NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: CLIPPERS vs SUNS

April 18, 2023

Tyronn Lue

Press Conference

Q. You said there's ways that you can be better in Game 2 than you were in Game 1. What's the top of your priority list when you look back at Game 1 to be ready tonight?

TYRONN LUE: Transition defense, being better in transition, getting back loading, trying to send Book and KD to the middle of the floor, not letting them get baseline because in transition that's where all your help is.

Then just getting to our next actions offensively. I thought we got a little stagnant. Just continue to keep playing, getting to the next actions and attacking.

But overall, just going to be our mentality throughout the game, coming out with the right mentality on both ends of the floor. We know they're going to come out and play better tonight, so we've got to be better, as well.

Q. Monty talked about how in a lot of respects the Clippers just outplayed the Suns, played harder than them in some ways to start the first quarter of Game 1. Obviously you're expecting them to come out with better effort or more intensity. How do you make sure that you guys match that level?

TYRONN LUE: Yeah, I think just having the right mindset. I think it starts with the defensive mindset, with the physicality that we brought in the first game. We've got to be even better with that. Just make sure we get back, make sure we get mass, don't allow them to get easy points in transition, and I think we'll be fine.

But we've got to have the right mindset to start the game. We're not easing into it and comfortable with one game. We've got to come out ready to play.

Q. You seemed to take the game a little bit away from KD, turned him into a facilitator early. Do you anticipate he'll come out more aggressive offensively looking for his own shot, and if so, how do you guard against that?

TYRONN LUE: I mean, all great players do. They always come out when you lose a game in a Playoffs, the great ones always come out ready to go. We've just got to be locked in. We know he's going to attack early, we know Book is going to attack early, so we've just got to keep our composure, make sure we're doing what we're supposed to do, not having a lot of game plan mistakes. Like I said, just try to keep it out of their hands early and make someone else try to beat you.

Q. The trio of Bones and Norman and Terance have been really good for you guys. I know from three they didn't shoot the ball well, but as far as their potential goes, what do you see as their -- what do you want them to focus on when those three are out there?

TYRONN LUE: I think offensive pace. I think when Mase running the floor, with his athleticism and then Bones, T-Mann and Norm all being able to push the pace and be able to score early in the offense but also in the half court, as well. I think with that unit on the floor we've got to be really good offensively making sure we're taking good shots and taking care of the basketball.

Q. What's Kawhi like as a voice and as a leader in these playoff moments, whether it's in the huddle, locker room or anything else?

TYRONN LUE: I think more so he leads by example, just how he attacks and approaches the game. Practice days, off days, and just how he just leads by example more than anything, but when he has something to say, he says it, but most of the time it's more by example.

Q. What makes Kevin so difficult to defend as a passer?

TYRONN LUE: He's seven-foot. He's seven-foot, so whenever you're sending a double-team is probably smaller than him. Him and Zu are probably about the same size. When you're sending the double-team, he does a great job of just -- hitting the first guy. He's not trying to skip it over the top. He's not trying to make the home run pass. When you're double-teaming, he's hitting the first available guy, which you want. If you're the offensive team, you want to get rid of it, not let somebody else play, so he doesn't make it difficult.

It's really hard to turn him over a lot of times because he's seven feet and he gets rid of the ball quick.

Q. They went after Bones in the pick-and-roll like four, five, six times in that third quarter. Knowing that they might do that, does that give you any hesitation to put him in there as part of that rotation, and how do you feel like he did being targeted that often?

TYRONN LUE: Yeah, it doesn't discourage me. I just got to see how they're scoring. If they're scoring out of it and taking advantage of it, then we've got to make some changes and do something different. But going into the game tonight, he will play. Let's just see how he handles it.

Q. Talking about the poise some of the guys have, the experience obviously plays a factor in it, but when they're making their runs like Eric, Kawhi, those guys who have been there before, what does that level of poise and calmness allow you guys to do during time-out? I know you said you give them like a minute to cool off. What does that poise allow you guys to do?

TYRONN LUE: Focus. When a team makes a run -- like I said, this is a great team over here, so we know they're going to make runs, especially on their home floor, so we've got to be able to withstand the run and come back and swing ourselves, and so I just think the poise allows you to be comfortable. You're not frantic, everybody is not talking, screaming in the huddles, just staying poised.

I think, like I said, with EG and with Kawhi, that bring that sense of calmness.

Q. With the rebounding an area of focus that the Suns are going to try to improve this game, even Deandre having three in the first half last game, so what are some of the things you're trying to apply from the last game into this game in that way?

TYRONN LUE: Yeah, I think for us coming into the series it was a big point of emphasis, just making sure we keep them off the glass. They went from 25th to 6th, I think, in offensive rebounding. We know Okogie, we know Craig is going to crash from the corners. Even CP is crashing now, and with Ayton, as well.

We've just got to make sure we're hitting bodies. If we're hitting bodies, we'll be able to get out in transition and try and get some easy ones.