NBA FINALS: BUCKS VS. SUNS

July 8, 2021

Jae Crowder

Phoenix Suns

Game 2: Postgame

Phoenix Suns - 118, Milwaukee Bucks - 108

Q. Wanted to ask, just seeing Devin get in that mode and you've seen it all year but how special was it tonight to see him go to another gear in that second half?

JAE CROWDER: I mean, I expect that out of him. He's our go-to player. We know he can make plays for himself and for others. So, we just try to get him in some good situations in good spots and read the game and react and play basketball, and he did a great job with his shot making tonight for sure.

Q. You guys are two wins away from winning an NBA title. When you hear that, what do you -- what's registering right now?

JAE CROWDER: 0-0. Fight. These guys are a tough team. Obviously, we're going into a tough environment. But your mindset has to be just 0-0 next game. Can't look too far ahead, don't look back. Just next-game mentality and that's what we're preaching.

Q. Middleton had a pretty solid game in Game 1, especially getting to that pull-up three and just kind of finding mismatches. Not so strong tonight. Was there anything different you guys were doing on him or was it just Giannis having the ball a little bit more and their offense looked different? Just what did you see from how things were different for them?

JAE CROWDER: I just think we just never let him get comfortable. We talked about it, we just wanted to give a lot of different looks to him, not let him see the same coverages over and over. Obviously, these guys do a good job when you play the same way, same style of defense they pick you apart.

So, we just tried to give him a lot of different looks and make it as tough as possible on him. Obviously, he's a hell of a player, he's one of their go-to players. So, we wanted to make it as difficult as possible. I think Mikal Bridges did a great job on him all night.

Q. What you would you say the key is when Giannis does score like he did, to still being able to win a game like that? You look at it and think well, if he scores that way, most of the time Milwaukee's going to win. Obviously, that wasn't the case.

JAE CROWDER: I'm not really into coaching those guys. I'm trying to beat them. So, I don't really know the correct answer to that. We're just trying to beat them.

Q. Chris and Devin have combined for the most points by a starting backcourt in NBA Finals history through the first couple games. Obviously, you expect big things from them offensively but can you speak to the level of dominance they have had through these first two games?

JAE CROWDER: I mean, it sounds crazy but I really expect those guys to play well every night. They put a lot of work into it. They do a good job of running our team, running our offense, making it run smoothly. Obviously, everything runs you through those guys. So, we put the ball in their hand and put them in situations and let them play and react.

Coach did a great job of feeling the game and putting those guys in position, and they do a good job of just creating for themselves and for others. So, I expect that and it may be a surprise to others but I expect those guys to lead the way, especially offensively for our team and that's what we have been doing all year and that's it's no different now that we're in the Finals.

Q. I heard Devin say a week or two ago that he's been preparing for moments like this all of his life. He clearly doesn't run from them, does he?

JAE CROWDER: No. I wouldn't be here if he did. I wouldn't want to play with a guy who runs from the moment. I think he does a great job of seizing the opportunity. I knew playing against him what type of competitor he was, previously before joining him as a teammate.

So no, to answer that question, he's not going to run from any fight, battle, situation that the basketball court presents. So, he's a hell of a player, he's a hell of a competitor and I'm glad to be a part of playing alongside him at this time of the year.

Q. Monty said that he thought that the defense in the second quarter was what won the game for you guys. Just what specifically on that end of the floor do you feel like was working really well in holding them to only 16 points?

JAE CROWDER: Yeah, I just think we adjusted and tried to keep those guys out of our paint. They're a great team once the ball is in the paint. We just tried to just guard the ball, guard our yard as best as possible to keep that ball out of our paint and make those guys make tough contested shots. I think that's our recipe, especially in the second quarter was to get that lead we just tried to protect our paint and that was the message.

Q. Then to follow up on what you just said about Book. You mentioned you wouldn't be here if not for him, but what have you maybe seen now from him as far as the work that he does behind the scenes as his teammate that none of us see? Like what can you tell us about his work habits and what he does?

JAE CROWDER: I mean, he's a well-rounded professional. I don't know how else to put it. He puts the work in on a daily basis. He just doesn’t do it every now and again. It's an everyday thing. He takes care of his body. He takes care of his mind. He watches film. He talks. He communicates well. So, he does everything you want out of a guy, especially who's been here, who is comfortable in this city and on this team, and he did a good job of just bringing everyone together. I think his work ethic speaks for itself. He's putting the work in, so he has a voice in the locker room.

I think once you put the work in on a daily basis, obviously the rest of it falls in line from a leadership standpoint and he does that on a daily basis.

Q. Talking about your game, obviously, you didn't shoot that well in Game 1, Game 2 was different. How important is it for you to be a contributor on offense and on defense, too?

JAE CROWDER: I didn't look too much into it because we won the game. Obviously if we would have lost that game and I played the way I played, I would have been even more disappointed in myself, but obviously you have those nights but we have a great team, and these guys do a good job of -- we always have been the team that talks about picking each other up, and obviously I had a tough night but my teammates picked me up and we was able to come out with a win.

I do feel like it's big for me to play on both ends of the court and be a factor on both ends of the court, but obviously our team is deep enough. We have enough to get it done even if I have an off night, even if Book have an off night, even if Chris has an off night. We have enough to get it done in our locker room and we totally believe in one another. So, that game was just a glimpse of what we have been preaching all year -- we have each other's back and my teammates had my back that game.