NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: CLIPPERS VS. SUNS

June 24, 2021

Tyronn Lue

LA Clippers

Game 3: Postgame

Los Angeles Clippers 106, Phoenix Suns 92

Q. When down 0-2, is there something that keeps happening, on the text message chain, is somebody stepping up and saying something? What keeps happening?

TYRONN LUE: I don't know. I don't like it. I'll tell you that (laughing). But you know, we've been a resilient team all season, all year long. You know, first I just want to give credit to Marcus Morris, he was hurt. Didn't know if he was going to be able to go tonight, and he gave us all he had, two big threes down the stretch which we needed but it's a total team effort.

Our guys just keep grinding, keep fighting. We know our back's against the wall 0-2 but we never give in. I mean, the job Pat Bev has been doing has been tremendous. I thought Zu was really good tonight. Reggie down the stretch; PG through the first three quarters and he got tired, but we had to play him the whole second half.

So I just thought at halftime, we challenged the guys to move the basketball and make the right play. I thought we just dribbled too much in the first half, and the second half I thought everybody did a good job of sharing the basketball and moving it and getting guys open shots.

Q. When you went out and got Reggie Jackson, what did you expect he was going to give you compared to what he's actually given you?

TYRONN LUE: Coming into the season when we first signed Reggie, our coaching staff, we talked about him potentially being a starter because of how we wanted to play and getting PG and Kawhi the ball in their spots.

So you know, unfortunately Pat Beverley got hurt a few times this season and Reggie became a starter. He did a great job. Our numbers with him as a starter were off the charts, as well as with Pat as well but offensively we really took off.

He's been great. You know, as soon as he stepped into that role, made it easier for PG, made it easier for Kawhi, having a great offense and just never stopped from there. I'm just happy for him. He's had a heck of a year, just got to continue to keep pushing.

Q. The defensive technique on Booker to the shooting line, they never felt like they were in rhythm --

TYRONN LUE: I think starting Pat and Zu really helped our defensive intensity. With PG having scored and making the plays for our team, I think without him having to guard Booker takes a lot of pressure off him offensively. Pat Beverley and Zu together, that combination is unbelievable. And like I said, Pat is the best rearview challenge guy in the game. He's going to block the shot from behind, contest from behind and make it hard on you. He gets into the ball. He's physical and I just think making that change with him and Zu. Zu at the rim with the verticality and Pat to be able to protect him on the pull-up jump shots. That's been a big change and a big spark to our defense.

Q. Those are guys you used in parts of the first round and second round, for the guys to accept the roles shifting.

TYRONN LUE: It's just all about winning and those guys are winners. To be two starters and not play at all in the Dallas series I think in the last four games or five games; and then come into the Utah series and Zu not playing much because we are going small because of Gobert; and Pat the job he did on Bogdanovic, and now we need both those guys to start the game; they have been phenomenal.

That's what winners do. They want to win, whatever it takes, they are going to do that so I'm just happy for those guys to finally get their moment.

Q. I was going to set you up with this before the game joking about you, Bill Belichick --

TYRONN LUE: Yeah, right.

Q. I know you coached up in Boston, so there's some proximity there, but when the team will buy into what you're selling as far as adjustments and them applying it effectively, how does that make you feel when it works and even when it doesn't work?

TYRONN LUE: First of all, I got a lot of respect for Belichick but I'm nowhere near him, six Super Bowls, probably the best coach ever in NFL history. It means a lot just for those guys to trust me, to understand that whatever I'm doing is the best for the team, you know, not for me. I just want to win. You know, making adjustments sometimes it's tough because adjustments mean some guys can't play, some guys play more, and you've got to be able to accept that.

And that's the biggest thing, but you've got to communicate with your team all year long and just talk about one common goal and that's winning and all of our guys are on board. I take pride in making adjustments to try to do the right thing, but these guys are going to have to go out and execute and they have been doing a great job of that so far.

Q. You're good at knowing where their heads are at. The last game with Paul and the free throws, what are your conversations like with him and what else can you say about Paul?

TYRONN LUE: After the game we landed, got home, first person I called was PG. I just told him, "We wouldn't be in this position without you." That game's over. It happens. Doesn't mean anything. They took care of their two games at home and now we've got to go win our two games. And that's the most important thing.

So we can't look at the past. We've got to look ahead. I called him, I called Pat Beverley and called a few of the guys and just said, "That's over." We had a chance to steal one, we didn't do it, it's behind us, so now we've got to move on. I thought PG did a great job of just moving on like I said and having a big night in Game 3.

Q. What time were those calls made?

TYRONN LUE: As soon as we landed. When I got in my car and they got in their car from the plane, I called them on the way home.

Q. Is that like 4:00 in the morning?

TYRONN LUE: I don't know what time it was (laughter). Whatever it takes, doesn't matter to me. But those guys came out and responded and after the first half, great defensively but offensively I just thought we were too stagnant, over-dribbled, tried to do it by ourselves.

And in the second half we really did a great job just making the play for our teammates and trusting, so that was good to see.

Q. What adjustments did Zu make?

TYRONN LUE: I think the big thing with Zu, he hasn't played. So getting his timing back, his rhythm, understanding what we are trying to do.

I think also offensively, to their credit, we haven't played big in a long time so far as running the same plays and the spacing is different, so we've got to get used to that as well. I think Zu just has not played in a long time. So he's finally getting in his rhythm and understanding what we need him to do offensively and defensively which is starting to come for him. He dominated the glass tonight. Thought he was a big factor inside with CP contesting his mid-range pull-ups and it's going to keep slowly starting to come for Zu. And so just happy that he's finally going to get his legs underneath him.

Q. To clarify, the Terrence Mann situation, was that for Marcus?

TYRONN LUE: Yeah, he wasn't going to be able to go initially and he did what he had to do and got on the bike and whatever else, and then he said he was going to give it a go. We needed everybody we can get tonight, so just for him to put it on the line for the team just means a lot.

Q. What did Terrence in the lineup do at guard?

TYRONN LUE: It allowed PG not to have to guard CP. He was going to do that if Marcus was going to start, and then allow Terrence to guard CP, pick him up full court, pressure him a little bit, because CP has not played in a while, either, and allow Pat Beverley to take Booker. We tried to conserve PG's energy as best we can with the minutes he has to play and the load he's carrying right now, so it was a good start for us.