LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS MEDIA CONFERENCE

May 28, 2021

Tyronn Lue

Postgame Press Conference

Los Angeles Clippers 118, Dallas Mavericks 108

Q. What did you think of the poise you had down the stretch and through the game, being able to withstand a lot of their punches and shot-making? They had a hot shooting night for them.

TYRONN LUE: Just being resilient like we've been all year. You know, when our back is against the wall we come out and fight and compete.

Early on like you said they made some shots. We still had some game plan mistakes but overall it was better. Got to the rim and dunks and open three. They made some. Helping a little bit on Luka, a little over-help, but for the most part, like I said I'm happy my guys kept fighting, kept scrapping, kept clawing and I thought PG and Kawhi was fantastic. I thought PG really carried us in the first half, and then Kawhi in the second half, you know, really took over the game. That's what we need from those two guys, and Reggie chipped in and Marcus made some shots.

So like Rondo coming in that whole second half, taking up Luka in the fourth quarter and ran him down and attacking the basket and makes plays, as well. It was a total team effort but like I say, Kawhi and PG really put us on their shoulders.

Q. When you reached 15 points, eight minutes into the first quarter, you guys take a time-out. Can you take us through what happens and what you said?

TYRONN LUE: Just stay the course. Came out, the crowd was electric. I mean, just hearing the fans early on start of the game just even in the starting lineups, fans gave a lot of juice early and we just had to weather the storm. I thought we did a great job of that. We didn't get down. We didn't get discouraged and we just stuck with the game plan. So the second time-out, I called, it was like, listen, let's just stick with the game plan. Luka made some shots early like he always does and now we have to be ready to weather the storm and keep attacking the offensive end, and like I said, I give our guys credit because they did that.

Q. The other day you said we are going to see what the Clippers are made of in this game, and you were right. What did you learn about Kawhi and PG, maybe not in this game but the last 48 hours you could only learn about them going through a circumstance like this?

TYRONN LUE: Just how great they are, two great players and competing at a high level, and like I said, one of the biggest days of the playoffs. PG has been phenomenal and Kawhi has been phenomenal and we just want to keep attacking the basket and keep attacking and we don't want to play small. We want to have our shooters out there and keep attacking and make them do something different. Them two guys, like I said, we got down 0-2, and they weren't discouraged. Their conversations to the players, the things we have to do to get better and be better, they led that, and came out and seen that play tonight, so it was just great to see.

Q. What went into you going back to your original starting lineup, or at least the starting lineup we've been seeing post-break, and what did you decide at halftime that allowed you to feel comfortable switching things up for the second half?

TYRONN LUE: Just coming back to Reggie, I thought he had pace. He played great tonight had some big shots, 16 points. We ran our offense a little better. Even passing, defensive battle, setting the tone defensively. But we started, scoring one point per possession -- not saying it was Pat's fault but we just needed a jolt, we needed some more energy, attacking basket and play with pace. And was the thought with Reggie starting, and I thought he did a great job of that.

Like I said, playoffs is a game of matchups. It's a game of runs, a game of wins and we have to do what's best for the team. Pat was great and said whatever you need me to do, coach, I'm all for it. That's how you've got to be if you want to win.

Q. At halftime you pulled Zu for Nic and allowed to regain or at least keep control of the game. You had a two-point lead at halftime in Game 2 and third quarter, game got a way from you. What helped you prepare and start the second half this way?

TYRONN LUE: I think like I said defensively, started with Nico and him picking up a bit in the fourth quarter, with Kawhi and PG having two fouls, just trying to harass him and wear him down, and I thought Rondo did a great job with that and also switch. We were able to switch more because I thought Luka was able to make some shots early on and get Zu. And then when they went big, we got Zu back in the game and they tried were trying to attack downhill.

And Cauley-Stein who is a dynamic roller puts a lot of pressure on defense, and once Luka gets you on his side, it's tough. We decided to switch more and try to make him play more one-on-one and just try to wear him down.

Q. How do you think you guys changed the complexion of the series tonight, not just because of the win but the way you guys played under the circumstances?

TYRONN LUE: I think being down 2-0 and coming out, taking their best shot early, being down I think 19 and on their home floor and to come back and win the game the way we did, I think it shows a lot about us.

I just think like I said it means a lot to be down that much in a playoff game on their home floor and to fight back and come back and take the lead by double-digits, it means a lot. Not sure how they are feeling over there right now, but we finally figured out how we want to attack offensively and we understand what we need to do defensively and still keep cleaning up our mistakes as best we can.

Q. I don't have a Mike Tyson quote for you tonight. Dallas is still shooting 50 percent from three, doesn't seem like they are going to cool off but for you guys to be able to win this game tonight, and you've been in the other two games late, does that tell you, like even despite their hot shooting, like this is a series that you can just take basically by the neck down the stretch of games?

TYRONN LUE: Yeah, I think so. Like you said, they are hot, shooting 51 percent again tonight from three, and like I said, at the end of the game, we are still in the game. So if we have one of those cool shooting nights and playing the way we were playing as far as attacking the basket and being aggressive, it can be a totally different series. We want to just keep playing our game. We want to take away some of the mistakes we're making giving up the open threes but for the most part we found our offensive rhythm in how we want to play and attack and now we have to clean up defensively what we want to do and try to take away.

We still have some mistakes to take care of but I love our resiliency and the way the guys played together through some adversity starting the game.

Q. Was there anything said to Marcus or how did you guys kind of keep his head in the game where it felt like he was cold for so long and in the second half he finally started returning to the form that he used to have in the regular season?

TYRONN LUE: Yeah, just take your shots. Doing a good job of trying to run him off, so just take your shots and if you don't have any drive, make a play for yourself or someone else. Don't get discouraged because if you're second in the league in three-point shooting, of course you don't want to give them up and they are doing a great job which we are supposed to be doing as well. They did a good job of trying to run him off but tonight I think we found the way we wanted to attack and Rondo did a good job of getting to the paint and making the extra play and PG did it and Kawhi did it. If Marcus takes his shots, I think he's going to make more than he missed. Very excited to see him get his rhythm tonight and hopefully continue going forward.

Q. What's your communication like with Zu as he deals with Luka on switches and getting his minutes reduced because that have? What's been your talk with him?

TYRONN LUE: He's great. You know when I had a talk with him this summer, he just wants to win and he's a team player. Came out at halftime and said "I'm starting Nico," and he goes, "Great," cheering the team on, understanding we're trying to win the game. Like I said, Zu is the best. He ranks up there for me with Matthew Dellavedova one of my favorites, man. He's about the team and he's smart and does what you ask him to do and he was cheering over there. He understood what we were trying to do and like I said if you want to win the playoffs, you have to be able to adapt and you have to be able to also sacrifice, and Zu did it tonight. We'll see how it goes next game.