Here are some of the best comments from Doc Rivers and Scott Brooks’ pregame media conferences prior to Game 4 Sunday morning at STAPLES Center:
CLIPPERS HEAD COACH DOC RIVERS
On the Clippers’ defense in series:
“We’re getting beat off the dribble for 3-point shooting. That’s one of the things we stressed. If you want to be a great 3-point shooting defensive team, you’ve got to control the basketball. The ball gets into the paint you’re going to give up threes.
“I think we have not controlled the basketball. They’re living in the paint right now. Thus, that opens up everything because it puts you in help.”
On what he needs to see to know if the team is playing with right urgency:
“Getting stops. It’s not like this big thing you’re looking at. If we’re in the right spot, doing the right stuff, I think it will show that we’re playing the right way.”
On if there is a single key to victory in Game 4:
“Transition scoring. That's where Durant has hurt us, in transition. That's where Westbrook has hurt us. That's another area they've gotten some of the threes is their transition offense. It's a powerful break. When you get the ball to Westbrook coming at you, the pull-up threes, attacking the basket. Then the guy that no one talked about in transition is Durant. We have to load better.”
THUNDER HEAD COACH SCOTT BROOKS
On Russell Westbrook’s rebounding ability:
“Russell is one of the best rebounding guards in the league. We talk about rebounding as a committee, and we like that. We feel that our guards have to get in there and rebound. [Kevin Durant] is a big-time rebounder also from the three spot. Russell attacks both ends of the floor. You always have to pay attention to him. We like when he's aggressive. There's certain times he has to get back and not crash the offensive glass. But you have to guard him. When that shot goes up, if he has an open lane, we want him to get in there.
On whether Kevin Durant’s MVP speech has had a positive impact on the Thunder:
“With Kevin, as we all know, you guys have known for a while now, he's a special young man, all the talents he has, the skill sets he has, the work ethic he has. Some of the greatest things he brings to our team is him being a great teammate. There's so many levels to that speech, obviously the impact that his mom and his family has had on him, the impact that he has on his teammates, his coaching staff, the staff in general, the city, the organization. He's just an incredible ambassador to the game. That speech was very emotional. I like to see things that are from the heart and not premeditated. Everything Kevin is about is from the heart. He's going to answer the questions how he feels, not what you want to hear.