Lakers/Suns Postgame Analysis, J.Worthy, Bron, AD, KD, Booker, Beal Reactions | Jan 11, 2024

Lakers/Suns Postgame Analysis, J.Worthy, Bron, AD, KD, Booker, Beal Reactions | Jan 11, 2024

Lakers lose they get blown out at home by the Phoenix Suns they are now two and three on the home stand that started after the new year they fall a game below 500 I got to be honest with you guys from the jump uh Lakers just had no

Juice tonight very sloppy big game 17 turnovers uh that turned into 28 points no continuity kind of very uh uninspiring uh performance from from the jump really yeah from the very beginning we knew that uh the Lakers need to have a a really good start against the big

Three you know we haven’t seen the big three in full uh this is the first time maybe that’s why they were 0 and three against us because uh tonight they B the pain I mean Booker started Durant just kind of did what he wanted to do but it

Was Bill with eight threes and uh they switched a lot as you take a look at the trio this was a a a game that the Lakers would never in from the beginning because if you don’t start the first quarter with defense I think they were already at 26 points before yeah you

Know before the quarter they gave up 36 uh in in the first yeah that’s that’s a lot of points yeah so yeah that uh you know yeah we beat the Clippers beat Toronto but we still you know still you know and then to make things worse you

Know reddish goes down you know DLo gets a little banged up again we got no uh no Gabe no ruy so it’s it it it and you know wood didn’t get a shot tonight after his performance he was he he was out Mig he was out with a migraine

So it just it just makes it tougher to compete against a team like Phoenix but they were red hot tonight they you know after losing three in a row they wanted to make sure that they came in and and and send the message and they did yeah I

Might be out with a migraine tomorrow that was um a little bit of a setback for them and here here’s the disappointing part for me going need you here tomorrow yeah ex yeah the Friday show right um the disappointing part for me is Lakers against Eclipse yeah great

Defense G held them to 103 mhm and then they beat Toronto the other night but the defense started a slip gave up 130 and then you have tonight given up 127 Uh Kevin Durant barely had to break a sweat you know it was his other two guys

Really carrying the load for him and I think the other thing you hit on it a little bit G you know in in December after the Lakers win the inseason tournament the fatigue kicked in they had a tough lot lot of traveling the rest of that month a lot of losses we

Kept saying wait till January and then a game like tonight where again uh big deficit really starting off the first quarter could never crawl back into it yeah this a tough one tough one yeah you know that Trend uh since the Lakers have been playing poorly a lot of turnovers especially at

Home you know five in the first quarter James that leads to nine points that’s the difference right now you’re down 10 or 11 going into that second quarter and and they even talked about it on the TNT broadcast that’s the one thing Darin talked to Chris Haynes about at halftime

Well we have nine turnovers at LED 17 points and you find yourself you know down by 14 two things are just absolutely moralize a team giving up offensive rebounds after You’ played good 24 seconds of defense and then turning the ball over uh because offensive rebounds you’re giving an

Extra possession and then when you turn it over you’re giv a very high percentage for your opponents they’re out they’re running you you can’t get to your man you usually if you do get back you’re stuck in mismatches that you’re not familiar with they end up getting a

Long rebound for a second shot not only they get a turnover but they get a shot they miss they get an offensive rebound that’s double demoralizing your team and then they hit a three off of that you know extra possession so yeah turnovers are not good for for a team especially a

Team like Phoenix who makes you pay for it before we get to Darin are you impressed with the big three I am it’s kind of the first time we’ve got to see them uh together I know they’re two and four but it’s going to take some time

Just like we watched it with the clippers but man they are a dangerous dangerous team yeah offensively if they can do that you know who cares about the rest of the team I mean uh they got little pieces you know you got nurkic you’ve got Grayson Allen that’s that’s

Scary that team’s going to rise a few spots in the standings uh no doubt about it rise with the starters they got a good starting team their bench could be you know in in a seven game series their bench could be an issue if if they don’t

Have enough firep but they have enough firep yeah with that starting those guys are clicking I mean Devon Booker has 16 in the first quarter to get you off to a good start then you’re you know you go to the third quarter and Beal goes off

At 20 in that quarter but it’s so interchangeable I mean that’s what I mean KD hasn’t even had to do it yet Booker handle the ball for a little bit he goes out of the game now Bill’s handl it they they’re dangerous dangerous all right let’s hear from Darin ham he’s

Speaker with the media hey coach um obviously got out got out of hand a little early uh behind the three-point line is that again is that just um the scheme of of leaving Guys open or or do you guys need to have more effort to to

Close out n we we got we we’re confident in our matchups it wasn’t a scheme of leaving anyone open like it’s we turn the ball over we had nine turn they had nine we had nine turnovers for their 17 points in the first half I had to go

Back and look but a bunch of them were live ball turnovers um and they made shots this a team that with three a three-headed monster guys is you know accustomed to making shots with a hand in their face that’s what they do that’s what they’ve done those three individuals their

Entire career and so um you know they they they made shots uh I thought we were there at different times forced them into some tough situations where they capitalized but again story of the game early especially that set the tone for them and you know really hampered us

Was the turnovers you know you just can’t turn the ball though um it was tough tough night um you know felt like we were trying to make the right play we stepped short second too late um it’s just one of those nice man it’s a tough tough night you know cam started

Tried to push through dealing with some issues with his left knee he getting looked at right now as we speak so we had to pull him early and again not having see wood obviously ruy being out was just tough you know it’s just we we we have to push through stay together

And push through um no one’s going to feel sorry for us it’s like just got to man up and and and hopefully get as healthy as we can and get on that plane tomorrow with the focus to go get a game in Utah after the the Clipper win um so

Much of that was about defensive intensity yes and and do you think that with the way this team is that that can be a night like I mean in the two games since right Toronto scores 130 plus points Phoenix tonight gets going like is it disappointing that I mean after you guys

Get sort of like that kind of win against Clippers that there hasn’t been carry over and does that concern you at all about the ability of this team to play like it did against Clippers on a night toight basis in the regular season as I mentioned there’s different circumstances that play into that

Inconsistency um you know we we we just have to figure it out I don’t want to sit up here and try to make excuses but yeah you you you want to feel like you can go out there every single night and give yourself a chance with the way you defend and way

You guard you know guys in this league you know they’re they’re their skill level you know it’s very few nights off um their skill levels through the roof and then you know to see something similar to the Clippers tonight whereas they’re not as methodical they they play with a lot

More speed when you talk about KD book and uh Brad and so uh you one thing you have to do is give yourself every chance to be able to stop them and when you’re turning the ball over that that’s just you know it’s really difficult to stop anyone when when you giving away

Possessions like that Jin you mentioned the cam injury I went to Jared Vanderbilt seems like he’s getting back to himself self physically what have you seen from him recently and and kind of in context with him starting last year and then starting this season injured and coming back where do you think he’s

At right now I mean I just think you starting to see that burst again you know him chasing down some 50-50 balls him getting some offensive rebounds him just his activity is has increased with each and every game um he knows where to be he can make a play with the ball in

His hands for a teammate but just that burst of speed that athleticism um that versatility uh you you’re starting to see that that quick twitch coming back and then you’ve spoken before about there being you know no garbage time minutes you’re always looking for something Mae gets in there gets some

Run in wiler just wondered your impressions of them in their first T solid solid young pro um you know that’s why we you know brought them into the fold as well as Dylan those young guys came in dowlo get did a great job starting fourth quarter keeping us organized uh under some tough

Circumstances and they continue to play hard continue to play Fast just had some things that didn’t go our way tonight you know but again the story of the game really early and at different segments is and turnovers recognize I’m sure you’ve probably been focused on yourself and

And the opponent directly in front of you but the Utah Jazz have been one of the hotter teams in the NBA as of late um I don’t know if you’ve addressed this yet but but if you haven’t um what what’s the message um going into that

That game in t Lake man stay together try to get as healthy as we possibly can as we uh prepare to get on that plane tomorrow uh fill your cuffs back up and uh once we are healthy focus on ball security being together ball security

And uh let’s try to get one up there um whenever we able we’re able to take care of boy I mean we we’ve won games where we’ve had a bunch of turnovers so you just you know you don’t want them you don’t want to just help the other team

You know you put your defense at risk when you when you you know you you’re throwing the ball everywhere you’re not giving yourself every opportunity to go get a bucket or to put the opposing team on their heels so once we get healthy and we get bodies back um we’ll see how

Puy feels tomorrow we’ll see how C Wood feels tomorrow see what’s going on with Cam um that’s a lot to be out of your lineup so uh hopefully you know get those guys back trending in the right direction for Saturday uh again fill our cups back up and watch a little film on

Us watch a little film on them go through our process and get ready to tip it off and hopefully get a w coach with a night like this um max Christie showed the type of toughness and intensity that you you come to look for can you just talk to me about his

Game and his development well he’s trying man you know he’s a young player uh second year in the league uh he’s had some big minutes for us thus far and you know you’re going to had some plays that didn’t go his way he’s still learning learning you know

Tendencies and trying to read different reads within the game offensively defensively and we just want them to keep pushing keep compete and keep playing hard but uh he’ll be someone that’ll be in the thick of things for us for years to come last what LeBron didn’t play all that much had season low

On points is there anything wrong with him physically or anything or is just what was the thinking on how he was out there I mean just just shutting him down the game had gotten kind of gotten out with no kind it’s got it had gotten out

Of hand and and so uh you know just trying to get a head start on what we’re facing Beyond tonight uh that was the whole purpose and again I think he tweaked his ankle or something like that early in the game and so uh trying to be

Cautious be careful with he both he and ad um that’s pretty much it just trying to manage those guys they don’t have any active situations going on that we have to you know Miss a game here miss a game there miss game here miss game there

It’s not that uh it’s just you know trying to be proactive and and protect them from Once the game is out of hand thanks coach thank youing now to your new role and how challenging has it been for you I just playing basketball at the

End of the day that’s what it is um so new role new timing all that so once I get out there it’s just basketball D obviously the fourth time seeing Phoenix but the first time with their big three fully healthy I think they accounted for 67% of their points what did you see

From them at the beginning that made it challenge ing um once they were able to get going they got they got the scoring and it was kind of tough for us to kind of slow it down a little bit um fouls and turnovers on top of that kind of

Just just made it an easier night for him so tough team DLo a couple for you um we haven’t spoken to you since the tailbone injury physically are you back to 100% you had I think a KN thing tonight you are you physically yeah I’m good and and

Secondly um the reality of this league is that people talk about trades and stuff like that like this is that time of year how do you personally handle that um discussion about yourself and your status I know last year you spoke about being comfortable I guess are you

Uncomfortable right now yeah as these things kind of R around no I mean it is what it is um since I’ve been in the league I’ve kind of been dealing with that to where I know I can’t control it I know um with that to where I know I

Can’t control it I know um those things happen no matter how well or how well you play how professional you act how many shots you make or Miss it’s going to happen regardless so I don’t really go about my Dave and worrying about that to be honest D I watched the um first

Episode of your podcast yesterday my podast I did what’s the name of it backyard yeah boys the backyard the backyard heck yeah yeah yeah um and you talked about a conversation you had with Dwayne Wade on a trip to China um obviously you know that’s a guy who

Played alongside LeBron a lot and had a lot of success and um you mentioned something about him telling you ways defined inury I just wondering if you could elaborate on that story um I mean it was just kind of but I went to China kind of right after the season um so it

Was along the lines of you know the playoffs was still fresh Western Conference all of that and um I didn’t go out the way I wanted to go out um I didn’t perform the way I wanted to perform things like that and I ended up

Going to China and D way was there and he kind of just he just mentioned that you know the whole bullet train he was on for probably four or five hours and it was just all basketball high level basketball conversation um you know ways to play alongside LeBron you know things like

That um ways to affect the game without the ball you know things like that so being here now is just a newer position than I’ve I’ve ever been in um now and when I first got here um last season so just continuing to WEA the storm whether

The adjustments and try to stay positive through the adversity Angelo you guys have had you know some pockets of really effective offense certainly inseason tournament games here or there but it hasn’t been consistent as a team just wondering what are some of the things you’re seeing on

That end that are that are working well some that aren’t as much and as you you know approach this stretcher games I don’t know um it’s a lot we could you know talk about right now um as far as what could we fix I don’t know

Short term figure it out and and try to be better next game um I don’t know I think it’s it’s just a lot of a lot of holes in our system right now that we’re you use the regular season to figure those things out um but the ups and downs um the

Digression the the setbacks all these things injuries just keep playing a part in our success so just next guy next guy mentality I think um having a positive energy coming into work you know practice and things like that and getting better from game to game I think

That’s where we start we look at this game and get better in ways that we may have haven’t had to look at you know um throughout the season right now is it’s a time to to to to figure it out and and do something about it whatever that may

Be when when you’re trying to figure out ways to plug those holes are are are you finding that it’s the same things that are coming up more often than not or just within the team or do you or do you feel like there are new sets of problems

Like the challenges of today weren’t the challenges of three weeks ago there’s so many different you know challenges that you know we got to try to bot them up and and and and limit it as many as we can you know um just to try to scrape

Out some wins you know I think we’re a team that’s still figuring things out um we’re still mixing and matching lineups you know finishing groups starts starting groups like we still figuring it out so I wouldn’t say um Panic or anything like that I’m sure last year

The prime example of this team not being where they wanted to be and um we had some new Energy new Vibes and it kind of made it got us to where we ended off last year so I I think you know you can still see light at the end of the tunnel

We just got to get better got to keep getting better thanks y what’s up everybody you look at this game and the way you guys thought the booker being the aggressor how big was that to get you guys going offensively yeah book was great in the first half but I mean I

Think the first six minutes all three of those guys were Ultra aggressive in particular shooting the three ball um you know we have been reluctant three-point shooting team with great Shooters and that’s something we’re trying to uh just remind remind our guys how good a Shooters they are and be

Aggressive in that that uh from that standpoint and I thought that was a the whole game was a positive step in you know the direction of how we want to play offensively with those three guys being aggressive but book definitely set the tone in the first half do you have

To reinforce that daily on shoot more threes I mean you I know you’ve been preaching it but is this a constant reminder for the guys constant reminder and you know just showing them on film all the ones that they’re catching and red driving because they’re they’re

Elite going to the basket and and Elite mid-range pull-up Shooters but you know we’re had too many games where team shot 40 to 53s and we shot in in mid 20s and um you know it’s just it’s tough to keep up in the modern NBA and we have the

Shooters to do it so it’s pretty obvious how we want to play and um I’m going to keep winding them up Curious uh with with the defense on on Davis I know you wanted to throw multiple bodies Without You Bank how do you feel like they fared

Against him tonight yeah well I like to start defensively by talking about KD’s effort you know taking the matchup of of guarding LeBron for 48 you know in the past we sort of uh held that to a late game and um you know he did a great job

From uh from the opening tip you know just battling Bron he’s you know obviously it’s LeBron James and um you know the Scouting Report starts with him so I want to credit KD there and then I want to start with uh or go on to nerk n

Battled uh Anthony you know Drew EU banks are backup center was out uh do came in and helped a little bit but for the most part nerk nerk match stayed these minutes and batted him the best he could one-on-one and um and then the team defense you know just flooding the

Paint as much as we can and giving him support lastly uh Bradley Bill his best offense of T night what stood out to you about him tonight my shot 10 threes I made eight of them that’s good right uh that’s that’s a good percentage uh I know he’s capable of taking 10

Threes in a game now and uh I’m going to hold him to that and I’ve already told him that uh um but he’s uh he can score in a bunch bunch of different ways and you know I talked to one of you guys in the media earlier about you know Brad

Getting more and more comfortable he had the the long stretch where he was out early and you know usually takes guys a couple weeks to really get your legs under and get get into a rhythm especially with a new team and um you know it’s continuing to grow can

Continuing to get more and more comfortable and this was his best night Frank you said br’s getting more comfortable it’s not a surprise that the more of these three guys together the more they know each other but in what way are you seeing them come together

That maybe you didn’t expect or or that You’ just noticed in I just see them talking to each other on the floor you know I mean they spend a lot of time together off off the floor but uh in practice um yesterday we did we a lot of

Um you know just situations non live you know against coaches def defending where you know they’re just uh just talking through the the types of actions that we want to put them in um when they’re all three out there together when there’s only two of them out there and with

Combinations and all those types of things so you know we know it’s going to take take time one win doesn’t mean we’re there but it was a definitely a positive step in the right direction he Frank with what you’re talking about with book with his increased uh

Playmaking role how have you seen him kind of blend that with his scoring as far as determining when to do which yeah he’s uh he’s striking a balance and um I think he’s doing a great job with it not not just you know finding a balance of

When to look to score and wi to try to facilitate but um but running the team too you know he’s uh he’s not playing as a as a wing ball handler you know he’s playing as a point guard you know for much of the game and um within that he

Knows to you know where to to find his spots to be aggressive and he knows when the double team comes he’s going to be a willing uh willing passer in those situations and set up teammates um I I know you mentioned how the people how the guys talk with each

Other can you talk about how unselfish all three of them are because like even today like you can see with the ball movement and they they’re really good at sharing the ball with each other and not being selfish cuz I know a lot of people assume that they’re going to have be

Ball dominant players but I feel like they’re a lot more unselfish than people think too as well there’s no doubt they they’re they’re all three very selfless basketball players and in particular when help is early and when double teams come you know they do not try to force

Um but they’re going to be aggressive looking to score and and put pressure on defenses to uh to be early to help or to to create double teams like we saw would book in the first half and BR in the second half and then they get off of it

They know they have uh a great deal of Trust on the guys that are out there with them and um it look good tonight coach with the way the game went tonight I mean the other night against the clips how much did Pride kick in tonight with

The group yeah I think I I think that was a piece of it you know uh guys were not happy with uh not getting that Clippers game um not just the fourth quarter but you know we were we were down 10 most of the game and uh you know

We didn’t we didn’t guard well enough one-on-one in particular you know and you know obviously offensively you know being more aggressive looking to shoot the ball over the top you know two adjustments that we took from that game to this game and it paid off thanks go

Okay questions for book yeah book most of the time when people are finishing up a six day stay in Los Angeles by the end LA or Miami it gets pretty pretty lackluster effort you guys were the opposite tonight what kind of purpose did you come out with um just a response

You know from our last two games and you know not trying to be too worried about who we’re playing against you know working on ourselves and you know we have a lot to work on but I think tonight was a good step forward you came out aggressive early

What was the mindset going out in the game today uh to be aggressive but in terms of just I mean was it the initial you felt like you had to start that way for the group or or did that just come just through the floor of the game um um

You know really just doing what my teammates asking me um KD came to me before the game I want you aggressive um don’t worry about getting me involved I’ll get myself involved so you know having you know a mate like that out there with you to give you that much

Confidence and you know let you rock out this that’s important and then obviously you carried the offense in the first half and then Bradley carried in the second how pleased were you to see him be him in that second half yeah um I mean I’ve seen it plenty of times before

So none of it surprises me but you know finding the spacing around it you know letting them get easier looks and letting them get in his bag without you know people in help defense so you know we we figured some things out spacing tonight that we’ve been working on the

Past couple days that you know we can carry forward with now I missed the the beginning of your first answer but how much did Pride kick in tonight from from the previous game you think I think Pride always kicks in you know with us um you know we’re we’re true competitors

And you know we get bothered by losses um we’re emotional and you know I think everybody in this league is to some degree um you know so it’s all about how you respond hey bu uh you guys did a pretty good job limiting LeBron and AD tonight

Obviously it’s you know hard to stop those guys it’s part of but what were you what do you think you guys did effectively to to help limit those guys um just you know making sure they see bodies um guys like that you can you can

Never stop um you just want to make it tough on them and limit their touches uh make them work for touches and when they get the ball you know crowd in and you know make make the other guys do it but in a way that’s not disrespectful to the

Other guys cuz they have a lot of other talented players over there um you know so the good balance of making other guys do it but you know not wide open shots de uh go ahead you okay go ahead no go um now um I’ve been talking to a

Lot of top high school prospects they bring your name up every every time with the efficiency but you know I wanted to ask you like the way you score I mean being able to score in small spaces in in being able to score in a box how

Important is that for kids and then also not being able to need a screen to score because a lot of times that brings a double team to you what can you say to them in terms of those bringing those aspects to the game I’ll just learn them

And work on them you know no matter what no matter what situation you’re in you know you continue have to develop your game and it might not for the situation that you’re in right now with the team that you’re on but you know at some point if you’re a true student of the

Game and you know you have your Idols that you follow and you watch you know take take bits and pieces um and learn you know that’s what I do I I had a lot of favorite players and I still do and you know the game is steady evolving

There’s people are doing Moves In These past two years that I haven’t seen the rest of my career so just trying to learn those and you know kind of adapt to the evolution of the game what do you feel about scoring in in a small space because like you had like you get

Separation in the small spaces even went having the best defender on you what can you say about that cuz I see in your workouts you don’t ever just take a million dribbles and then go do a runaway somewhere like I mean you can use a runaway but it’s in a tight space

MH yeah I mean people always say they’re tough shots but I just you know remember my dad just telling me just pointing to the ground like pick a spot and raise um and that’s what I try to do so it’s usually a move trying to get to a point

And if somebody cuts me off there then that’s when you go to the next one but if they’re not there just raise over them um I had a tendency of pump faking a lot too my dad just tell me if they block it they block it like just rise up

Over them apprciate M Mark and Dwayne last two hey Devin how do you see Brad try to tackle the early challenge of you know just getting through his injuries and trying to hit the ground running in the games that he was able to be available with you guys I mean Brad and

You know you you I knew it a little bit when I was in his teammate but he is a lot of Personality man more that you know people people don’t people don’t know that about him I would say it’s not that known so you know he he’s always

Good vibes like high energy talking um funny and you know to remain that and keep that in the midst of missing 15 20 games and then getting hurt in your first game back we went on the road and came back and he’s still high-spirited so you know that takes a lot you know

That’s that’s I can’t do it that’s what I say I definitely can’t do it um but that’s important you know he keeps the morale of the team High definitely on the threes um coach just said that he’s encouraging you guys take more threes take more threes is that easier said

Than done for you all because obious you can score mid-range Kevin can score mid-range is that a is it going to have to be a forced thing to take more threes uh I think it should be forced um especially early in games um we have such good Shooters on the team that I

Think even shooting a make or miss you know it slowly just loosens up those mid-range shots you know cuz people know there’s threats out there a a deep spacing that will shoot it um and it opens up the gaps for you so I mean we have a lot of Shooters who worth the

Most points and you know I think it’s a good shot for a lot of us thanks Kevin um Devin said you came to him before the game and said don’t worry about me go go get yours and I I’ll figure out mine how big do you feel like

That was to get him in his mode cuz he said that that was big yeah I mean I I feel like um that’s been my Approach since I’ve been in the league like I figure it out I can f for myself you know you don’t got to force feed me the

Ball or put me in my spots I don’t need a point guard to set me up like I can go get I can find out how to get be aggressive and make an impact on the offensive side so as much as everybody can be aggressive without having to

Focus on trying to get me the ball or our best scores the ball if we aggressive and just make the right play the ball is going to find us so that’s usually the approach we all have and but sometimes it’s good to reiterate that to your teammates um so they can go out

There and have a free mind so as much as I can I try to you know put that in the ear of my guys saying that you know shoot more threes shoot more threes and is that easier said than Den does that have to be a forc thing for this team um

I it’s easier said than done but I feel like a you know coach has a good grasp on who we are as a team and I feel like we turned down a lot of Threes too trying to drive and make the extra pass to find a more open three so sometimes

We shoot over guys and I think that’s what we did more tonight EG got up nine of them I felt like all of them look good leaving his hands you know and then Brad just got it going as well so we uh we spread the floor and stretch the

Floor out with our three-point shot I think it’ll open up everything else and and stretch the floor out with our three-point shot I think it’ll open up everything else inside the three-point line Kevin Frank was also prison how you handled the uh Simon challenge with LeBron obviously You’ done this a lot

But what was your approach tonight I’m just play hard as I can just try to get into the ball as much as I can braon is a a guy that can attack from every angle of the floor so you got to be on on your

Toes at all times you know and he’s just so um clever when it comes to his attacks and his approaches to the offense ins side of the ball so I just try to play hard but also my teammates were there for me to help and be inside

The paint and help contest as well being passing Lanes to make the make life tougher for their best players so ad and BR uh top scoring a star at line was 13 points I mean that’s we could live with that Kevin it’s it’s obvious that once you guys are actually

Out on the court together all three of you that you’re going to get more comfortable with each other you’re going to know each other better what in particular though in what ways has that shown up the most I’m just I mean we had games where you know

It’s clicking for us on the on the offensive side of the ball but I think defensively when we talking to each other and understanding where we all need to be on the defensive side of the ball then the offense have become easier um you know so I just feel like we got

To be on the string more and have a little bit more togetherness on the defensive side of the ball and that a feeding to our offense okay I got to give you a lot of credit every time I see you it’s high efficiency every single time every year

It’s high efficiency but I’ve been talking to a lot of high school players and they bring your name up in terms of someone that they look up to what can you tell them in terms of you know playing in small space being able to get separation and then also not being able

To need a screen every time being able to score and not bring the double team to you yeah it’s all about fundamental fundamentals um you know learning how to get to your spots is always about fundamentals especially when the clock is going down when you got you know

Tight paint it’s about getting to your your spots and knocking down those shots and getting to your favorite shots and so I’ll tell young guys just to work on the fundamentals shooting ball handling passing just that simple and the game will start to open up and become um

Easier you know when you feel like you can attack from every angle of the floor you know you don’t feel limited out there so and the fundamentals help you get to that point with the fundamentals sorry I mean with the fundamentals they see you do the spins and stuff like that

It’s tough like tell them like that’s working on PIV in terms of that what can you tell people see do the trickery stuff try to figure that out I mean it’s just uh working on my balance mentally a lot you know being able to keep myself centered when I’m making moves and you

Know and and when I get into a off-balance shot um you know I can lean on you know one legs and you know shooting off my right leg or fading away because I work on it but to the core of it I’m working on my jump shot you know

I’m shooting those spin shots but at the end I’m still following through on my shot shooting closer to the rim not always coming in there and just shooting threes you know so if any I mean that’s more of an advanced way of warming up because I’ve been in the league so long

But it start off catching shoot and mid-range and work my way out and then try to you know work on my game from every area of the floor Kevin when you look at just the way Brad played tonight what what’s I know the took 10 threes

And made a that’s the stat number but as far as he actually played what what stood out to be the most yeah I mean he got to whatever he wanted he was a screener got to to play in the pocket was able to knock down catching shoots off the drib

Um in the mid-range off the off the dribble from the three catch and shoot three I mean so he had his whole bag open tonight and um when he’s unpredictable in his attack it just makes the game easier for everybody else when you finish a game like this do you

Do you go back in locker room believe in like this is sustainable this is who we are we can do this like um yeah I mean when you put some good stuff on film you try to the the the hardest part about doing that in NBA is being consistent as a basketball player

So yeah yeah we see that stuff on film and we want to you know try that try to emulate that as much as possible but it’s easier said than done but it’s good to put that stuff on film so we can understand what’s our best and what it

Looks like last three one two three oh hey Kevin uh think speaking of uh Brad’s bag of tricks uh he was uh that In-N-Out triple I think he had four straight Lefty in and outs I saw you in particular went pretty nuts on the bench what was it about that move that excited

You so much well yeah Austin dancing he had Austin laying back a little bit off balance and you know that’s always exciting um you is is Brad one of the best players in the world so you know to get an opportunity to see it from that

Close up and see a guy work every day and see who he truly is as a player and then you come out there and get moments like that is always fun you know I mean I enjoy seeing my teammates cook like that and um we going to need more of

That from him cuz they a nice to bench they nice to crowd even if we on a road you seen people excited about that move so it’s only going it’s only good for us when he’s aggressive like that congrats on the win Kevin uh your pregame warm-up or pregame routine has

Gone viral a couple times at what point in your career did you understand the importance of not skipping any steps during your pregame warm-up or pregame routine well I was about 8 years old um every rep has always been important or my trainers and coaches Godfathers parents they always you know pumped in

My brain at each is important every time you step out there give it as much as you can and I just that just stuck with me that was one of those foundational you know the foundational advice that I’ve been I got since I’m from 8th until I got into the league you

Know so I try to lean on that just follow up yeah just follow up on that one what’s your favorite uh workout routine and training routine uh doing like a games like you and tight schedule I like seeing the ball go through the net man so just shooting regardless of

What it is man just shooting the basketball thank you damn it Fred obviously when you look at your game uh tonight not only a season High uh but 10 threes are you uh you good with taking that many threes uh first praise God uh I’m getting I’m I’m becoming good

With it um it’s uh it’s been something our staff has been preaching all year it’s been something that I’ve been trying to get myself to do the last probably five years of my career to shoot at least eight to 10 threes a game and just

Really working on it I worked with I got my trainer Drew back in town we worked for a few days and got it back feeling right and tonight I was just confident in it just didn’t think it think about it if it hit my hands I was letting it flow one of

The things Kevin just said is that you had Austin Reef dancing on your In-N-Out in- and- out and how dribble taking me through that play for you and and what led to you going to that uh I mean I’ve done that before I’ve done where I hit like five in and out moves

Until like you going to bite for one like you got you got go you got to go for one of them uh but no Austin’s a good player he’s a good Defender um he caught me on a closeout situation so I just I got to take advantage of what I’m

Giving and and what I’m looking at and he just kept retreating and I was able to pull up on on the dot so it was just a good feel good flow tonight it definitely more encouraging like to hear K like go at him like keep going and

Book the same thing like you know so it kind of kind of challeng me back into a little killer mentality a little bit is this a you know obviously this is one game but is this an example of what you guys can be with you three out

There for sure you know it’s like it’s a another small sample size of it you know granted we we play really well things were more or less kind of everything went our way tonight but uh we still got to be a little bit better four time seen

Phoenix but first time with their big three healthy what kind of challenges do they present from the jump oh I mean it’s it’s obvious you know when you have three three level scores on the floor at the same time it creates so many uh you know disadvantages for your defense and

Always have you you know on your toes so um they’re they’re they’re going to be a really good team once they continue to mesh but those three guys are obviously exceptional for you 24 minutes played obviously didn’t play there in the fourth you’d have to go all the way back

To 2018 when you last scored uh just 10 points how are you feeling physically right now um I feel okay what do you think it’ll take for this team on a night toight basis to be defensively impactful um that you guys beat the Clippers played with great defensive intensity then Toronto scored

130 sorry tonight happens um what do you think it is does is there a night tonight good defense in this room do you um I mean we understand in order for us to win we have to defend at a high level so you know um you know every team you

Know creates different challenges different disadvantages or advantages or whatever the case may be we prepare for it and we try to execute that um you know obviously this is being the fourth time Phoenix have seen the way we’ve defended them throughout the first four games and even if you include the

Preseason game um you know um and Palm Springs so I thought they were um you know very aware of what we wanted to do plus you know having their big three helped as well LeBron vanderbild obviously entered in the season with the injury and you know taking a while to

Ramp up looks like he’s starting to get closer physically to like where he was last season just wondered what you’ve seen and and now depending on what Cam’s issue is with the knee you know how you feel like he could fit with a group like that and what you guys said last year

Defensively well we know what we have in v and as he Contin like we say gets healthy and healthy we know what we get out of him I don’t like what you said about the last part now we cam in his knee so it just goes back to what we’ve

Been deal with all year as far as us just not being healthy so um um but health is is the most important and we you know obviously need cam to worry about that before he gets back on the floor but V is we know we get out of V

Especially when he’s um back in Rhythm and you know back feeling better Utah’s beaten three of the better teams in the league consecutively and Denver Milwaukee and Philly um doesn’t get any easier for you guys like what what can you guys do if it’s like a short list of

What we got to focus on on Saturday to get back in the winning call um we got to defend we got to get back in transition um they historically have one of the best home court advantages you know when you go up there um altitude

Plays a little part in it so we got to get into the flow of the game early um catch our second win as quick as possible and then uh and make them defend but um you know very good team they’ve been playing very well lately you said you you physically you

Okay question Bri you said physically you’re feeling okay but what about just sort of spiritually mentally with with a game like this where you are in the season um I don’t know it’s just another game um they play exceptionally well we didn’t we have another one on

Saturday thank you one all right LeBron uh giving a little love to the Phoenix Suns talking about how good that team can be and why with three three level players scorers he he played Just 24 minutes guys uh no need to play in that fourth quarter three of 11 oh0 for four

From three 10 points four turnovers I mean everyone’s going to have these kind of games not the usual line you see from LeBron James but said yeah physically I’m fine and got another game on Saturday yeah I think he’s okay you know I think he’s utilized a lot of you know

Strength and endurance the last month you know trying to carry the team that you know he he could you know have been off just a little bit but Fenix came in here hot from the beginning and uh just didn’t really give the Lakers a chance

So I’m glad he got the rest tonight uh he needs it more than anybody yeah let’s talk a little ad uh one of those games for him as well guys you see the shot attempts only 11 he had 13 points five rebounds I mean coming into this game

Over the past month whatever he’s averaging what 31 and 15 or something crazy like that so uh one of those nights you could just kind of tell from the beginning big game like wasn’t involved as much also nerkish got to give him a little credit we talked in

The pregame nerkish has gotten killed in these matchups he came to play he was physical um and and B B came in and did some physical things and and just made it made it a little bit more difficult uh for ad it just was one of those nights yeah over overworked you know

Probably overloaded uh you know no no wood tonight and the way he’s been playing he’s been bringing the pain and big numbers and big minute so yeah Fenix came prepared for him tonight nerkish pushed him around a little bit got really physical and that I think that

Might have worned him down a little bit Yeah ad was having his way with nurkic and the Suns first three games they played this year ad averaged 25 and 12 25 and 13 they were big numbers uh tonight not the case and he really did he’s owned nkit so far this season there

Was even a preseason game I believe it was an Anaheim and I just remember like nkuch just seeming so frustrated because ad was crushing him at every turn preseason I know but it continued into the regular season and I I often call DLo The X-Factor for this Laker team

Nurkic is The X Factor for this Phoenix team cuz he’s put up pretty good numbers in the past with Portland but he’s pretty injury-prone the last few years if he stays on the court he’s pretty good passer pretty good shooter a wide body for sure that that seemed to give

Ad some trouble tonight if he has a pretty good season this team should get into the playing tournament for sure and maybe even secure a top six pick a top six spot I should say uh with the big three play like far off right now right there the A spot climbing so Anthony

Davis scored 13 points in 32 minutes back to the locker room ad is with Mike a double digit deficit pretty quickly in the first quarter just what did you think was going on early with this game clearly Phoenix a bit different first time they’ve been healthy since you played him I made a

Ton of shots um we had turnover they C the last one our turnovers we missed a ton of shots um they made think in the first five six minutes like five threes um came out and shot the bar very very well tiet tonight aside for a second

What do you think the team has to do starting the gamees getting back to where you’ve talked about you expect the team to be defensively where you know it’s been there a couple times of late but not as consistently as earlier in the year um we got some good contests uh tonight

We have three guys who can score the ball that will uh seeing every defense they’re going to make shots um they did that tonight uh you know book The mes threes uh you know Brad play well um I think our you know contest you know was high uh they just made tough

Shots obviously you take such great pride in the team’s defensive performance and one of the things that consistently been a problem are the last month has been the three-point defense and some of that’s been scheme I know you know sometimes you guys would choose someone that the numbers would support

Giv given looks to but how do you get that part of of the defense better while not suffering in other areas of it uh realizing that everybody no matter what their numbers are shoot well against us um a guy shooting 10% he’s going to shoot 40

Against us so um just knowing that um it’s not hasn’t been a time where the numbers had told the truth to us when we played guys so um I mean even you know Brad’s been struggling you know uh so you got to um you know we got to

Play everybody like uh their staff when they play us because these guys you know not just this team but you know everybody has um you know shot the ball well against us gvin mentioned ball security and the turnovers as some both pregame and postgame is something that

Needs to be improved just obviously you guys don’t mean to turn the ball over when you pass but what goes into better ball security is it focus is it know reading defense is better what it needs to improve in that regard taking care of the basketball I mean being strong the

Ball uh that’s I mean obviously we try to make the right reads and um you know defenses said you know can also do a good job of making reads but for the most part you know we be strong with the ball and um you know we just got to be strong

With the ball and and make sure that you know whatever we’re doing you know knowing attention to detail to the to defense and what they like to do but for the most part I think our I think a lot of our turnovers um unforced um you know we’re trying to make the

Right plays do the right things but uh I just don’t tend to work out that way a lot of time so um I mean I’ve been having you know a lot of turnovers past couple games you know um even in wins so I got to do a

Better job taking care of the basketball but um and I think all of us as a group um you got to you know read the defense a little better make better reads and um be a little a little stronger with the basketball thanks ad time for a little access 360 big game

It’s not a fun one with these kind of games a lot of turnovers a lot of sloppy mistakes you’re going to break it down for yeah you can’t turn it over against a talented team like the Phoenix Suns they have so many weapons in open court

And they took advantage of the Lakers 18 turnovers that resulted in 28 points and Second Chance points tonight and uh you just never had a chance from the first quarter how many did they have 36 in the first 36 36 points that’s a that’s a lot

Of points for one quarter and a and a tough ditch to pull yourself out of they never could too many turnovers by the Lakers too many points for Phoenix off those turnovers it’s been a recipe a couple times in the last few weeks for sure and

Just got to be more careful with the ball it’s easier said than done but that that’s the goal

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