NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: CLIPPERS VS. SUNS

June 20, 2021

Jae Crowder

Phoenix Suns

Game 1: Postgame

Phoenix Suns - 120, Los Angeles Clippers - 114

Q. After Booker's first triple double of his career, what was the scene like in the locker room? Were guys dumping water on him or what was it like in there?

JAE CROWDER: We didn't pour any water or anything on like. It's Game 1. It's one game. It's a long series.

But he did a great job of just controlling the game. I felt like he did a good job of playing point, playing on the ball tonight, and making his reads. They threw a lot of different coverages at him and he was poised and a lot of guys were able to play and make plays off of his double team and off of his playmaking, so it was great.

Q. What adjustments were made throughout the game with Chris being out?

JAE CROWDER: Really, it's tough to put in measurement what Chris does for our ball club because he's the head of the snake. He's the guy that's putting everybody in position. We just did a lot of that stuff on the fly. We're different, but we got the hang of it. Especially by halftime, we came in and got to regroup a little bit and saw a few things. But we definitely missed him. I think the last three minutes of that game, that's when we felt like, Where the hell is Chris at? That's the point where he's that guy. He's that guy to make that play for everybody. He's that guy to put us in position, and especially with the lead or down, we depend on him to make those plays, especially late in the game. So I think he was felt more that last 3:30 of the game.

Q. DA [Deandre Ayton] had 20 points tonight and you guys as a team had 54 points in the paint. They adjusted in second half by starting Zubac and going a little bit bigger to match you guys. What did you think of his performance in the paint and kind of making them pay for going smaller against him?

JAE CROWDER: Yeah, we have been preparing for that. Obviously, that last series they did a lot of small ball lineups and we just told him dominate the paint. Let everything else take care of itself. Dominate the paint. Fly around on defense. And he did exactly that and he made the adjustment a little bit.

But I'm sure -- that's a good ball club. They have good players, so they're going to give a lot of different lineups, a lot of different scenarios throughout the game. We got to just adjust and we were prepared for everything. We're prepared for it. We're ready for it. We just got to calm down a little bit, relax, and just adjust and start to make plays on both ends of the court. I think he did a great job tonight.

Q. (Inaudible)

JAE CROWDER: We have been practicing for a few days. We knew it was going to be loud in here, so our communication had to be ten times, it had to be on point throughout the whole night. And that's what I hang my hat on. I'm one of the leaders of the team. Obviously, I got the scouting report very well and I just want to put my teammates in position to be successful and put myself in position.

So I was just trying to do my part, especially with C out too. He does a great job communicating both ends of the court, and I knew I had to pick it up a little bit since one of our leaders was out. But Deandre did a great job of just reacting. He's had a few missed coverages, but we expect that. He's getting put in some situations that he's not used to and they're just trying to bring him out on the perimeter a lot. But he did a good job of being active and still coming back and boarding the ball, so it was great.

Q. It's a little hard to hear the questions in there, so sorry if this is repetitive.

But Monty mentioned Chris Paul on FaceTime with you guys after the game. Just in the locker room, what was that like and what did he have to say?

JAE CROWDER: Chris, he was excited, but he was holding up this. Finger one. It was one game. We did what we were supposed to do. We held them down and we made plays on both ends of the court. But he was very excited. He had a smile on his face. But he's eager to get back. Obviously everybody knows what type of player he is. He's ready to get back out here with us. And we just got to continue to take care of the uncertainty and come in each and every day and be prepared as much as possible with or without him. But it was great to see him on FaceTime.

Q. The Clippers made some pretty impressive runs to stay right there for most of the game.

JAE CROWDER: We just didn't respond to it. Those guys went on a run. We know basketball is a game of runs and we just prepared for whatever. But we know when the other team goes on a run, we've seen it all series, all playoffs, you got to respond. Whether it be a getting a stop on defense or getting a good shot on the offensive end.

But I think we did a great job of just trying to limit those runs as much as possible on their side. And whenever they did go on a run, obviously they've got some great players over there. When they do go on a run we got to respond to it. And I think tonight we did it the right way. That's honestly what it comes down to, especially with one of our playmakers and leaders out of the lineup. But we did a good job, everybody.

Q. Monty Williams said that Booker imposed his will tonight. You guys have seen how he's been able to play but to see it on a national stage and the rest of the country kind of get behind Booker, what does this game do? I know it's only one game, but to see him have a big breakout performance like this and his first ever triple double?

JAE CROWDER: I expected it. I know what type of player he is. I don't honestly know how everyone is acting surprised at this when obviously, this is his first time, at this level, at this stage, but he's capable. He's more than capable. He's more than ready. He prepared like no other. He's in the gym. He's preparing. He's watching film. So it's no coincidence that he's having games and big games for us. And like the game tonight, we expect him to do that, make plays, not only for himself, but for others, and that's what he did tonight. He controlled the game and made plays and made his reads and he was very poised. So that's what I expect. I knew what he was capable of. That's why I wanted to come over here and play alongside of him just to be a part of it and to give him some help to win some games.

Q. I don't think any of the teams left would qualify as a super team. What does that say about the teams that are left and you guys from top to bottom may not be a lot of household names, but you guys are dominating like you are.

JAE CROWDER: Well, I would rather be a full team than be top heavy. I've been on both sides of that. I've saw it. I've played with it. I've been a part of it. But it's much easier for everything to start clicking, especially this time of the year, when you got a full roster. Whenever you tap that hand and step out of the game, you know the guy coming in is going to give it his all. It's no big letdowns when you sub out of the game for our team. One through five, five through 15.

So it's great to be a part of something special and everybody pushing for the same goal instead of being like a super team and just being top heavy or whatever it is and trying to see where the chips fall. But it's great to be a part of a full, like, we got a real team. We have been saying it all year. A lot of guys, you will get the names as we continue to win games here in the playoffs, but a lot of guys want the same thing and that's to win games and that's all it is. You just see a lot of guys wanting to win and giving their all during the games.

Q. You mentioned not having Chris out there on the floor, but what was it like not having him there at all, not even having his voice out there for you guys? And then can you elaborate on what Booker was able to do tonight in terms of a game management standpoint and how valuable that was?

JAE CROWDER: Yeah, I think, like I said, with Chris, he's been communicating with us via phone, via text, via FaceTime. But when you step on the court when he's not there, it's a little different. But we did a good job of just adjusting on the fly. I think a lot of stuff came with on the fly, like a couple of plays where we just know each other. We couldn't run a few sets that we usually go to with Chris in the lineup and that was just kind of weird, but we adjusted well. I think we went to another set of things that we could do on the offensive end.

But it just definitely, great to see, and with Book, it's just great to just see him control the game. I think he played point more than he usually does, so he had the ball in his hands a lot, and he just made the read after read after read the best read for our team time after time throughout the game, and it was great to be a part of, great to see him make his reads. And they threw a lot of different coverages at him and he was able to respond, whether it be with a pull-up three, pull-up jumps shot, or just kicking it or a lob to DA. It was just the right read all night and it opened up a lot for our offense and it's great to see him dictate the whole game, especially with the ball in his hands more.

Q. Talk about your team’s offensive balance.

JAE CROWDER: It's a good balance, especially for your team. We have a lot of three-point shooters. We have rim threats. So it's good to have him and Chris really hone in and shoot that little in between shot, that little floater, that little jump shot, like that, 12 feet out. But it's just great balance for our team. It's great balance for our offense. It clicks the right way. I just think it works out well. Coach does a good job of putting him position to attack the defense and make his reads and he did a good job all night. But I think it's just good balance for our team. Just for him and Chris just to hone that shot and take that shot with confidence is great.