LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS MEDIA CONFERENCE

June 12, 2021

Quin Snyder

Press Conference

Q. Listening to Ty Lue talking about how he wants these next couple games to be more physical, how he felt like physicality was not a strength of his team in the first two games. Hearing that, what's kind of your expectation going forward? How do you as an opposing coach kind of view that going forward?

QUIN SNYDER: I think physicality, there's a lot of ways to define it. I know they were really, really aggressive, did a great job, frankly, of blocking us out. I thought that they were really physical, particularly with Rudy on the boards. I think they have been physical in pick-and-roll with their switches. So for us, we have got to be physical. I think that's what the playoffs are about and there's ways to be physical without fouling. I think being aggressive -- and, again, as I said, I think what those specific situations are can vary, whether it's being more physical on the ball in terms of ball pressure, that's something that we know that that's a strength of theirs, being physical on the glass, as I said, physical defensively.

So those are all things I think that both teams want to do and I think the biggest thing is to not look for any outside help for that, that you've got to really be mentally tough in those situations and if the game is being played a certain way, that you have to respond.

Q. You guys ruled Mike Conley out again for this game, and I'm just curious, is it because he's still not ready or is there a side of you that feels like you have a little bit of a cushion now being up 2-0 that you can be a little bit more conservative and give him a little bit more time?

QUIN SNYDER: No, it has nothing to do with us feeling any form of accomplishment having won a couple games. Mike's not ready to go yet and he's working hard every day to try to get back. But in no way are we feeling some sort of even small form of success. Obviously you're glad you won a couple games. But we lost Game 1 against Memphis last series. The Clippers obviously loss against Dallas and then won the series.

We know how difficult the series is going to be and when Mike's ready, he'll be back. We're not -- we're just focused on what we're doing tonight.

Q. A lot of your guys said the issue with the zone in the last game was they just hadn't seen it in almost a month. Is there any way to emulate some of those things, especially on a travel day when you don't really have a practice to get ready for Game 3?

QUIN SNYDER: There's film. I think there's previous experience. We actually, I think we had the highest offensive rating of any team in the league this year against zone, which it certainly didn't look like that the other night.

But I also think that when you talk about zone it's no different than talking about man. There's different -- people play zone in different ways. I thought our spacing really broke down. We didn't execute well against the zone. We didn't pass the ball well. We didn't pass it accurately. Our decisions were too slow. And then they did a really good job. I think they have played zone over the course of the year and they're a unique team in terms of their length. So in some ways it's similar when they go small and switch 1 through 5. So they're really just building a perimeter and taking care of shooters and we have got to make sure that the ball's positioned in the right place so that we can be spaced the right way because if we're not they can cover so much ground.

So more focused on our part, better execution, and hopefully watching some of the tendencies and some of the ways that they play their zone on film can be beneficial as well.

Q. From the window that you have, what do you think Dwyane Wade's involvement with the organization has done for Donovan specifically?

QUIN SNYDER: Well, let me start just by saying I think when we found out initially that Dwyane had become, had become an owner, that I think across the board we were all excited. I know speaking for myself personally he's someone that you admire and respect from afar. To have someone with not just his experience, but I think his feel, not only as a player, but as a mentor. And I think his relationship with Donovan predates him becoming a partner with Ryan Smith and our ownership group.

So that relationship is preexisting and to the extent that you have someone that has that level of experience and insight, I think it's terrific that they have the relationship that they do and that Dwyane is comfortable talking to Donovan and obviously it's something that we feel can be helpful in a lot of levels. And I've had an opportunity to do the same thing. I can't do it during the game because I've got other stuff going on, but I have really enjoyed my interaction with him and had a chance to talk basketball about different things and get insights. That's something. To have that available to you is really unique. He's been unbelievably generous with his time and his willingness to offer opinions and views. And the great thing is that he has got tremendous feel so that, not just Donovan, I think a number of our players, I encourage them to use him as a resource and am confident that that's just a really positive thing. Frankly, beyond basketball as well. I think that's one of the things that even initially when he became an owner that that was something that he knew he could impact players on a level that's unique because of his experience.

Q. Rudy Gobert first made an All-Defensive Team in 2017. When you look at who he was as a defender five years ago versus who he is now, just what are some things that stand out to you about his growth?

QUIN SNYDER: I think his versatility. Like anything, as you find yourself in new situations, you become more and more comfortable making plays. Your instincts improve. It's really no different than an offensive player, as their game expands, whether it be their range in their shot or finishing. Really, one of the guys that to me has been, and probably unknowingly impactful in Rudy is Draymond Green. And the way that Draymond is able defensively to control a game from a leadership standpoint, his ability to make multiple plays, to, his instincts on where to be and what to do and his communication, and that's something that we have really tried to encourage Rudy to continue to be able to make multiple plays, to be up on pick-and-roll, to get back and defend the rim, to be able to get out and contest shots, to defend in isolation, and at the same time, don't forget to protect the rim.

So I think his evolution, I named a couple of those areas, whether it's playing a big that picks and pops, the MVP of the league who is a point guard, that Rudy draws those matchups in Jokic. He's been stretched defensively and he's embraced that. It's something I think he takes a lot of pride in and I think it has something to do too with the way the game has evolved offensively. His ability to evolve with the game I think is something that's unique, particularly for someone of that size.

Q. You guys have had tremendous continuity for the past couple seasons now. Would you speak to how that continuity has manifested itself this season and in these playoffs?

QUIN SNYDER: Well actually last year we, Mike and Bojan were both new to our team, we, really, our roster changed, I think, as a result our style of play changed. And then we added Jordan mid season last year and then we actually loss Bojan heading into the bubble for the playoffs. So I think there's some stalwarts in Rudy and Donovan and Joe in particular and Royce as well, but part of it for us this year I think has been with some of the changes that happened last year really building the identity of our team. So I'm glad to hear you say that because I feel like that speaks to how our guys have, how important it's been for them to connect and credit to them for their unselfishness and getting to know each other as players and trying to make each other better. So, but truly the identity of our team, if you compare it to two years ago or even last year earlier in the year, we play differently. I think probably the biggest constant is when you have Rudy you have a defense. So Rudy makes us all look good defensively.