NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: CLIPPERS VS. SUNS

June 28, 2021

Cam Johnson

Phoenix Suns

Game 5: Postgame

Los Angeles Clippers - 116, Phoenix Suns - 102

Q. What do you think went wrong tonight?

CAM JOHNSON: I think they were just on the attack, had us on our heels a lot of the game. They were downhill and getting to the rim and scoring the ball out of isos, and we just need to do a better job of stepping up and defending them.

Q. What was it like in the locker room? How did you guys immediately process this one?

CAM JOHNSON: Well, it's the realization that it's not going to be easy. Everybody knew it wasn't going to be easy going in, but also that we got another opportunity and in a couple days. So that's what the playoffs is about and it's tough and that's what everybody said it would be and you can't expect a team to just roll over. They brought it today and they gave us a tough time. So we just have to bring it next game.

Q. You guys have always shown all season the ability to respond. How much will you guys draw from those experiences for the next game?

CAM JOHNSON: A hundred percent. That's what we have to do right now. Right now it's the biggest moment of our season. This is what we put in all the work for. So we have no other choice but to respond with everything we talked about, with poise and then go back to L.A. and get after them.

Q. You guys had fared well against their small ball lineups earlier in the series. What was different tonight with the way they spaced you guys out?

CAM JOHNSON: They were moving the ball and they were scoring out of iso, so that just kind of puts you on your heels. When you have trouble guarding the ball straight up, it either puts you in rotations or that guy's going to start scoring. So we just need to do a better job overall, do a better job of being in shifts and do a better job of playing team defense. We have done it in the series, so we know we're capable of it and it's just something we got to get better.

Q. When you pull yourself out a double-digit deficit a bunch of times and take the lead the one time but it seems like they always had a response for it. Just how frustrating or challenging is that when you have to kind of keep coming back and can't quite get the run that gives you a little cushion?

CAM JOHNSON: That's just playoff basketball. You make a run and a team is going to respond and make a run of their own. Like you said, we got there early in the third, in the fourth quarter cut it to four, and they responded. That's what got them this far. So that's just what this game is about, it's maintaining your poise and just trying to win that next play.

Q. Seemed like they were playing with force when they came out. You guys obviously couldn't quite match it. Did it surprise you guys the amount of force they would come out with or was that just them imposing their will on you guys?

CAM JOHNSON: No, there is not, there's not a surprise when a team is facing elimination and they come out and play hard. It's just how the game goes. They brought it to us. Like I said, they were driving the ball hard, shifting, playing hard defense, being in their spots and that's just all there is to it. But there's no surprise with the amount of force they played with.

Q. Monty said before that the way that you started the game was unacceptable. What do you need to improve on in terms of the way you start the game in Game 6 in L.A., and how important for you is it to win that series in Los Angeles?

CAM JOHNSON: I think there's an element of relentlessness that we talk about all the time and I think we just lacked that a little bit in the beginning. Came out a little lackadaisical and they took advantage of it and built a lead. We chipped back and it's just -- we felt like we were playing catch up from that point on and that's not a good situation to be in. So obviously better starts are going to be important. I thought we did a better job with starting the third quarter, though, as opposed to our recent games.