NBA PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT: PELICANS vs CLIPPERS

April 15, 2022

Nicolas Batum

Postgame Press Conference

Pelicans 105, Clippers 101

Q. Nico, what was the conversation in the locker room after the game?

NICOLAS BATUM: That's the season.

Q. That was it?

NICOLAS BATUM: Pretty much.

Q. Ty opted to go small for basically the whole second half. Got you guys back in the game, got the lead. He then said he kind of thinks fatigue became a factor. Is that how you saw it as well?

NICOLAS BATUM: Yeah, I mean, we spent a lot of energy to get back. Almost down 20. On defense we tried to make some stop, make some run. We done a good job. But, yeah, we had that stretch for like four minutes, couldn't make a shot. On defense we stopped moving, communication, rebound also.

I mean, Larry Nance with 7, Valanciunas 5. That kind of killed us. We'd been doing a good job all game, but I don't know the run they made when they tied the game. Went back and forth.

I don't want to say we were tired. We had opportunities to close it anyway. I mean, Ingram did a good job in the fourth to find his spot, make some plays. C.J., we did a good job on him. Made a couple shots. Murphy, too. Young guys came in made some big shots for them, couple threes.

Congrats to them. Congrats to them. I'm proud of the guy. We tried. We kept fighting. After the news we had this morning, we still find a way. We could have won that game anyway.

Now we have to do this summer. We know what we going to be next year, the goals for next year. Move on now. Can't really think about just what happened. Was a strange season for us. We've done some good stuff. We got to move on and look forward to September.

Q. You're fresh off the game, but have you given any thoughts to your player option next year at all?

NICOLAS BATUM: No.

Q. What are your overall thoughts on the season, seems like a roller coaster?

NICOLAS BATUM: I mean, I've been in this league for 14 years. I think besides my single year, I haven't seen that before. COVID, injuries, comebacks, everything. It was fun, though. That was fun. We been through it all. Trades, missing players. I mean, we had everything.

We still top eight in the West without our best player, without two best players technically because P.G. played 30 games, something like that. We miss him for the biggest game of the year because of COVID and we still almost find a way to win this game.

I love that team. I been here for almost two years now. I was almost out of this league. It's been two different year. But I loved it, I loved it. I love it here. That coach, those guys. I mean, it's tough today, but it's going to be fun next year.

Q. This isn't the way you wanted things to end. Is there a sense of feeling really proud of yourselves?

NICOLAS BATUM: Yes, of course. Of course. We never try to find excuses. We could. We miss Kawhi, P.G. Luke and I missed a couple games. Norm missed a lot of games.

No, guys step up. Amir, T. Mann, Reggie. All those guys stepped up. Justice, Bled, everybody that came in this season, wore the jersey, they try. Brendon Boston had a big game for us. That was fun, though.

Of course today was a sad day we don't make the playoffs, we lost a player. I don't remember about the eighth seed, plus six games. I don't care about that. This is what it is. Good job to you.

That was fun. We showed like we can be a good team without our two top-10 guy. That's what I like. That's what we showed this year. We can do anything. We can win game. We can be down 35 on the road, win a game without two top-10 guys. We almost get a playoff without two top 10 and the best shooter in the league percentage-wise.

It will be fun next year. That's what I'm proud of this team. Find no excuses. Kept fighting. Kept playing. Lue and coaching staff been great all year long.

Sad today. Yes, it sucks. We wanted to play against Phoenix. Bang, move on, we see what happens next.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you.