LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS MEDIA CONFERENCE

June 13, 2021

Nicolas Batum

Press Conference

Q. You went on a big run in that second quarter and you had zero turnovers, as well, but then you also shot 50 percent from the floor and from the three-point range. What was it that elicited that run in your opinion?

NICOLAS BATUM: I think it was defense, our defense inside the first 90 seconds of the games. We tried to slow them to start the game. PG the first hal, did a good job to get us going for the whole team, and we got open shots and we were running and things was going good and we made the run.

Q. I know you said heading into the playoffs, you looked at Draymond Green and Boris Diaw in looking at their game, breaking down what they do in that smaller centre position. I'm just curious, what have you been able to take from them that you've been able to implement with the success that you've had kind of doing the same thing?

NICOLAS BATUM: It's the way they move, the way they open the floor for their teammates, the way they pass the ball, the way they roll, the way they attack the big man off pick-and-roll. Usually on the pick-and-roll they set the screen, so it's a totally different thing so you have to learn that and do it, like I say, Draymond and Boris are the best for the last ten years. I just try to pick up and what the same, the best what I can do and help my team.

Q. Now facing a player like Rudy who you obviously know very well who you are very close with and played with Team France and all that, has it been easier studying because you already understand his tendencies so well?

NICOLAS BATUM: It's easier because he is the best obviously in the NBA right now, but I kind of know what I have to do to maybe put him in different position so he can't be as successful and it's not easy because he find a way to deny blocks and protect the paint. But I think that's my job, maybe something to take him out of his comforts because he's so good at protecting the paint and being there for his teammates. So that's just something I need to take him away from that.

Q. Congrats on a good win yesterday. Before the playoffs, you mentioned that you were looking forward to having your young son get to watch you and take it in this time. What does he think?

NICOLAS BATUM: He loves it. It's good because that's the first playoffs and any time we win, he's happy. Just proud to play for him, winning games and he's happy to watch the playoff experience. I just hope we have many more wins so he has time to enjoy.

Q. Does he get any credit for helping you with blocks and whatnot?

NICOLAS BATUM: Not yet. No the yet. I think eventually he will at some point but he will keep practicing every day.

Q. Ty has spoken often this postseason with you playing more at the center about the challenges of the offense when you're there, saying that your level of comfort playing that position depends on how many plays they can, run, and I know there are not a lot of plays at this point in the playoffs but what is your level of comfort playing more at the five and how you think that's come along this postseason?

NICOLAS BATUM: It's new for me. I have to say we press sometimes during the season, but to play against opposing -- we go like big, big center, big body, it's new for me. So I have to practice, get myself ready to do that. It's a learning process for me actually during the playoffs and I just try to do the best, like I said, to make the life of my two superstars easier, Kawhi and PG and Reggie and all those guy, try to move, set screens and open the floor and the space for those guys.

Q. You scored a lot more points than we are used to seeing last night. Do you feel like you reached a point where there's real progression based off that one game last night?

NICOLAS BATUM: Yeah, like I said, I'm going to get open shots, like the way those two guys are playing, the way Reggie is playing, I'm going to get open shots and just have to be ready to take it.

Q. It feels like this series doesn't really start until you guys fall behind by eight in the first quarter. Is that something that first quarters, and also third quarters when the net rating is really low, the starts of each half, is that something you talk about and have fixes for that you're hoping will be able to work throughout the rest of the series?

NICOLAS BATUM: We do. We talked about it. We talk about it and we have to do something. We have to adjust right away. We can't wait being down eight, ten, 12, depends, whatever, before we get a reaction. To be up ten that would be nice. I think one time against Mavs, I think it was Game 4, but we have to do it. We have a big lead and after like the third quarter, like we don't do a good job. So we have to work on that and not put ourselves in a bad position by doing that.

Q. You have a point differential of plus 25, so when you win, you guys win by a good margin but when you lose, you only lose by a couple points. What does that tell that you this team even on nights that you're not playing well doesn't get blown out but when you are playing well you are able to blow teams out like that?

NICOLAS BATUM: We have focus on details. We know if we lose, we lose by four or five points, we watch film and we made like 15, to Mystics. We solve half of those we win the game. So we have to focus on a good start, start the game the right way, don't want to be down ten and limit our mistakes. We're a good team going against a great team. Right now the best teams in the NBA are still playing, so we can't make so many mistakes.

Q. I wanted to get back to you talking about putting Rudy in uncomfortable situations. Can you elaborate on that? Obviously the book on him is get him way from the rim and put him on the perimeter as much as possible. Given what he's done over the years to kind of improve in that regard, can you speak to what is it that you can to that makes him uncomfortable at this point?

NICOLAS BATUM: It's a good question. That's why he has three trophies in four years. Nobody has figured it out yet. When I played with him over the summer, that's what I love about him, I know that I have this big guy protecting ourselves like just in case. We have to find a way to limit his impact on defense for sure, and he's got three trophies in four years and we have to make sure he doesn't have the same impact in the next three, four games. We just have to find a way and it's my job and I have to keep finding a way with him.

Q. Last night Reggie was saying how the team loves to feed off PG's energy and his great defensive starts to the game. Do you sense that as well, and if he's having a great night, everyone else will fill in?

NICOLAS BATUM: The way he played last night was great and that's what we love. I mean, he had 20 points first half. He had great shots and his confidence taking the rim on defense. He was talking to everybody during time-outs on the court. When PG is playing like that, it gets easier for the team. I know I need to play like that, as well.