Mavs Podium Interviews Before Game 3 NBA Finals vs. Celtics: Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Jason Kidd

Mavs Podium Interviews Before Game 3 NBA Finals vs. Celtics: Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Jason Kidd

started with questions we have boom mics around the room please raise your home hand and we’ll get to as many people as we can first question who we got Tim right here on the left on two thank you Jason how do you assess the job you guys have done defensively on Tatum so far I mean obviously he’s not shooting great but he’s still doing lots of important things is that kind of when you’re playing an elite player like him is that kind of the best you can hope for sometimes is that you take something away and hope the rest doesn’t hurt you too much yeah I think um we’re just you know he’s one of the best players in in the world so you’re trying to just make it tough um and that’s all you can do is you know hopefully um guard the first move guard the second move guard the third move uh and contest and uh and the guys are doing that at a high rate and just trying to make it tough on them yep third row in the center uh game two uh it seemed like utilized Dante XM a little more as a third ball handler next to Luca and Kyrie and you know he provided some defensive versatility what did you see from that combination is that something you could uh potentially lean on more in game three yeah I thought exm did a great job uh in game two and so U we’ll look to see if we can get that combination out there a little bit more um as a third ball handler uh defensive uh Le I thought he did a really good job and then uh he’s one of the few that’s made a three in this series so uh he knocked down the open three um and so we’re going to need that a little bit more from him but I thought the pace that he he came with was really good Mike go ahead Jason it seemed like um the Celtics are doing a lot of pre- switching whenever Luca tries to get isolation on a big I guess what’s the best way to counter that um yeah I think uh when you look at um their defense um just understanding I thought Luca did a great job of getting off to a great start uh scoring um is just understanding who who’s on and who he’s involving in the in the pick and role um and just we have to do a little bit better job of that but I thought he again he’s getting where he wants to go Steve over here on the left uh Jason okay what do you think the shift to Dallas will mean your team particularly it’s cliche but the role players and they they say that they play better in home games that’s what they say um we’ll see um we’re home um understanding that Boston hell serve and and that’s what we’re we’re talking about is uh just focusing on game three um we we felt there in game two we had opportunities that we just let get away from us and so for us at home protecting um home court but uh the cliche is role players play better at home so we’ll see Eddie back right hey Jason uh how do you walk the line between uh urgency which is obviously growing and telling everybody to relax and chill out a little bit it’s easy just say relax um I think uh the urgency started um for us a while back so I think we’re we’re used to that um I think um the game of basketball is about makes and misses and capitalizing on mistakes um and we just haven’t had that you know opportunity to capitalize um we we’re we’re getting stops we turn the ball over we give up a three you know understand coming down a stretch we had to play Perfect um so hopefully we can get you know the game is close coming down a stretch and we can capitalize on their their mistakes um but uh there’s two teams playing so we we can relax and enjoy this and have fun um and that’s what it’s all about and hopefully we can do that tomorrow night on your left standing in the back hey coach um they had a lot of success it seemed in game two go into a little bit more four like four out one in Drew or white in the dunker spot I’m wondering what the changing of that spacing does to your defense what kind of challenges does it provide when you got a guard down there down low yeah you know you look at uh White and and holiday are comfortable holiday is very comfortable in the dunker he he plays as the big um being able to not just uh you know put the ball in the basket but also to be a playmaker from that position he’s a willing passer when you talk about a point guard or um a versatile guard uh those two can playmake from there um and so they put a lot of pressure it’s a little different when you have Smalls in the dunker um and so for us uh we we had to do a little bit better job of of understanding Who’s down there um again Boston’s a very talented team when you talk about the four round one they got four Shooters on the perimeter um and they can playmake and they’re very willing passers so um there’s sometimes uh in this league you got to give up something and uh right now they’re taking advantage of that last question right here Jason how was your experience of playing NBA finalist in this building and what does this franchise means to you first as a player now as a coach yeah I think um this is an incredible atmosphere um to to win that championship in 2011 um the city is incredible they they love their Mavs and so um you know to win it then and then now to be here um in 24 uh is special um because you you you don’t really get an opportunity to do that so uh I understand the opportunity that I have uh to be the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks is U is a dream come true but um we’re trying right now to figure out how to win one game and that’s the next one uh tomorrow night a couple of games with the intensity of the finals and how you’re managing that so far in this series uh first I feel good don’t want to get any more details uh but I feel good uh second one uh the intensity of physical uh you said intensity at physicality I think it’s up and not for sure uh you know uh both teams played a lot of games throughout the season uh but I think the physicality has been on point for sure standing on your right okay [Music] mark on your on the left side raise your hand there you go Mark Spears ESPN zcape did um playing for Madrid in 18 does that prepare you for the finals or or is this like that atmosphere or is this totally different uh I would say it’s different uh just being 18 and 25 is a big difference uh but just you know it’s different games here you play first to four uh in the Euro league it’s just one game so it’s it’s way different uh but I wouldn’t just say uh that game prepared me for now you know it’s been throughout my career that prepared me for this moment on your right second row and on your left standing over here hey Lucas here at SOI from the ringer I wanted to ask you about a pass that you made in the third quarter to exom uh the last game it was the behind the back I was just curious if that was a is that something where you actually were able to see him or do you kind of int it that that’s the spot he’s going to be in uh I saw him before you know when I started driving uh I saw him at that spot uh so when I went for layup I saw to of me I know he was going to be open all the way back in the right [Music] [Music] third row over here on this left Luka Dante exom spent more time playing next to you and Kyrie last game seemed like you were able to get off the ball play in more off ball actions and he pushed the pace quite a bit how helpful is it having him next to you and uh Kyrie uh very helpful you know he can dribble the ball he play point guard uh so we can help help us both you know save our save our energy and he can just bring the ball up and he can he can make plays too so uh it’s good that he was able to find standing on the left LCA they’ve been sort of changing their spacing around trying to make you and Kyrie be the low man or in help responsibility more often what kind of challenges that present for you especially with you’re dealing with such a big load offensively to have to do the help defense on so many of those possessions I mean our our defense is built in Five Guys you know uh uh our low man is very important uh so no matter who is the Lowman we know we’re going to do a great job we’ve been working on this the whole season pre season uh so I’ve been in that position a lot you know with the low man uh we’ve been working on it since PR preseason so uh we feel confident with that on your right fourth row for Tim in the middle um you know you guys obviously wouldn’t be here without your role players hitting a bunch of big shots throughout the playoffs those shots hadn’t fallen in the first couple games for the most part uh what do you say to guys you know the PJs the uh D Jones Maxis and and kind of what sense do you have as far as how they’re feeling right now uh offensively just one thing you know just keep shooting uh we all believe in those shots uh that’s how we we came to the finals uh and that’s how we play the whole season uh we believe in those guys everybody believes uh so if you’re open just keep shooting you know then you’re going to knock it down at some point Tim here in the second row look along those lines kind of you’ve mentioned confidence and belief yes you guys are home and Boston held serve at home like they’re supposed to but what are some of the things that you really can look at from those first two games and say that’s going to work for for us like what are some of the things you can look at from one and two and say we’re confident in this um just trying to keep uh keep getting open looks uh I think our defense has not been bad uh but just we can’t really score uh that’s our main problem right now uh but I think we’re getting some great looks and like I said you know we have confidence that everybody can make a shot uh just shooting the ball in our team uh so we just got to keep believing it there you go on your left Mike Leslie WFA Kyrie I know the other night after game two you started talking a little bit about hey I’ve been in this situation before down O2 and come back in a series and I know then you walked into the locker room and told the guys hey we’re fine where does that confidence come from how do you instill that in the rest of a roster that hasn’t been through this the same way that you have been yeah I mean I’ve been saying it all year failure is the best teacher at times and it can inspire you uh to do great things um you know it’s our first time uh being in the finals as a team with this group um we understand who we’re up against the competitive level the nature of uh the finals the competitive level we have to play at um and then also the adjustments that we have to make out there on the floor just as players uh the coaching staff is doing a great job preparing us um but it’s our job as players to make those adjustments and play even harder especially when the game’s getting a little out of balance or uh we have a lead and we want to extend it a little bit um you know so a lot of it is just a learning curve uh for myself for my teammates and and also a peace of mind that we give each other that um you know we want to give ourselves a chance by leaving it all out there on the floor and playing our best and preparing the best way we can so that’s literally been the focus uh since uh game two ended was just putting our best foot forward coming back home feeling good feeling familiar um and letting our game speaks for itself fifth R hey firstan how confident are you in just your own personal game kind of getting back you your own game yeah I mean the first thing of of that is just accepting that I haven’t played well or up to my standards and or as well as I would have liked um you know being back in Boston there there’s such a um a level of Desire that I have inside of me to play well and uh wanted to be there for my teammates so um as a competitor it’s frustrating um but I don’t want to let that seep in or spill over to any other decisions I have to make there as a player um and continue to feed my my teammate’s confidence um you know have been down 02 before um lost a series won a series uh so I know what it takes and and also understanding um you know how to prepare for something like that mentally spiritually emotionally physically um but first we just respecting your opponent and then most importantly just putting your Best Way Forward when we go out there man it’s as simple as that Tim standing on your left Kyrie obviously Boston has a bunch of guys that can throw at you defensively but you spent a lot of time with Jaylen Brown I was just he’s talked a lot this year about the pride he’s taken in improving as a defensive player I was just curious from your perspective watching him have you seen him grow at that end and what do you think of the way he’s been playing in this series no he’s been playing great um he’s been one of the emotional leaders on their team and uh defensively he’s making it difficult um and that’s what he’s been doing all year and for the past few years he’s really tried to make his mark on that end so uh when you take pride in what you do on the defensive end it’s going to show and uh I think he’s really been separating himself on on that end and then offensively to be able to do on Botho uh both ends of the floor is even more impressive so um you know this and this is what makes the finals even greater is going against somebody that great on that end um has a lot of high energy and is going to make it difficult but we got to go straight at him Jeff fifth row on the left Jeff zilet USA Today Kyrie what did not you what didn’t you like about games one and two was it more than Miss shots and then what does a much better game look like for you in game three uh I mean games 1 and two is just about our total team effort and how we can control um a lot of the mistakes that we made out there uh whether it be turnovers obviously the Miss shots are going to happen that’s a basketball game um you know I can be a lot more fundamentally sound uh technical on my shots um and not get into the paint often uh where it’s three or four guys around me and I’m not making a pass they’re sending you know specific strategies against me uh to make it difficult we’re at the highest stage in the world so um you know it’s a small sample size we only get game series potentially so uh I just can feel the stakes being raised up a little bit more the pressure is natural makes diamonds um but I think for us as a team we just have to control we can control on that end of being able to match their Pace but also uh feel good about ourselves when we’re getting stops um when we get stops and we get on transition we’re we’re a better team when we’re getting stops and giving up offensive rebounds or we’re getting stops and then we’re turning the ball over uh it hurts our chances to even be in the game uh so the the margin of their victories haven’t really displayed the full story um you know in terms of the Celtics beating us but uh we just have to continue to um lean in on each other especially when it gets tough out there because we’re going against a great team and they’re not going to stop pressing us they’re not going to stop their Pace they’re not going to stop um testing us on both ends of the floor uh so we know what we’re in for um but now we got to raise it to an even higher level and it starts with me same row towards the center hey Kyrie draft from Spain um the other day and now you say that it’s not the first time that you are in this position done 20 in the in the finals can you tell us uh what you learn in 2016 that is helping you right now and what are you sharing with your teammates from that experience uh just sharing with them that it it it took a took a lot of resilience it took a lot of will um to win in 2016 but but that’s also a different team um you know we had time to fail together we had time to go through our trials together you know we lost in 2015 then a lot of guys came back in 2016 and we won uh so there was an inner motivation there um and we also knew who we were going against and and how well they played uh so I think if you uh have a healthy uh way or perspective of looking at where we are now um you know it feels like we we are that team that’s gaining The Experience uh that’s being able to fail uh at this level and now we have an opportunity to respond and that’s all you can ask for in the basketball season um you know if you asked me in September or October uh you know would I want a chance to be down 02 and having a chance to respond in game three or be out of the playoffs I think I would choose the former you know it it’s it’s as simple as that in terms of just putting in perspective we’re only teams left um you know and this is uh about Chess that’s all it is next question here on the front Kyrie um here with NBA social media uh I’m a correspondent for the today um uh you know it seems like you know he played the game free you know day in and day out um you know I just kind of want to know the you know different variables whether you know the people you surround yourself with um does it come from your work um does it come from um you know different routines that uh that you do um just want to you know kind of get your um thoughts on you know how you you are able to you know go in and play a you know free 48 yeah no that’s a great question K uh I think it starts with uh one you know just being aware of your own goals and what you want to accomplish your team goals um how you can help accomplish that but also uh what’s going to bring you peace of mind off the court when you leave it um you know some of us would say family video games um other business ENT uh entrepreneurial uh opportunities um but just helping you have a healthy balance with the game um the game is going to be the game it’s going to torment you emotionally you’re going to fail you’re going to succeed you’re going to make shots you’re going to miss shots but uh you want to be able to go home to a great family um people that love you unconditionally and those that are going to be truthful with you um I’m grateful that I’ve I’ve been able to build um a tribe around me that has all those so um you know dealing with a lot U of the criticism when you’re young or even when you’re older of how to accomplish something like I’m trying to do right now um there going to be a lot of people that want to see you fail so get used to that too um there going to be a lot of people that are going to be Nays saying and and wanting to see you um kind of destroy yourself in the process uh so I I would say just focus on the people that really love you for you and your teammates are there to support you um especially when you know them through in throughout um and then trusting the people that have been there before you um they’ll give you a lot of advice to help you reason or rationalize I what’s going on so uh that’s a great question brother and uh it took me a while to figure that out and find that peace of mind and that’s why you get a chance to see me up here but I definitely want to see you accomplish that piece of mind a lot earlier than I had to man cuz it’s not worth it to let anybody’s opinions get to the best of you or people that have never been in our position don’t know what it takes don’t know the sacrifices never will um but they guess you know and they try to make it up so um show them respect but at the same time understand that we’re all human at the end of the day right take final two last one in the middle and then Tim over here on the left Kevin gray Mavis radio network Kyrie A lot’s been made about the bond that you and Luca have formed throughout the course of this season you having been in this position before being down and coming back to winning NBA Finals how are you helping him manage this situation how are the two of you helping each other especially knowing what you’re trying to accomplish over these next couple games especially here at home yeah well it started with me um just telling M hermano just I gotta play better for him alongside him and um you know in order for us to um you know accomplish our goal uh we both have to be playing well and we both have to be doing the little things and doing whatever it takes to win so uh easy conversation but it started with me reaching out just letting him know that you know it’s my it’s my fault taking accountability for not playing particularly well um but also I got to continue to trust my guys around us or around me and um you know have fun in the process uh we’ve gotten this far because we’ve been a great team um not because we’ve just put it on me and Luca um it’s been a total team effort total organizational effort to get thus far so we just got to keep trusting in that um so pretty simple conversation Tim last one here on the left Tim Reynolds with the AP Kyrie I’m guessing that there’s a lot about the defense from the first two games that you’ve probably liked quite a bit anyway from time to time at least rather rather win of course the fact that the D has been good in stretches how much does that help the conf the the confidence standpoint going into no no it’s uh um man we we definitely uh have had some moments of uh positivity on the defensive end where we’ve gotten the missed shots uh again you know when we’re I just remember one play that comes to mind just where uh potentially could be down six and then pyton prit comes down and hits a three going into the fourth quarter where that gives him a little bit more breathing room um to have the game in their hands so um just being aware of of some of the um plays that they’re going to try to make at the end of quarters um the plays that they try to make to start off the game to get them going a little bit uh the plays that they run when we’re in the lead uh you know we’ve had the lead in the first quarter 12 six both times or 13 six both times and we’re feeling good about ourselves and they come out and they run the same play four times in a row so um our IQ has to be at an even higher level and also our communication and Trust has to be at an ultimate level um where we can just trust our instincts out there here

Dallas Mavericks’ Jason Kidd, Luka Doncic, and Kyrie Irving spoke to reporters before Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics.

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