NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: CLIPPERS vs SUNS

April 18, 2023

Russell Westbrook

Postgame Press Conference

Suns 123, Clippers 109

Q. Russ, how do you feel after two games? You guys got one here. How do you feel heading back to LA, how this series has gone so far?

RUSSELL WESTBROOK: You know, we know it's going to be a tough series. They came back and took care of business tonight.

But I thought we gave ourselves a chance. We came out with the right mindset throughout the game. They made a lot of tough jumpers, shot the ball really well from the field. With all that said, we still gave ourselves a chance to win.

Q. They've taken 20 shots at the rim in two games and 105 mid rangers. Can you guys live with that shot diet that they're taking? Is that something you guys are happy --

RUSSELL WESTBROOK: I mean, they're a good mid range shooting team. I think historically for them. It's just making sure we're contesting them. I think a lot of them tonight were wide open that we didn't get a chance to contest them. If they're shooting, that's fine, but we've just got to make sure we're contesting and making sure we're in the vision to make those a little more tougher than normal.

Q. What allowed you to get into a better offensive rhythm today than in the previous game?

RUSSELL WESTBROOK: Just taking my time, getting what I want.

Q. Sort of along the lines of what Andrew was saying, KD had no lay-ups, no threes, all mid range shots. Chris Paul missed one three, no lay-ups, all mid range shots. To some level is that something you want to live with over their three-point shooting?

RUSSELL WESTBROOK: I mean, like I said, we've just got to contest them and just figure out -- they're shooting well. Kudos to them, but we've got to make sure we're contesting them. That's it.

Q. What would you say was your personal highlight tonight, or are you just focused on getting that next win in Los Angeles?

RUSSELL WESTBROOK: No personal highlight for me. I think the best thing we can do is focus on the next game, figure out what adjustments we need to make and take care of home court.

Q. What are you learning about Ty Lue in a playoff series and how he's --

RUSSELL WESTBROOK: He's very in tune with what's going on. He's a step ahead always. Always finding ways to put us in position to be successful. I know he always has things going on in his mind, and we talk a lot about just adjustments and things we see throughout a game. It's been great.

Q. You and Kawhi created a lot of open looks for good shooters tonight. Obviously those are shots that those guys have made throughout the course of the season. How do you keep those guys confident and just continue to shoot those?

RUSSELL WESTBROOK: You keep finding them, keep instilling confidence in them and finding them and telling them to be aggressive. We've got so many guys on this team that can make shots, are shot makers. With Whi having the ball in his hands and myself, it's our job to be able to make sure we get those guys open looks and instill confidence in them.

Q. With you two in particular and PG out, how important is the deep playoff success and runs that you guys have had to be able to be in those guys' ears about how important this is?

RUSSELL WESTBROOK: It's important, but also no pressure. You don't want to feel like it's so much pressure on other guys. Just taking our time like any other game.

Q. This game, it seemed like the game flow was the same until about the fourth quarter. You guys went up big, they made their run. You guys sustained for a while, but the fourth quarter tonight didn't go the same way as the fourth quarter Game 1. What do you feel like was the biggest difference to end the game?

RUSSELL WESTBROOK: I will look at it and see. Not really sure right now. I'll watch the film and I'll have something for you.