>> WE WELCOME YOU TO DOWNTOWN OKLAHOMA CITY AND UNDER PLAYOFF POSTGAME, SAYING HELLO TO THOSE WATCHING ON THE THUNDER APP. GAME 2 OF THE WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS BETWEEN DALLAS AND OKC IN THE BOOKS WITH DALLAS WINNING 119-110. SERIES ALL TIED UP BETWEEN THE THUNDER AND THE MAVS. SITTING NEXT TO ROYCE YOUNG, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COACH HAS TALKED A LOT ABOUT. LOSSES ARE BOUND TO HAPPEN, IT'S JUST ABOUT HOW YOU RESPOND TO THEM, THE THUNDER ENCOUNTERING THEIR FIRST LOSS OF THE POSTSEASON TONIGHT. WHAT DID YOU TAKE AWAY FROM THIS ONE? >> LOOK, IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. ONE OF THE THINGS WHERE THEY GOT UP TO AN AMAZING START IN THE POSTSEASON WITH THE SWEEP AGAINST THE PELICANS AND AN EXCELLENT GAME ONE BUT IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GO THROUGH AN NBA POSTSEASON WITHOUT LOSING AT SOME POINT.
IT REALLY KIND OF AS YOU LOOK AT THIS GAME, PARIS, THERE WERE A NUMBER OF POCKETS WHERE DALLAS WAS ABLE TO AND CONTROL IN THE GAME AND IN THE SECOND PART OF THE THUNDER DID A GREAT JOB, IN A LOT OF CASES COMING BACK BUT THE GAME GOT I THINK IT WAS ONE POINT, J-DUB HAD A BIG PUT BACK JIM AND THERE WERE A COUPLE KEY THUNDER TURNOVERS IN THE MAVS WERE ABLE TO CAPITALIZE AND KIND OF BUILD THE INVERSE OF THE GAME WHERE IT WAS THE THUNDER WHO HAD A TEN-POINT LEAD GOING INTO THE FOURTH QUARTER, TONIGHT THE MAVS WERE ABLE TO BUILD THAT UP.
JUST ONE OF THOSE GAMES WHERE THE MAVS — ONE OF THE AREAS EVERYONE HAD AN EXPECTATION, THEY ARE A GOOD SHOOTING TEAM AND THEY WILL UNDERRATE A LOT OF GOOD LOOKS FROM THREE AND THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE A GAME LIKE THIS WHERE THEY SHOT 18 OF 37 FROM THREE. PJ WASHINGTON OBVIOUSLY RED-HOT FROM THE PERIMETER. THESE ARE THINGS THAT SHOULDN'T FEEL LIKE A SHOCK. THE THUNDER LOSE, OBVIOUSLY DISAPPOINTING. >> THIS IS SOMETHING WE SEE A LOT FROM THE THUNDER WHERE ANOTHER TEAM IS GOING TO GET OUT TO A STRONG START LIKE WE SAW FROM DALALLAS, EIGHT THREES IN E QUARTER ALONE SO YOU COULD TELL THEY WERE REALLY FEELING IT, THEY HAD THE JUICE.
THE THUNDER DIDN'T LET THIS GAME REALLY GET OUT OF HAND AT ANY POINT. THEY FELL BEHIND BY DOUBLE DIGITS, 13 MAYBE AT THE MOST. THEN THEY WERE ABLE TO EVEN TAKE A THREE-POINT LEAD IN THE THIRD QUARTER BUT THE ABILITY TO KEEP THE GAME CLOSE EVEN NOT HAVING YOUR BEST BASKETBALL OFFENSIVELY WHILE DALLAS WAS CERTAINLY THROWING THEIR BEST PITCH. >> ONE THING THAT'S KIND OF A POSITIVE TAKE AWAY FOR ME IS KIND OF THE TALK, THE EXPECTATION THAT DALLAS WOULD COME OUT AND THROW A HAYMAKER IN RESPONSE IN THE THUNDER I THOUGHT WERE WELL PREPARED FOR THAT, I THOUGHT THEY MET THERE PHYSICALITY, THEIR ENERGY AND INTENSITY AND DID A GREAT JOB OF ANSWERING DIFFERENT RUNS.
LOOK AT THE GAME THAT WAS PLAYED EARLIER TONIGHT WHERE BOSTON ON THEIR HOME COURT GOT BLOWN OUT BY CLEVELAND AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO ANSWER THAT KIND OF INTENSITY PUNCH. THAT HAPPENS A LOT IN SERIES THAT ARE GOING TO GO A LITTLE BIT LONGER, YOU SEE THE ROAD TEAM REALLY TRY TO MUSTER UP SOMETHING IN THAT GAME BUT I ACTUALLY FELT THE THUNDER DID A GREAT JOB OF REALLY ABSORBING THAT AND REALLY MEETING MAVS THROROUGHOUT THE GAME AND HAVINA CHANCE AS THIS GAME EXTENDED INTO THE FOURTH QUARTER. >> THAT IS SOMETHING COACH DAIGNEAULT TALKS A LOT ABOUT, RECOGNIZING THAT DALLAS CAME INTO THIS GAME 0-1 IN A SERIES SO YOU HAVE TO EXPECT A HIGHLY MOTIVATED GROUP THAT'S GOING TO COME OUT AND THROW THEIR BEST PUNCH.
THAT'S WHAT THE THUNDER GOT TONIGHT, THEY MET THAT PHYSICALITY AND THE ENERGY YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT. JUST A COUPLE OF KEY PLAYS IN KEY SHOTS FROM DALLAS DOWN THE STRETCH TO PUT THE CAP ON THIS ONE. >> WE TALK A LOT ABOUT, THIS IS SOMETHING COACH MARK TALKS ABOUT, YOU LEARN A LOT THROUGH YOUR EXPERIENCES. SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO TASTE HER OWN BLOOOOD AND THIS FEELS LIKE ONE OF THOSE GAMES WHERE THE THUNDER NEEDED TO TASTE THEIR OWN BLOOD AND THERE CAN BE A LOT OF POSITIVES COMING OUT OF A YOUNG TEAM GOING THROUGH AN EXPERIENCE LIKE THIS. WE TALKED ABOUT THE 0-0 MIND-SET A LOT AND IT'S BEEN A REALLY POSITIVE THING TO HAVE TO DO IT AFTER WINS BUT IT ALSO APPLIES AFTER LOSSES IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS WHERE YOU'VE GOT TO RESET YOURSELF MENTALLY AND NOT CARRY THE WEIGHT OF A GAME PRIOR INTO WHAT'S NEXT.
SO FOR THIS THUNDER TEAM, THEY ARE YOUNG GROUP GROUP, EXPERIENCING SOMETHING NOW AGAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME, A PLAYOFF LOSS, AND THAT'S AN EXPERIENCE THEY WILL LEARN FROM AND GROW FROM AND PREPARE FOR GAME 3 WITH VARIED >> A COUPLE OF INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS, FOR THE DALLAS SIDE IT WAS LUKA DONCIC, PJ WASHINGTON CARRYING THE MAJORITY OF THE SCORING LOAD, BOTH OF THOSE GUYS WITH 20 POINTS — 29 POINTS IN THIS GAME. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BASKETBALL SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER LEADING THE WAY WITH A NEAR TRIPLE-DOUBLE, WHAT DID YOU SEE FROM HIM THROUGHOUT HIS GAME? >> I THOUGHT SHAI WAS AWESOME AND HE REALLY SET A POSITIVE TONE EARLY, HAD IT GOING IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS AND JUST THE FLOOR GAME OF SHAI IS SO IMPRESSIVE.
WE SAW IT IN GAME 1, 29, 9, AND 9. THE MAVS ARE ACTUALLY SHADING A LOT AND SHAI IS MAKING A LOT OF THOSE RIGHT DECISIONS, GETTING OFF THE BALL AND LETTING HIS TEAMMATES PLAY ADVANTAGE BASKETBALL, TRUSTING THEM TO MAKE THE RIGHT KIND OF PLACE. WE SOUGHT ON THE FIRST QUARTER, A LOT OF THOSE WERE SET UP BY THE ATTENTION THAT SGA DRAWS. THAT'S WITH THESE STAR PLAYERS ARE GOING TO DO. LUKA DONCIC DOES THE SAME THING TO THE THUNDER AND SGA CAN PUT THE MAVERICKS IN THAT SAME KIND OF FIND. >> SO INTERESTING TO SEE SHAI, FELT LIKE HE HAD A FLURRY OF ABOUT 4 ASSISTS SETTING UP HIS TEAMMATES AND FINDINING THOSE ON LOOKS, FACILITATING IS SO KEY IN HIS GAME BECAUSE THIS GUY CAN SCORE, HE CAN GO OUT AND GET A BUCKET BUT IT'S HIS ABILITY TO SET UP HIS TEAMMATES THAT MAKES THEM SO SPECIAL. >> I THINK THAT'S AN AREA OF GROWTH WITH SHAI THAT SOMEWHAT GETS UNDERRATED FOR HIM. IF MENTIONED IT COMING INTO THE SEASON OF HIS EXPERIENCE WITH TEAM CANADA WAS HE WAS ON THE BALL BASICALLY THROUGHOUT THAT ENTIRE TOURNAMENT AND THAT WAS A REAL BIG POSITIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR HIM JUST PLAYING MORE TRADITIONAL POINT GUARD FOR TEAM CANADA AND THAT IS SOMETHING HE'S BEEN ABLE TO REALLY FIND A BALANCE WITH.
ONE OF THE REMARKABLE THINGS ABOUT HIM TO BE A 30-POINT SCORE IN THIS LEAGUE AND NEVER SUFFOCATE THE OFFENSE BECAUSE EVEN TONIGHT, WITH ALL THE ATTENTION DALLAS HAS ON HIM, IT FEELS LIKE EVERYBODY IS INVOLVED IN THE OFFENSE AT ALL TIMES, THE CUTTING, THE SPACING, THE BALL MOVEMENT. SHAI FINDS THAT BALANCE SO INCREDIBLY WELL. >> JUST CONTINUES TO SHOW UP EVERY NIGHT AND A MULTITUDE OF WAYS. ONE THING WE HEAR SO OFTEN FROM COACH DAIGNEAULT IS EVERY GAME TAKES A LIFE OF ITS OWN. I WANT TO GET YOUR OPINION, WHAT YOU SAW DIFFERENT FROM THE DALLAS MAVERICKS, YOU MENTIONED THE ENERGY, THE PUNCH, WHAT WERE YOU SEEING OUT THERE ON THE DALLAS SIDE THAT KIND OF GAVE THEM A LITTLE EDGE? >> THIS IS AN OVER SIMPLE VACATION OF IT TIME BUT THE BALL WENT IN THE BASKET A LOT MORE FOR THEM. THEY HAD SOME GOOD LOOKS AND GAME 1 WHETHER IT WAS JOSH GREEN, DERRICK JONES, JR., PJ WASHINGTON, THEY HAD SOME OPEN FREEZE AND THE MAVERICKS GENERATE CORNER THREES AS WELL AS ANYBODY IN THE LEAGUE. THE ATTENTION LOOK AT DRAWS IN HIS ABILITY TO SPRAY TO THE CORNERS, THE THUNDER THAT IS A TEAM JUST ON BASE BASIC DEFENSIVE SCHEME GIVES UP A LOT OF QUARTER THREES BUT THE MAVS MADE A LOT OF THEM TONIGHT.
>> SOMETHING THE UNDER CERTAINLY ARE GOING TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND ANALYZE FOR GAME 3. WE WILL SEND YOU OVER TO THE PODIUM, THUNDER HEAD COACH MARK DAIGNEAULT ADDRESSING THE MEDIA. >> THE LOOKS FOR THREES THAT THEY GOT. >> LOOK AT THE LOOKS, CREDIT THEM, THEY SHOT THE BALL REALLY WELL, ESPECIALLY COMING OUT OF THE GATES, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO STABILIZE THE GAME, WE WEATHERED A PRETTY GOOD STORM, GOT IT WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE, TOOK THE LEAD IN THE THIRD, SO WE GAVE OURSELVES A CHANCE EVENEN AFTER THE HOT SHOOTING AND I JUST THINK WE DIDN'T EXECUTE WELL ENOUGH AT EITHER END TO REALLY GRAB A GRIP ON THE GAME, CREDIT THEM, THEY PLAYED CAME IN AND PLAYED AGAIN REALLY WELL. >> A LOT OF ATTENTION PAID TO KYRIE AND LUKA. ARE YOU OKAY WITH THE LOOKS THEY GOT OR DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU COULD HAVE GOT OUT OF THEM A LITTLE BIT MORE? >> IT'S A LOT OF TREES. OKAY WITH SOME OF THEM, SOME OF THEM IT'S JUST LIKE GAME PLAN COST, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO GIVE SOMETHING UP.
AND THEN SOME OF THEM I THOUGHT WERE JUST. I THOUGHT WE DIDN'T DO A A GREAT JOB OF GETTING SET TONIGHT AND A LOT OF IT CAME ON A LOOSE FLOOR OR IN TRANSITION, THEY OBVIOUSLY REBOUNDED THE BALL WELL LIKE WE DID LAST GAME. IT WAS A MISHMASH OF THINGS, SOME WE JUST HAVE TO TIP OUR HAT, OTHERS ARE CONTROLLABLE THAT WE HAVE TO CORRECT. >> WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR GUYS PASTE TONIGHT? >> I'M SORRY? I THOUGHT AT TIMES GOOD. WE ARE TAKING A BALL TO THE NET MORE THAN WE HAVE IN A WHILE, WHICH SLOWS YOU DOWN BUT WE TRY TO GO AT TIMES.
OUR DECISION-MAKING WASN'T AS SHARP AS IT'S BEEN. I DIDN'T THINK WE HAD GREAT ATTACKS TONIGHT OFFENSIVELY. I JUST DIDN'T THINK WE WERE SHARP ON EITHER END OF THE FLOOR AS WE'VE BEEN IN A LONG TIME. GOT TO LEARN FROM IT, FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN IMPROVE AND BE A BETTER TEAM IN GAME 3. >> A BACK CUT JUNK WITH 2.9 ON THE SHOT CLOCK AND A COUPLE OF WALK-IN THREES, WHAT ARE MAYBE THE SPECIFIC POSSESSIONS THAT YOU THINK BACK ON, LIKE THOSE OF THE ERRORS USUALLY DON'T MAKE? >> THERE WERE A GOOD AMOUNT OF THEM TONIGHT.
CREDIT THEM, IT'S A HEAVYWEIGHT FIGHT AND WE THREW A PUNCH THE OTHER NIGHT, THEY THROW A PUNCH TONIGHT, PART OF FIGHTING. YOU KNOW, PART OF FIGHTING IS THROWING THEM IN PART OF IT IS TAKING. NOT TO TAKE ANYTHING AWAY FROM THEM. I JUST THOUGHT FROM AN EXECUTION STANDPOINT THERE WAS TOO MUCH UNEARNED, THE ONE YOU MENTIONED CERTAINLY BUT IT WAS A LOT OF PLAYS ON BOTH ENDS. I THOUGHT THERE WERE SOME OFFENSIVE PLAYS WHERE THEY GOT RUN OUTS JUST ON LACK OF EXECUTION OR A DECISION WE MADE. SOMETHING WE CAN LEARN FROM. WE'VE BEEN A TEAM THAT'S GROWN THROUGH EVERYTHING, WE'VE GROWN THROUGH A LOT OF SUCCESS THIS YEAR, WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH, LIKE I SAID, TAKING A PUNCH TONIGHT.
>> WIGGINS OVER G GIDDEY IN THE SECOND HALF, WHAT HASN'T WORKED IN THAT LINEUP SO FAR? >> I WOULDN'T SAY IT DIDN'T WORK, I WOULD JUST SAY HALFTIME SUBS IS SOMETHING WE'VE DONE FOR A LONG TIME, BASICALLY AN IN GAME SUBSTITUTION, I DON'T VIEW IT AS ANY DIFFERENT AS CHECKING ANYBODY INTO THE GAME WITH 8 MINUTES TO GO ON THE THIRD QUARTER OR SOMETHING. WE WILL KEEP IT FLUID. WE WENT BIG RIGHT AWAY EARLY TONIGHT, I THOUGHT THAT LOOKS PRETTY GOOD. WE ARE GOING TO BE A MOVING TARGET THERE, DO WHAT WE THINK IS BEST, EVERY GAME IS DIFFERENT. >>>> LUKA'S OFFICE WE GOING TO T POINTS, THAT KIND OF SCORE, BUT WHAT DID YOU MAYBE NEED TO DO BETTER AGAINST HIM TONIGHT? HAD 7 ASSISTS, I THINK DOUBLE-DIGIT REBOUNDS.
ARE THOSE THE TYPE OF THINGS YOU HAVE TO HIT AND LIVE WITH THE POINTS, OR WHAT DID YOU FEEL LIKE YOUR DEFENSE DID WITH HIM? >> AGAIN, EVERY POSSESSION IS DIFFERENT. I THOUGHT TO START THE GAME THERE WAS KIND OF A CORRECTION ON HIS PART. NOT THAT HE CORRECTED IT BUT LAST GAME HE DIDN'T SHOOT THE BALL VERY WELL. THERE WERE SOME LOOKS THAT HE GOT LAST GAME THAT HE IS PROBABLY USED TO MAKING. HE MADE MORE OF THEM EARLIER IN THE GAME TONIGHT. I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS NECESSARARILY WHAT WE GAVE TO H. I THOUGHT IT WAS SOME OF THE ROTATIONS OUT OF IT, SOME OF THE HELP WASN'T QUITE AS EARLY AS IT WAS LAST GAME. IT WAS MORE THOSE THINGS WHERE THEY GET THE EASY STUFF. HE'S GOING TO EARN IT, IRVING IS GOING TO EARN IT, THOSE GUYS ARE GREAT PLAYERS. >> JUST TO START THE FOURTH QUARTER, SHAI WAS IN FOR ALL OF MAYBE 35 SECONDS, YOU PUT DORT — I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES YOU'VE DONE THAT TO START THE FOURTH, WHAT WENT INTO THAT DECISION TO START THE QUARTER? >> THE SHAI ONE IS JUST WE HAD POSSESSION, TRYING TO UTILIZE THEM FOR ONE POSSESSION THERE WITH A DEFICIT AND THEN SUB HIM RIGHT OUT.
THEY PLAYED DONCIC, THEY GOT HIM A BLOW IN THE THIRD GRADE DORT HAD FOULS, WE GOT HIM OFF AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE FOR THE REST OF THE GAME MATCHED THEM FOR THE REST OF THE GAME. >> YOU'VE RESPONDED LIKE THAT IN FOURTH QUARTER'S, SEEMINGLY ALWAYS HAD THAT NEXT GEAR, WHAT DID YOU SEE IN THE FOURTH THAT MAY BE LIMITED THAT FINAL GEAR? >> IT WAS A REALLY GOOD OPPONENT THAT PLAYED REALLY WELL TONIGHT. WE TRIED TO SCRAP BACK INTO IT, I THOUGHT OUR EFFORT WAS REALLY GOOD, WE TRIED TO GIVE IT UP A DIFFERENT TIMES. WE LEFT SOMETHING TO BE DESIRED WITH EXECUTION AND THAT'S PART OF THESE THINGS. THESE ARE EMOTIONAL GAMES, IT'S HARD TO SUSTAIN THAT FOR THE PERIOD OF TIME THAT WE HAVE LEADING INTO THIS GAME. NOW WE'VE JUST GOT TO GET THE CAR BACK ON THE ROAD AND BE A LITTLE BIT BETTER ON BOTH ENDS. >> AFTER A SWEEP IN ROUND ONE, ARE YOU CURIOUS TO SEE HOW YOU GUYS RESPOND TO MAY BE THE FIRST OF ADVERSITY IN THE PLAYOFFS? >> YEAH.
CURIOUS BUT CONFIDENT. I'M NOT SITTING HERE WONDERING — THIS IS A TEAM THAT'S MADE IT HABIT OF GETTING BACK UP. WE KEEP A PRETTY STEADY TEMPERAMENT. AT THIS IS PART OF THE DEAL, PLAYING AGAINST REALLY GOOD TEAMS IN THE PLAYOFFS, THESE ARE DEEP WATERS. YOU'RE GOING TO THROW SOME PUNCHES, TAKE SOME PUNCHES AND NOW WE'VE GOT TO EAT ONE, IT BACK TO 0 TOMORROW AND BE A BETTER TEAM IN GAME THREE.
>> AND YOU JUST CLARIFY THAT ON MISSING SHOTS, THE EXECUTION? >> DEFINITELY NOT MISSING SHOTS. IT'S MORE WHAT'S GENERARATING TE SHOTS, HOW QUALITY THE SHOTS ARE, IS THERE SOMETHING WE COULD HAVE DONE BETTER FROM A PROCESS STANDPOINT? AND THEN DEFENSIVELY, IF THEY MAKE A TOUGH PLAY, YOU TIP YOUR HAT TO THEM, BUT YOU'VE JUST GOT TO BET OVER THE COURSE OF 100 POSSESSION GAME THAT IF YOU DO IT WELL ON BOTH ENDS OF THE FLOOR IT WILL YIELD A WIN. I DIDN'T THINK WE PLAY LIKE THAT TONIGHT. AND CREDIT THEM, THEY DID. THEY PLAYED REALLY WELL, THAT WAS PART OF IT TOO. >> JUST TO THE POINT THAT JOE MADE IN HIS QUESTION, BECAUSE YOU GUYS HAVEN'T LOST IN, Y YOU KNOW, OVER A MONTH, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE PREPARING THE GUYS FOR EMOTIONAL GAPS KNOW BETWEEN THE DAYS? >> WE'VE LOST A GAME BEFORE, THIS IS IN UNCHARTED WATERS, WE JUST HAVEN'T LOST LATELY WITH LONG LAYOFFS AND A SWEEP IN THE FIRST ROUND. SO WE — YOU KNOW, THE TEAM PULLS TOGETHER. THE THING I RESPECT ABOUT OUR GUYS IS THEY PULL TOGETHER UNIVERSITY AND WE FULL TOGETHER IN SUCCESS, WHICH IS HARD TO DO.
EVERYTHING WE DO WE DO AS A TEAM. WE WILL LEARN FROM THIS ONE AS A TEAM AND WE WILL WALK OUT THERE IS A TEAM ON SATURDAY. BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED LUKA AND SOME OF THE SHOTS HE MISSED A GAME ON THAT HE HAPPENED TO MAKE IN THIS GAME. HOW DO YOU PARSE BETWEEN THE LAW OF AVERAGES BOUNCING BACK AND SORT OF SHOT ATTEMPT YOU WANT TO LIMIT THAT YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO TONIGHT? >> YEAH, THAT'S THE CHALLENGE. IF I THOUGHT THERE WAS A LAW OF AVERAGES THING TONIGHT WITH HIM. HE MADE SOME SHOTS EARLY ESPECIALLY, AND THEN WE WENT AND GOT HIM A LITTLE BIT TONIGHT THE EXECUTION OUT OF THOSE PLAYS WASN'T GREAT.
WE MIX OUR LOOKS AGAIN, I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT AGAINST HIM, NOT TO GIVE HIM A STEADY DIET AGAINST ANYTHING. SAME THING WITH IRVING, THEY'VE SEEN EVERYTHING SO THEY WILL CALIBRATE PRETTY QUICKLY. WITH JUST GOT TO TIGHTEN THE SCREWS ON THE EXTRA INFUSION A LITTLE BIT ON THAT END. >> YOU MENTIONED THE DOUBLE BIG LINEUPS, YOU DIDN'T GO TO THAT MUCH THE SEASON. WHAT'S KIND OF MOTIVATED YOU TO USE IT LIKE YOU HAVE AND WHAT'S WORKING? >> I THOUGHT IN BOTH GAMES IT'S GIVEN US A NICE RIM PRESENCE, NICE REBOUNDING PRESENCE AND I THINK WITH THE WAY THAT THEY DEFEND US, IT DOESN'T REALLY ALTER US MUCH, WE ARE ABLE TO STAY IN CHARACTER. I THINK IT MAKES THEM THINK TWICE ABOUT SOME COVERAGES, SO IT'S JUST ANOTHER OPTION, AND LIKE I SAID, EARLY IN A SERIES, EVERY POSSESSION FEELS LIKE IT HAS A LOT OF GRAVITY TO IT. BUT EARLY IN THE SERIES YOU WANT TO CREATE OPTION ALLEY, FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU HAVE.
YOU WANT TO FIGURE OUT WITH THE BEST THING IS. >> DORT WAS IN FOUL TROUBLE FOR GOOD CHUNKS OF THIS GAME, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON HOW HE IS BEING OFFICIATED? >> THEY ARE NOT ALL DEFENSIVE FOULS. IT'S NOT ALL JUST HOW HE'S GUARDING DONCIC, BUT WITH THE PHYSICALITY OF HIM, PHYSICALITY OF DONCIC, HE'S GOING TO PICK SOME UP. WE WILL BALANCE WHEN TO USE THEM AND WENT TO ROLL THE DICE AND WENT TO GET HIM OUT. I THINK CASON HAS DONE A NICE JOB SPOTTING THOSE MINUTES IN BOTH GAMES, SO WE HAVE CONFIDENCE IN HIM AND THE OTHER GUYS. I THINK HE'S BEEN OFFICIATING — I THOUGHT THE OFFICIATING CREW TONIGHT WAS PRETTY STEADY. >> ANYTHING ELSE? THANKS, COACH. >> COACH DAIGNEAULT WITH SOME GREAT PERSPECTIVE FOLLOWING TO NICE LOSS TO THE DALLAS MAVERICKS IN GAME 2 OF THE WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS. THOUGHT HE BROUGHT UP A REALLY GOOD POINT, A REALLY GOOD LINE, HE WAS ASKED ABOBOUT HOW HIS TEM WAS GOING TO RESPOND, IF HE WAS CURIOUS TO SEE HOW HIS TEAM WOULD RESPOND TO THEIR FIRST PLAYOFF LOSS HE SAID I'M CURIOUS, BUT I'M CONFIDENT.
WHAT IS IT ABOUT THIS GROUP THAT GIVES HIM THAT CONFIDENCE? >> I PUT THAT IN MY MIND AS WELL. IF I WAS WRITING A GAME STORY I THINK THAT WOULD BE ONE OF MY LEAD QUOTES BECAUSE THAT IS SOMETHING I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE CURIOUS ABOUT WITH THIS YOUNG THUNDER TEAM. THIS IS A FIRST-TIME EXPERIENCE FOR THEM, A LITTLE OVER A WEEK AGO IT WAS THEIR FIRST TIME EXPERIENCING — NOW BEING IN ROUND 2, THERE'S A LOT OF FIRSTS FOR THIS YOUNG GROUP AND LIKE COACH DAIGNEAULT WAS TALKING ABOUT, ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT THIS GROUP IS WE'VE SEEN ALL THROUGHOUT THE SEASON HOW THEY'VE EVEN IN GAME ANSWERED THE BELL WHEN THEY GET BEHIND, THEY WERE ONE OF THE BEST TEAMS IN THE NBA COMING BACK FROM DOUBLE DIGITS. THEY ONLY LOST THREE GAMES IN A ROW ONCE THE SEASON.
THE UNCOMMON ABILITY TO GET TO ZERO AND RESET YOURSELF MENTALLY AND BE READY FOR THE NEXT GAME IS SOMETHING THEY HAVE BURIED >> THEY MIGHT BE A YOUNG TEAM BUT THEY ARE CERTAINLY A MATURE TEAM AND THEY SHALL NOT TIME AND TIME AGAIN. ONE GUY LEADING THE CHARGE AND THAT MATURITY,Y, SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER, HE IS AT THE PODIUM RIGHT NOW. >> CAME OUT ON TOP BUT WE'VE GOT TO BE BETTER FROM THE JUMP.
>> YOU'VE GONE THROUGH SO MANY OF THESE SITUATIONS FOR THE FIRST TIME AS A GROUP ALL SEASON LONG. IS THERE ALMOST A LEVEL OF MAYBE EMBRACING OR EXCITEMENT TO ATTACK A CHALLENGE LIKE THIS THAT YOU HAVEN'T FACED IN THE POSTSEASON YET MY YOU KNOW, HAVING TO RESPOND TO A LOSS? >> YEAH. NO MATTER WHAT'S THROWN AT US, WE COMPETE, WE GIVE IT OUR ALL, WE DO IT TOGETHER, WE SEE WHERE IT GETS US THAT'S WHAT WE'VE DONE ALL YEAR AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO. >> I KNOW YOU ARE NOT ON LUKA PRIMARILY BUT FROM YOUR POINT OF VIEW, WHAT YOU'RE SEEING, OBVIOUSLY HE DIDN'T LOOK LIKE THIS IN GAME 1 AND A LOT OF ROUND ONE, WHAT DID YOU SEE DIFFERENT FROM HIM COMPARED TO TUESDAY TONIGHT? >> I THINK HE JUST — I FEEL LIKE YOU PLAYED THE SAME GAME, HIS GAME.
TONIGHT HE MADE SHOTS. THEY MIGHT HAVE HAD US A LITTLE BIT MORE SPREAD OUT IN OUR SHALL. GOT TO CROWD THEIR BEST PLAYERS OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S WHAT EVERYONE TRIES TO DO. YEAH, HE JUST MADE TOUGH SHOT'S COMMITTEE THINK. >> SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON, I THINK BACK TO THE CLEVELAND GAME WE WERE DOWN 10 WITH 2 MINUTES TO GO. YOU'VE BEEN IN SITUATIONS WHERE YOU HIT THAT FINAL GEAR AND KIND OF HAVE THAT RESPONSE. WHAT DID YOU FEEL LIKE IT WAS IN TONIGHT'S FOURTH QUARTER THAT MAYBE LIMITED THAT FINAL SHOWING? >> I THINK A LACK OF EXECUTION AND FOCUS. CERTAINLY ON MY PART, HAD A FEW PLAYS THAT I COULD HAVE PREVENTED IF I HAD FOCUSED BETTER.
BUT YEAH, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE DOWN THAT MUCH WITH THAT LITTLE TIME, THE MARGIN OF ERROR IS SLIM AND YOU'VE GOT TO BE PRETTY MUCH PERFECT FOR THE REST OF THE GAME, AND WE WEREN'T. >> SHAI, FOLLOWING UP ON HIS SECOND QUESTION, YOU GUYS DIDN'T FACE REALLY ANY ADVERSITY IN THE FIRST ROUND GETTING THAT FIRST SWEEP, NOW GOING BACK TO DALLAS WITH THE SERIES TIED, YOU STARTED CURIOUS TO SEE HOW YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO RESPOND TO THAT? >> I DON'T KNOW, I HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT IT.
I'M EXCITED FOR THE CHALLENGE. YEAH, I DON'T'T THINK — FOR US IT'S MORE COMP LOCATED IN TRYING TO BE BETTER THAN WE WERE TONIGHT FOR NEXT GAME NEEDED LIKE WE'VE DONE ALL SEASON, JUST SOLVE ALL OF OUR PROBLEMS WITH THE WHOLE TEAM. >> YOU MENTIONED EXECUTION, MARK MENTIONED EXECUTION, WHAT ARE THE THINGS YOU FEEL LIKE YOU COULD HAVE EXECUTED A LITTLE BIT BETTER AS THE GAME WENT ALONG? >> OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, I HAD THE UNDER OUT-OF-BOUNDS WHERE PJ GOT THE DUNK.
THAT WAS 2 POINTS. PJ DUCKED IN AND GOT LIKE AN AND ONE LAYUP, THAT'S 3 POINTS. 5 POINTS. AND THEN JUST OUR ROTATIONS, CLOSEOUTS, THEY HAD A FEW BLOW-BY LAYUPS. THAT'S JUST OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. BUT THIS IS PROBABLY MORE. >> SHAI, WITH THE POINTS THAT LUKA GOT TONIGHT, 29 IS NOT OUT OF THE REALM OF POSSIBILITY FOR HIM BUT HE GETS 7 ASSISTS, 11 BOARDS, THOSE THE TYPE OF THINGS THAT IF HE IS GOING TO SCORE POINTS YOU HAVE TO LIMIT THE OTHER STUFF, HOW DID YOU GUYS FEEL LIKE YOU CAN BALANCE OUT THE FACT THAT HE'S PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE SOME NIGHTS WHERE HE'S GOING TO SCORE LIKE THAT? >> YEAH. OBVIOUSLY A REALLY TALENTED PLAYER. HE HAD A BIG NIGHT AND IT WAS BELOW HIS AVERAGE, BELIEVE IT OR NOT. HE'S A REALLY TALENTED BASKETBALL PLAYER. I THINK IT'S MORE LIKE JUST MAKING HIM WORK FOR EVERYTHING AND MAKING THINGS TOUGH. HE HAS SEEN EVERY COVERAGE, EVERY DEFENSE, IT'S JUST ABOUT MAKING HIM WORK AT HOPEFULLY THAT WEARS ON HIM.
>> DID YOU GET AN EXPLANATION ON THE TECHNICAL FOUL RECEIVED? >> YEAH. HE SAID THAT — SCOTT SAID THAT I — IT SEEMED LIKE I WAS PLAYING THROUGH THE NO CALL AND EXTENDED MY ARM. I TOLD HIM I DIDN'T TRY TO, BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS. >> IN CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM? >> YEAH. YEAH. >> A COUPLE TIMES TONIGHT, IN THE POST, ALSO KNOCKED DOWN SOME THREES TONIGHT. >> SAGAN? >> BEING MATCHED UP WITH PJ, DOES THAT ALTER ANYTHING WITH YOU BEING MATCHED ON THE DEFENSIVE AND? >> DID THAT ALTER? >> YEAH, WITH YOU BEING MATCHED UP AGAINST HIM. >> NOT REALLY. HE PLAYED WELL TONIGHT, MADE SOME SHOTS. I THINK THE OTHER TEAM IS REALLY GOOD AND THEY ARE HERE FOR A REASON, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE NIGHTS LIKE THIS WHERE THEY ARE HOT AND THEY MAKE SHOTS, AND WE'VE GOT TO BE EVEN BETTER WHEN THEY DO SO TO TRY AND GET A W AND WE JUST WEREN'T GOOD ENOUGH TONIGHT FOR THAT. >> GREAT STUFF THERE FROM SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER, THE FOUNDER OF US HIS VERY OWN SUPERSTAR AND WE HAVE ANOTHER SUPERSTAR SITTING DOWN WITH US, DEAN BLEVINS, OKLAHOMA LEGEND.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US HERE POSTGAME. OBVIOUSLY THE THUNDER WALK AWAY A LITTLE BIT SHORT HERE TONIGHT BUT A LOT OF FIGHT FROM THIS YOUNG GROUP. WHAT DID YOU SEE FROM THEM IN THIS MATCHUP TONIGHT? >> WE SAW MARK DAIGNEAULT JUST CALL IT LIKE IT ENDED UP BEING. HE SAID IN THE PREGAME PRESS CONFERENCE HE EXPECTED DALLAS TO COME OUT WITH MORE FORCE, BE MORE PHYSICAL AND PLAY FASTER, AND THEY DID ALL OF THAT. YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY IT COMES DOWN TO, YOU KNOW, MANY TIMES YOU GET THE BALL IN THE BASKET AND WHAT PERCENTAGES YOU SHOOT. AND OKLAHOMA CITY SHOT IT REALLY WELL, 46% FROM THREE IN THAT FIRST GAME AND THE NIGHTS THEY CRATER INTO THE 30s AND THEN PJ WASHINGTON, THE THREE-POINT SHOOTING MAVS WERE UP THERE AT 46%. GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT TO THE MAVS FOR THIS AND THE COACH EVEN SAID IT IN THE POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE WHEN HE SAID IT WAS LIKE WE WERE BAD. IT'S THAT THEY WERE REALLY GOOD. >> YEAH, A LOT OF TIMES THE OTHER TEAM PLAYED A LOT BETTER, THEY MADE 17 THREES AND THIS ONE BUT ONE THING PARIS AND I WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT IS THIS TEAM COME AS YOUNG AS THEY ARE, THIS IS THEIR FIRST EXPERIENCE LOSING A PLAYOFF GAME.
MARK TALKED THAT HE'S CURIOUS BUT CONFIDENT WITH HOW THEY WILL RESPOND. WHAT IS YOUR EXPECTATION HOW THEY WILL RESPOND FROM THE LOSS? >> I THINK IT WILL BOUNCE BACK AND LEARN. I THINK HE WAS PLEASED WITH A LOT OF THINGS BUT NOT OVERALL THE DECISIONS I THINK, THEY MADE MORE UNWISE DECISIONS THAN WHAT HE HAS SEEN IN THE PAST. SO THEY WILL PLAY SMARTER. THIS IS GOING TO BE A HECK OF A SERIES. I PICKED IT TO GO SEVEN FROM THE BEGINNING AND WAS REALLY HOPING THAT I WAS WRONG. YOU GET THIS ONE AND YOU GOT A 93% CHANCE OF WINNING THE SERIES, BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S BACK ON — BACK TO OKLAHOMA CITY AND THUNDER HAS TO COME BACK AND PUT FORTH A GREAT EFFORT AND MAKE A LOT MORE SHOTS.
>> ANOTHER THING WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IS JUST THE PLALAY OF SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER, A NEAR TRIPLE-DOUBLE FOR HIM. HE'S BEEN SO CONSISTENT ALL SEASON LONG. WHAT HAVE YOU NOTICED FROM HIM OVER THE FIRST COUPLE OF GAMES? >> YOU KNOW, HIS POISE IS JUST OFF THE CHARTS IN HIS LEADERSHIP. THERE WERE SOME THINGS HE DID WHEN THERE WERE SOME TIMEOUTS IN COLLECTING GUYS BEFORE THEY EVER WENT OVER — IT WAS LIKE HE IS JUST IN CONTROL OUT THERE AND IS JUST DREAM GUY TO HAVE ON YOUR CLUB.
OTHER GUYS HAVE TO CONTRIBUTE AND I THOUGHT ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS TONIGHT WAS THAT THE THREE-POINT SHOOTING THAT WAS SO GOOD FOR OKLAHOMA CITY, THEY MISSED TONIGHT BECAUSE THERE WERE A LOT OF CONTESTED SHOTS. DALLAS WAS ALL OVER THEM IN THEIR FACE. WIGGINS TAKES ONE AND ISAIAH MAKES ONE BUT THE OTHER NINE, THEY WERE — IT'S GOING TO BE A FANTASTIC REST OF THE SERIES. >> SOMETHING COACH TALKED ABOUT AFTER GAME 1, DALLAS HAS A LOT OF VARIANCE IN THEIR GAME. WHAT CAN THE THUNDER DO A LITTLE BIT BETTER, THERE WAS A 9-0 RUN WHERE — WHERE COME THE THUNDER DO BETTER? YOU MENTIONED THE TURNOVER ELEMENT BUT MAYBE TO KIND OF LIMIT THE EXPLOSIVE RUNS FROM DALLAS? >> I THINK THEY WILL MAKE A FEW DEFENSIVE ADJUSTMENTS. YOU GET INTO A FRENETIC PACE LIKE THIS AND THE ATMOSPHERE, HE TAKES A SHOT THAT'S REALLY NOT WARRANTED, QUICK TIMEOUT, AND SAME THING, I THINK CHET DID THE SAME THING.
I THINK THEY WILL LEARN A LOT LOOKING AT THIS TAPE, IT SOUNDS LIKE COACH SPEAK BUT I THINK THEY REALLY WELL HERE. THEY'VE GOT TO LOSE SOME TIME, RIGHT? >> AND WE'VE SEEN THEM BOUNCE BACK FROM ALL KINDS OF ADVERSITY ALL SEASON LONG, NO DOUBT THEY ARE LOOKING TO BOUNCE BACK FOR GAME THREE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME AND SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS WITH US TODAY. >> YOU BET. SCOTT FOSTER AT RED PANDA, YOU KNEW SOMETHING, THIS TOWN IS NOT BIG ENOUGH FOR BOTH. GO KNEW SOMETHING WAS GOING TO BE UP. THANK YOU SO MUCH. STICK AROUND WITH US HERE ON THUNDER LAYOFF POSTGAME, WEE GOT MORE COMING FOR YOU WHEN WE COME BACK AFTER THIS LITTLE BREAK. >> WHETHER ANYTHING SHE FELT LIKE WE KNOW WE CAN DO THE SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER IN GAME THREE? >> I THINK JUST EXECUTE OUR OFFENSE A LITTLE MORE. WE ARE KIND OF SLOPPY AT POINTS, EVEN WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO GET BACK IN THE GAME, WE WEREN'T AS SHARP AS WE WANTED TO BE.
AND THEY WERE. I THOUGHT THE EXECUTED PRETTY WELL, ESPECIALLY DOWN THE STRETCH. MANAGED THE CLOCK PRETTY WELL. THEY HIT SHOTS AND WHENEVER TEAMS DO THAT YOU'VE JUST GOT TO TIP YOUR HAT AND BE READY TO PLAY THE NEXT ONE. >> ON THOSE DOUBLES ON LUKA AND SOME ON KYRIE AND PASSING IT OUT TO THE WEAK SIDE CORNER, DO YOU FEEL IF YOU GUYS COULD HAVE GOT OUT TO THEM A LITTLE BIT BETTER, OR IS THAT PART OF THE EXECUTION THAT YOU FEEL LIKE YOU GUYS CAN DO BETTER? >> I'D PROBABLY HAVE TO LOOK AT IT. THE GAME JUST ENDED, SO IT'S KIND OF LIKE — THERE'S A FLURRY OF STUFF FEEL LIKE I COULD HAVE DID BETTER AND THE TEAM, BUT IF YOU LIKE EVERYBODY'S GOING TO HAVE SOME SORT OF INDIVIDUAL — EVERY INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS GOING TO HAVE SOMETHING WHERE THEY FELT LIKE THEY COULD HAVE CLOSED OUT BETTER BUT WHEN YOU'RE PLAYING AGAINST GOOD TEAMS, YOU JUST KIND OF HAVE TO WIN THOSE CLOSEOUTS, REGARDLESS OF WHO IT IS. YOU KIND OF JUST GOT TO TIP YOUR HAT, THEY HAD SOME SHOTS TONIGHT, SHOT REALLY WELL.
BUT I THINK TOMORROW I WILL PROBABLY HAVE A MORE CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE DID BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S JUST A BUNCH OF STUFF I THINK I COULD HAVE DID BETTER. >> HOLD IT DOWN, YEAH! >> YOU BOTH TALKED ABOUT A LACK OF FOCUS, WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE THAT TO? >> IT COULD BE A MULTITUDE OF THINGS. IT'S NOT REALLY AN EXCUSE TO BE MADE.
THERE JUST WASN'T ONE, IT'S MORE ABOUT ONE OF THE DAYS IN BETWEEN, GET READY TO FOCUS UP FOR THE NEXT ONE. YOU KNOW, I THINK IT WILL PROBABLY BE A LITTLE MORE CLEAR WHEN YOU ARE ABLE TO THE GAME A LITTLE MORE BUT I THINK WE JUST HAD A COUPLE BREAKDOWNS OFFENSIVELY AND DEFENSIVELY THAT KIND OF HURT US. IT'S NOTOT THIS BIG STRETCH OF GAME WHERE WE DIDN'T PLAY WELL THE WHOLE TIME. I THINK IT'S JUST LITTLE GAPS WHERE THEY WERE ABLE TO GO ON RUNS AND YOU KNOW IT'S HARD TO PLAY CATCH UP. >> YOU GUYS KNOW THAT LUKA, THE TYPE OF SCORE HE IS 29-POINT NIGHT IS NOT OUT OF THE REALM OF POSSIBILITY FOR HIM. DID YOU FEEL LIKE YOU MADE THE SHOTS TOUGH ENOUGH ON HIM? WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU GUYS DID AS FAR AS WHAT HE WAS ABLE TO DO OFFENSIVELY, DID YOU GUYS MAKE IT HARD ENOUGH ON HIM OR IS THAT A FOCUS FOR NEXT GAME? >> YEAH, WE HAVE LU DORT GUARDING HIM, AS HAHARD AS IT I, HE'S A GOOD BASKETBALL PLAYER.
WE HIT TOUGH ONES TOO. DOING A GOOD JOB ON HIM, MAKING IT TOUGH. BUT LIKE I SAID, HE'S A GREAT PLAYER, SO HE'S GOING TO GET TO HIS SPOTS, IT'S JUST ABOUT MAKING IT HARD, MAKING IT HARD FOR HIM TO GET TO THOSE SPOTS AND IT'S A MAKE OR MISS LEAGUE. IF HE DOESN'T MAKE THOSE SHOTS WHERE SITTING HERE TALKING ABOUT HIM NOT MAKING SHOTS. THAT'S JUST HOW IT IS, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP TRUSTING LU WITH THAT TASK AND TRY TO MAKE IT DIFFICULT. >> YOU TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE FAN BASE AND THE ENERGY IN THE ARENA HOPING TO CARRY YOU TO BIG RUNS. IS THERE EVER A CHALLENGE THE OPPOSITE WAY SORT OF THE ENERGY IN THE ARENA SORT OF PULLING YOU OUT OF FOCUS — NOT NECESSARILY OUT OF FOCUS, LOOK WHEN THEY ARE GOING CRAZY ABOUT THE REFEREES, KEEPING HER COMPOSURE IN A DIFFERENT WAY? >> IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A CHALLENGE.
IT IS SOMETHING WE'VE GOTTEN GOOD AT. THE ENERGY IN HERE ISN'T REALLY TOO NEW. AND WE'VE HAD A SERIES ALREADY KIND OF EXPERIENCING THAT. JUST MAINTAIN YOUR EMOTIONS. YOU KNOW, THE REFS ARE GOING TO SEE — MAKE GOOD CALLS, BAD CALLS, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, THEY'RE GOING TO MISS STUFF I THINK WE DO A GOOD JOB AS A TEAM NOT REALLY FOCUSING ON OUTSIDE FACTORS THAT CAN'T REALLY CONTROL THE GAME.
LIKE IF THEY CALL THE FOUL, MORE THAN LIKELY YOU CAN'T REALLY OVERTURN IT SO IT'S NOT REALLY SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE THE GAME. THEY CAN'T GO BACK AND CHANGE THE CALL. IT IS STUFF LIKE THAT WE UNDERSTAND AND KIND OF JUST NEXT PLAY. >> WHEN YOU GET IN A SITUATION WHERE LUKA CAN MAKE SHOTS, HE CAN ALSO ASSIST, WHAT YOU WANT TO TAKE AWAY FROM IT? DOESN'T JUST COME DOWN TO THE OTHER GUYS MAY BE MISSING SOME SHOTS? JOSH GREENES, TIM HARDAWAY JUNIORS, SOME OF THEM MAY BE MISSING NEXT TIME BACK >> MEAN, YEAH, WE ARE THROWING DIFFERENT LOOP TO LOOKS AT LUKA. SOMETIMES GUYS ARE GOING TO BE OPEN AND IT KIND OF UP TO US TO ROTATE AND BE THERE TO MAKE OTHER GUYS MAKE TOUGH SHOTS TOO. NOT GOING TO SIT UP HERE AND GIVE AWAY A WHOLE GAME PLAN. BUT I THINK THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT A HARD TASK TO GARDEN, PUTS A LOT OF PRESSURE. I THINK A LOT OF IT IS JUST CONTAINING AND STICK TO WHAT WE DO. I THINK WE MISSED A COUPLE OF DEFENSIVE ASSIGNMENTS.
IT'S NOT A BIG GAP OR MISSING DEFENSIVE ASSIGNMENTS THE WHOLE GAME, IT COULD BE TWO THAN END UP KIND OF COSTING YOU THE GAME. WE GIVE UP A SLIP ON AND OUT-OF-BOUNDS WITH TWO SECONDS LEFT OR THEY GET A DOG, TIM HARDAWAY'S CORNER THREE. I FOULED TIM HARDAWAY ON A CORNER THREE, THERE'S LITTLE DEFENSIVE LAPSES THAT CAN COST YOU. >> WHYHY DO YOU THINK YOUR DOUBE BIG LINEUPS THAT YOU HAVEN'T BEEN USING THE SEASON, WHY DO YOU THINK THAT'S BEEN EFFECTIVE? >> WE HAVE TWO SMART BIGS. I FEEL LIKE MARK COULD PROBABLY GIVE YOU A BETTER ANSWER BUT I THINK YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CHET? JUST TWO SMART, HIGH IQ INDIVIDUALS THAT CAN ROTATE AND ARE SMART WITH HOW THEY PLAY. A REALLY GOOD PASSER, HAVING THEM — HAVING HIM OUT THERE KIND OF POINT FORWARDING A LITTLE BIT, I MADE A REALLY GOOD PAST TWO WIGS DOWN THE STRETCH, AVIDLY THE TOUCHDOWN PASS TO CHET.
THEY PLAY GOOD OFF EACH OTHER. >> THIS INNING TO JAELYN WILLIAMS THEIR FOLLOWING TONIGHT'S GAME AGAINST THE DALLAS MAVERICKS. WHAT ALWAYS STRIKES ME, JUST THE BOYS, COMPOSURE AND GREAT PERSPECTIVE FROM THESE YOUNG GUYS. JAELYN WILLIAMS TALKING BUT THE FACT THAT YOU CAN'T GET TOO HIGH WITH THE WINS AND TOO LOW WITH THE LOSSES. YOU'VE GOT TO STAY PRETTY EVEN KEEL HERE AND A GUY THAT IS ONLY IN HIS FIRST EVER PLAYOFFS HAVING THAT LEVEL OF MATURITY IS JUST SO IMPRESSIVE. >> I THOUGHT THE SAME THING, PEREZ, IT'S LIKE PLAYOFF GAMES ESPECIALLY ARE VERY EMOTIONAL AND THOSE OF THE GUYS PLAYING. THEY ARE THE ONES IN THE GAME. SO THEY ARE EXPERIENCING THE EMOTIONS. TO BE ABLE TO — THAT'S WHY THEY ARE JUST DIFFERENT THAN WE ARE. FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT KIND OF PERSPECTIVE AND WIND DOWN AND ZOOM OUT, THAT'S ALSO I THINK KIND OF THE MENTAL TRAINING THAT THEY'VE UNDERGONE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS TO BE ABLE TO NOT GET TOO HIGH, NOT GET TOO LOW.
OF COURSE THEY ARE AS COMPETITIVE AS ANYBODY, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WOULD DOUBT THAT ABOUT THIS YOUNG THUNDER TEAM BUT THAT'S PART OF WHAT HAS MADE THIS GROUP SO SUCCESSFUL THROUGHOUT THE SEASON, THROUGHOUT LAST SEASON, THE SEASON, THEY ARE ABLE TO KIND OF MENTALLY RESET THEMSELVES AND FOCUS ON THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT. J-DUB TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR SOMETHING SHE COULD HAVE DONE BETTER. THOSE ARE THINGS THAT HE'S FOCUSED ON, LESS SO THE EMOTIONAL ASPECTS OF THE GAME. >> IT'S KIND OF ENCOURAGING IS IT WAS IN AN EFFORT, WASN'T ENERGY, THE THUNDER MATCHED ALL THAT. IT WASN'T THE PHYSICALITY, IT WAS JUST A COUPLE OF POSSESSIONS WHERE THE EXECUTION GOT A LITTLE LOOSE. AND THAT'S UNDERSTOOD, IT'S REALLY HARD TO SUSTAIN A HIGH LEVEL OF EXECUTION FOR 48 MINUTES STRAIGHT, MUCH LESS FOR TWO STRAIGHT GAMES.
THAT IS SOMETHING PRETTY EASILY FIXABLE FOR THE THUNDER GOING BACK TO LOOK AT THE DRAWING BOARD. >> SOMETIMES YOU FORGET BECAUSE YOU ARE LEANING ON ONE SIDE OF IT BUT THE OTHER TEAM REALLY WANTS TO WIN TOO VARIED THE OTHER TEAM IS REALLY TRYING TO WIN AND THEY ARE SPENDING ALL THEIR OFF TIME IN THE DAY BETWEEN GAMES OF GAME PLANNING AND SCHEMING, TRYING TO ADJUST TO BE READY TO PLAY THIS GAME. IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS LIKE THE OTHER TEAM IS MAD AND THEY HAVE THAT KIND OF EXTRA EMOTION COMING INTO THE GAME AND THE MAVERICKS UNDERSTOOD WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THIS ONE. YOU TALK ABOUT THE EXECUTION ELEMENTS. IT FELT LIKE THE THUNDER WERE KIND OF SLOPPY AT TIMES, STILL ONLY TEN TURNOVERS. I WILL SAY THE MAVS ONLY TURNED IT OVER NINE TIMES. THEY HAD A LOT BETTER BALL SECURITY, GAME 1 THEY TURNED IT OVER 15 OR 16 TIMES. THAT WAS AN AREA WHERE THE THUNDER TYPICALLY ARE WINNING THAT BATTLE AND USING DEFENSE TO OFFENSE AS THEY HAVE ALL SEASON LONG. >> IT JUST GOES TO SHOW ESPECIALLY IN PLAYOFF GAMES HOW IMPORTANT MARGINS ARE AND HOW A QUICK LITTLE STRETCH OF A 5-0 FLURRY CAN REALLY MAKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WINNING THE GAME AND LOSING THE GAME AND DALLAS JUST HAD A COUPLE MORE OF THOSE FLURRIES FOR OF THE GAME, ESPECIALLY IN THE SECOND HALF.
>> NO QUESTION. EACH POSSESSION FEELS LIKE IT HAS SUCH A WEIGHT TO IT. EVERYTHING GETS AMPLIFIED IN THE POSTSEASON GAME. IT IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE YOU TRY NOT TO EVEN REACT TO THOSE SORTS OF THINGS IN THE GAME, BUT THE MAVERICKS MADE SHOTS, THUNDER DID A GOOD JOB ANSWERING. THERE WERE A COUPLE POCKETS OF RUNS WHERE THE MAVS WERE ABLE TO KIND OF BUILD A LEAD AND THEY JUST KIND OF HUNG ONTO THAT THROUGHOUT THE FOURTH QUARTER. >> SOMETHING THEY ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO LOOK TO IMPROVE GOING INTO GAME 3 AND YOU WILL WANT TO STICK WITH US HERE ON THUNDER PLAYOFF POSTGAME BECAUSE WHEN WE COME BACK WE ARE BREAKING DOWN EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW HEADING INTO GAME 3. STICK WITH US, WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK. >> WELCOME BACK TO THUNDER PLAYOFF POSTGAME. THE THUNDER, NOW THEY'RE CHALLENGE IS GOING TO DALLAS TAKING ON THE MAVERICKS ON THEIR HOME FLOOR, ENEMY TERRITORY, AND IT'S ALL ABOUT BACK TO ZERO AND ZERO. THAT IS A PHRASE WE'VE HEARD ALL SEASON LONG REALALLY FOR THE PAST — EVER SINCE COACH DAIGNEAULT HAS BEEN AT THAT HOME FOR OKC, WHAT ARE YOU ANTICIPATING AS THIS TEAM GOES TO DALLAS? >> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT — I'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF PLAYOFF SERIES AND A BUZZ WORD THAT COMES VERY POPULAR IN BETWEEN GAMES IS ADJUSTMENTS, WHAT ADJUSTMENTS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN AND COACH HAS TALKED ABOUT THIS, SOME OF THE ADJUSTMENTS ARE A LOT SMALLER THAN YOU THINK THEY ARE AND A LOT OF TIMES THEY ARE SMALLER THAN YOU THINK.
AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S A BASKETBALL GAME, THEY HAVE TO COME OUT AND PLAY WITH AGGRESSION. I THINK THERE ARE THINGS THEY'RE GOING TO CLEAN UP AND LOOK AT AND FIGURE OUT WHERE THEY CAN EXECUTE A LITTLE BETTER OFFENSIVELY, FEEL LIKE THEY MAY BE MISSED SOME OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU'VE JUST GOT TO PLAY BALL AGAIN.
YOU CAN'T OVERREACT TOO MUCH AND SAY WE'VE JUST GOT TO THROW EVERYTHING OUT AND MAKE A BIG ADJUSTMENT BECAUSE WE LOST OUR FIRST PLAYOFF GAME, THAT'S NOT THE METHOD TYPICALLY. >> ALWAYS SO EVEN KEEL THIS TEAM AND THE STAFF. THEY WILL KEEP THAT MENTALITY HEADING INTO GAME 3. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE REMAINING SCHEDULE FOR THIS PLAYOFF SERIES, GAME 3 A DALLAS LIKE WE MENTIONED, AN EARLY TIP-OFF AT 2:30 P.M., GAME 4, 8:30. GAME 5 SAYS TBD BUT THAT IS BACK HERE INSIDE OF PAYCOM CENTER. THAT GAME IS GOING TO BE AT 8:30 P.M.
CENTRAL TIME AND IT WILL ALSO BE ON TNT. SO A LOT OF STILL GREAT ACTION COMING YOUR WAY BETWEEN THESE TWO TEAMS THAT ALREADY A LOT OF ENTERTAINMENT VALUE BETWEEN THESE TWO TEAMS SO FAR, EVEN INSIDE OF PAYCOM CENTER, THE ENERGY HAS JUST CONTINUED TO RISE AND GROW WITH EACH GAME INSIDE OF THIS BUILDING AND Y YU CAN ONLY ANTICIPATE THAT DALLAS MIGHT TRY TO MATCH THAT ENERGY WITH THEIR HOME CROWD OUT IN DALLAS. >> I THINK THE THUNDER FANS ARE KIND OF SET THE STANDARD AND EVERYONE IS TRYING TO CATCH UP. THE REPUTATION IS WELL EARNED FROM LOUD CITIES SO A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE DEFINITELY TRYING TO MATCH THAT INTENSITY.
GAME 5 IS GUARANTEED BACK IN THIS BUILDING. THE THUNDER DIDN'T GET THAT IN THE FIRST SERIES. NO LONG WAY OFF THIS TIME, SO LET'S TAKE THAT AS A POSITIVE HERE, THUNDER FANS WILL GET TO SEE THEIR TEAM A LITTLE QUICKER THIS TIME AROUND. >> ALREADY LOOKING FORWARD TO GAME 3 IN DALLAS. ONCE AGAIN, OUR FINAL SCORE, 119-110. FOR ROYCE YOUNG, I'M PEREZ WASSON. NEXT POSTGAME SHOW COMES YOUR WAY SATURDAY AFTER GAME 3. THE THUNDER AND THE MAVERICKS FROM AMERICAN AIRLINES CENTER IN DALLAS. UNTIL.