed on solidity and resolve to remain the course and ahead Jaylen Brown says that regardless of the stress, they're "not scared."

"We don't worry the Golden State Warriors," Brown instructed reporters. "We wish to come out and play the most effective model of basketball that we will.

"We all know it is a good group over there. We all know they've accomplished it earlier than. However we have now all the idea in ourselves. We will come out and go away all of it on the market. That is the entire intent."

When Recreation 6 suggestions off on Thursday night time at TD Backyard in Boston, the Celtics might be hoping to feed off their rowdy dwelling crowd to drive a Recreation 7.

"It is the primary to 4. It is not over with. So so long as it isn't over with, you bought an opportunity," Celtics breakout star Jayson Tatum stated.

"I feel having accomplished it earlier than ought to offer you much more confidence that you may. Not that it is going to be simple or it is going to be given to us, however try to be extraordinarily assured so long as you bought an opportunity. We obtained an opportunity tomorrow."