Chris Paul: “It brings out the best in you…watching him in the AAU circuits and HS career back in North Carolina…understanding what it meant to be a pro…battles…Clippers, Houston…dope to see the evolution of our careers…still playing meaningful games…”
Good at home, championship caliber? “Our defense is the most consistent thing about us, led by Draymond…an edge at home especially when the crowd gets into it…definitely feel like we’re a championship team…”
Biedrins story: “Ah man, Goose? What’s a good Goose story?…he was my Lake Merritt buddy. I lived at 1200 Lakeshore…he used to brag because he had a jacuzzi (craned in)…best spot…as a rookie I had no idea…”
Feeling that again: “It’s amazing…find different ways to win games, have different guys step up…Wiggs stepping into his role…impact winning…JP taking that next step in his career…so many people you can identify…”
Transition of rhythm to one of four best teams in the league? “Yeah, we’re very confident…last year we could say that but didn’t prove it very often…how we do it is very lethal…with some question marks…Klay…getting through that meat of the season…definitely know we’re a great team…”
Bench rapport: “It’s our identity in terms what they know they can do to impact games. GP is relentless on the ball…confidence offensively…timely shots…cutting angles…Juan…critical of himself on Tuesday…had a helluva night so we always have the ability to go deep into our bench and find who might have the hot hand…opportunity is there and that’s huge in terms of keeping everybody engaged…gotta have guys that step up…”
Klay: “Thank God he still remembers how to shoot the ball. That hasn’t changed at all…good pep in his step…body movements. It’s hard to get a feel of speed and intensity…highlight package of the second scrimmage…confident, having fun and knocking them down…his wind…gonna take time…seeing him commit to what this process is…looking more and more like himself…reps…real game settings, he’ll be ready…”
Figuring out defenses, Mikal Bridges: “He’s pretty disciplined…wingspan is crazy so he can clog up space…pick and roll or closing out…have a counter for everything, you just have to figure it out…one-on-one it’s tough to stop anybody in this league and obviously I can figure out those situations…we just slowed down a little bit today which led to better possessions…we can’t beat ourselves and I can’t beat myself…”
Sense of potential: “Staying in the moment…good start…19-3 is an amazing record…building an identity on both ends of the floor…when (Klay) comes back there’s gonna be an adjustment…last third of the season really gear into our rotation and our confidence…I just like where we are right now. Good vibes…good energy…handling our business right now.”
Dray vs Ayton: “Ayton has improved in terms of just his feel and touch and keeping things simple…assignment for parts of the game…Loon…when Wise is back we’ll see what that looks like…not a matchup in the league you don’t like Draymond in…”
Learned from PHX two game set: “…how poorly we played in Phoenix…offensively kinda got out of whack down there. Tonight we fouled too much which we can’t do in a playoff game…they’re a really good team…good feel of what they do…the intentions…Book out, we don’t have Klay…possibly look different in playoff play (and Xmas)…”
Alex Caruso: “We spent a lot of time together in the off-season…South Bay and the Lakers…he’s a play-maker…go on to win the championship…we know what it takes to get out of the G…”
Dray vs 5s: “…enforcer. It just makes me wanna do the same thing…once he gets a stop it makes me wanna get a stop…he puts everybody in the right positions…”
Playoff atmosphere: “Arena’s full, energy is electric…played in Phoenix 4-5 times now, never seen the energy like that…confidence, for our ego. Every team wants to be the best in the league…have to win every game to do that.”
Dray vs Ayton and centers: “…he is what Steph is offensively. It’s just not sexy…ball screen, sliding over…most important defensively, we call it the MIG…hall of famer for a reason…dope…I respect his game…he’s dominating the hell out of the defensive end…it’s a tutorial for me…learning from that guy on a day to days basis…big brother…”
Defensive energy: “…easier guarding the ball…length…behind you…I got Draymond behind me, I know I can do a lot more defensively…we’ll take turns…Wiggs…GP…pickup the ball…best defensive team in the league. Head of the snake Dray. I still don’t get why he doesn’t (get the credit)…DPOY don’t lie…”
Back to JTA: “…that last game was tough for us but you move forward…that’s a great way to respond to adversity. So we threw that game into the toilet…”
*** END OF POSTGAME INTERVIEWS ***
Steph takes a selfie of him and the Biedrins graphic on the wall. 😂
Chris Paul: “It brings out the best in you…watching him in the AAU circuits and HS career back in North Carolina…understanding what it meant to be a pro…battles…Clippers, Houston…dope to see the evolution of our careers…still playing meaningful games…”
Good at home, championship caliber? “Our defense is the most consistent thing about us, led by Draymond…an edge at home especially when the crowd gets into it…definitely feel like we’re a championship team…”
Biedrins story: “Ah man, Goose? What’s a good Goose story?…he was my Lake Merritt buddy. I lived at 1200 Lakeshore…he used to brag because he had a jacuzzi (craned in)…best spot…as a rookie I had no idea…”
Feeling that again: “It’s amazing…find different ways to win games, have different guys step up…Wiggs stepping into his role…impact winning…JP taking that next step in his career…so many people you can identify…”
Transition of rhythm to one of four best teams in the league? “Yeah, we’re very confident…last year we could say that but didn’t prove it very often…how we do it is very lethal…with some question marks…Klay…getting through that meat of the season…definitely know we’re a great team…”
Bench rapport: “It’s our identity in terms what they know they can do to impact games. GP is relentless on the ball…confidence offensively…timely shots…cutting angles…Juan…critical of himself on Tuesday…had a helluva night so we always have the ability to go deep into our bench and find who might have the hot hand…opportunity is there and that’s huge in terms of keeping everybody engaged…gotta have guys that step up…”
Klay: “Thank God he still remembers how to shoot the ball. That hasn’t changed at all…good pep in his step…body movements. It’s hard to get a feel of speed and intensity…highlight package of the second scrimmage…confident, having fun and knocking them down…his wind…gonna take time…seeing him commit to what this process is…looking more and more like himself…reps…real game settings, he’ll be ready…”
Recap: “…you don’t want them to come in your building and keep that streak going…”
Mikal deciding to be a defensive guy: “He’s a smart guy he knows how to get paid in this league…”
Figuring out defenses, Mikal Bridges: “He’s pretty disciplined…wingspan is crazy so he can clog up space…pick and roll or closing out…have a counter for everything, you just have to figure it out…one-on-one it’s tough to stop anybody in this league and obviously I can figure out those situations…we just slowed down a little bit today which led to better possessions…we can’t beat ourselves and I can’t beat myself…”
Sense of potential: “Staying in the moment…good start…19-3 is an amazing record…building an identity on both ends of the floor…when (Klay) comes back there’s gonna be an adjustment…last third of the season really gear into our rotation and our confidence…I just like where we are right now. Good vibes…good energy…handling our business right now.”
Dray vs Ayton: “Ayton has improved in terms of just his feel and touch and keeping things simple…assignment for parts of the game…Loon…when Wise is back we’ll see what that looks like…not a matchup in the league you don’t like Draymond in…”
Learned from PHX two game set: “…how poorly we played in Phoenix…offensively kinda got out of whack down there. Tonight we fouled too much which we can’t do in a playoff game…they’re a really good team…good feel of what they do…the intentions…Book out, we don’t have Klay…possibly look different in playoff play (and Xmas)…”
*** STEPH FINALLY HERE AT 11:14PM ***
*** SEEMS LIKE WE MIGHT STILL BE WAITING FOR STEPH OR DRAY ***
Ends interview with “you guys are amazing…see you tomorrow.”
Alex Caruso: “We spent a lot of time together in the off-season…South Bay and the Lakers…he’s a play-maker…go on to win the championship…we know what it takes to get out of the G…”
Saw yourself playing this big a role two months ago? “I don’t have an answer for that (laughs)…help my team…you can put anybody in at anytime…”
Coaching staff tells you maybe play more: “Uh, absolutely not…and not foul, I’ve been hearing that more lately…I just go in when my time is called…”
Patient threes: “Ahh no, I just took all the thinking out of it…if I’m open just shoot it. Trust (workouts)…”
What did you learn about Suns? “If we take care of the ball…create gaps and go on runs…more about us…take away Chris with some actions…”
Dray vs 5s: “…enforcer. It just makes me wanna do the same thing…once he gets a stop it makes me wanna get a stop…he puts everybody in the right positions…”
Juan dunk: “I got a front row view…oh my gosh…” 🚨
Deep bench and culture starting with leaders: “Same thing. We feed off our leaders. Steph, Dray, Wiggs, JP…everybody make plays…look for each other…”
Statement game? “Kinda show ourselves in the foot…”
Chris Paul then Cameron Payne: “(Laughs) don’t foul…keep it in his right (CP)…opposite of Cam Payne…”
Same person means journey? “Absolutely…out of the G, got it out of the mud…guaranteed contract…”
Juan: “…being himself. I talked to him most out of everybody because I’m like the same person…”
*** NEXT UP: GP2 ***
Playoff atmosphere: “Arena’s full, energy is electric…played in Phoenix 4-5 times now, never seen the energy like that…confidence, for our ego. Every team wants to be the best in the league…have to win every game to do that.”
PHX down the line: “…I could see that happening. They’re a really good team, man… Devin Booker…take this win kinda with a grain of salt…”
Squad: “It’s the culture here…starts at the top…Klay…Dray…everybody can’t be the main character in the movie…helluva team, man, deep team…”
Dray vs Ayton and centers: “…he is what Steph is offensively. It’s just not sexy…ball screen, sliding over…most important defensively, we call it the MIG…hall of famer for a reason…dope…I respect his game…he’s dominating the hell out of the defensive end…it’s a tutorial for me…learning from that guy on a day to days basis…big brother…”
Defensive energy: “…easier guarding the ball…length…behind you…I got Draymond behind me, I know I can do a lot more defensively…we’ll take turns…Wiggs…GP…pickup the ball…best defensive team in the league. Head of the snake Dray. I still don’t get why he doesn’t (get the credit)…DPOY don’t lie…”
Best dunk? “…best dunk I’ve had in a game…I’ll celebrate it until midnight…we gotta play San Antonio…” (shouts out photograph)
On JaVale: “Either that or GP or Wiggs on KAT…shout out to (Biedrins)…”
Back to JTA: “…that last game was tough for us but you move forward…that’s a great way to respond to adversity. So we threw that game into the toilet…”
*** JUAN NEXT ***
Sense of how good this team will be? “We’re excited…we know what Klay can do…killing it down there…make a big, big impact right away…”
When Dray guarded KAT: “He makes it harder for anybody…great hands…IQ…he can switch it up.”
Surprised Dray can cover Ayton? “No…DPOY…”
Dray: “Anchor of the defense. His IQ for the game is out of this world…”
Statement win? “For sure. We feel they outplayed us the other night…we had to lock in today…play together, both sides of the floor…”
Lob and you got real high: “Oh the dunk I missed…thought I had a chance, I didn’t know where the rim was…”
Almost dunk: “I don’t remember.”
Come back win: “It’s important…come back here and protect our house…with Book, without Book…gonna be a battle…”
Objective picking up pg: “just make it uncomfortable…when he gives the ball up, deny it. He’s the head of the snake…that’s hard to do. That’s CP…”
Played through it? “…just tried to help the team.”