PREGAME COACH QUOTES: OKC, GAME 2

Here are some of the best comments from Doc Rivers and Scott Brooks’ pregame media conferences prior to Game 2 Wednesday at Chesapeake Energy Arena:

CLIPPERS HEAD COACH DOC RIVERS

On Chris Paul:

“I just want him to be aggressive like he was. Obviously, eight threes is not going to happen every night; but, I did like the way he played. He made quick decisions. I thought the ball moved overall, offensively, for us. So, I just liked the way he played.”

On Injuries:

“Well, we’re past talking about them for sure. I think everybody’s good. I said that before the last game. The bottom line is that if J.P. [trainer Jasen Powell] doesn’t mention it to me, I don’t know if anyone’s injured. So, I think we’re all good.”

On impact of resting players during the regular season:

“I never know, honestly. I think it’s the right thing to do, but I never know. That’s just the way I feel about it. I think that’s something you would have to ask the players. Maybe that’s why we were fresh the other night. I don’t know that.”

THUNDER HEAD COACH SCOTT BROOKS

On turnovers in Game 1:

“We had 18 [turnovers]. We gave up 23 points. That’s too many, considering they only had like six going into the last six minutes of that game. That’s a big margin. So, we want to make sure we take care of the basketball because this is a very fast team that wants to score off of our turnovers. We definitely have to take care of the basketball. It was a part of our problem last game. We have to be able to do other things well. We have to be able to stop the ball. We have to be able to take them out of their offense much better than we did.”

On his relationship with Kevin Durant:

“He’s easy to get along with. I love guys that work. I love guys that are great teammates; and if I’ve ever had problems with players, those are the two issues I had. If you work hard and you get along with your teammates, I will work with you and fight for you and do everything I can possibly do to make you better; and I saw that early on with Kevin. We haven’t played a lot of games. He wasn’t good in a lot of different areas, and if he didn’t improve in those areas, he wouldn’t have been an MVP candidate the last three years, and he wouldn’t have been on the stage yesterday if he didn’t improve in those areas. That’s always good to see as a coach; seeing him improve every year. His defense has gotten pretty good. His playmaking has gotten pretty good, and I think his leadership has gotten really good. If those things hadn’t improved, he wouldn’t have been able to stand up there yesterday, and be the MVP of this league.”

On Jamal Crawford:

“He makes shots that you don’t think that should go in, and he can generate offense by playing isolation basketball, and he’s a hard cover. If you put a smaller guy on him, he shoots over you. If you put a bigger guy on him, he can get around you with some of his moves that he has. He’s a terrific player, and he’s deserving of the Sixth Man of the Year. He comes in and he gives them a spark. The guy can score anywhere to 15 to 35 points any given night, and that’s definitely a luxury that Doc has.”