Steve Clifford Postgame vs. Wizards
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00:00 a formula you want to do again after Monday falling behind big again, but
00:04 what kind of key this one after going down 19?
00:07 >> No, I just think they're adding guys attitude.
00:09 I mean, they kept, we hung in the game and
00:11 we could tell in the huddles that it wasn't easy for us.
00:15 You know, like we didn't have great energy there, especially in the third quarter.
00:19 But they were positive with each other and they kept working the game and
00:23 we had a great fourth quarter.
00:26 >> The play of Ravello and Miles, it seemed like they just made every play they
00:30 needed to down the stretcher, and Miles had a steal and then a three.
00:34 Can you say about their performance tonight,
00:35 how they were able to complement each other?
00:37 >> Yeah, both just terrific.
00:39 And also I thought Bryce played really well tonight, too, off the bench.
00:45 He kept his, when they kind of striking distance there.
00:50 So I thought that was a big factor.
00:52 But no, those guys were both terrific.
00:56 And again, we played a lot better, a lot more energized and
01:01 everything in the fourth quarter than obviously the first three.
01:04 >> You had mentioned Ravello and Miles in the fourth quarter there.
01:07 Just what it's like to kind of see those guys get on the way they did and
01:11 keep you guys in the game?
01:12 >> What you have to have to win the NBA.
01:14 I mean, watch out the game every night.
01:16 So the basketball looks that way.
01:18 Look again, whoever has the best offensive play on the floor has a big advantage.
01:23 Tonight, those guys did that.
01:24 So if you just sit and watch NBA games, that's every night for somebody.
01:29 >> You guys held them to 23 points in the fourth quarter.
01:33 What was working for you defensively down the stretch?
01:36 >> Well, I think Mark in the fourth quarter played really, really well.
01:41 And we guarded the ball better.
01:43 For three quarters, they were a step ahead of us all the time.
01:47 We couldn't keep them.
01:49 Look, they had 60 points in the paint.
01:52 We were behind them constantly.
01:53 I thought in the fourth quarter, we did a little bit better job that way.
01:57 >> Steve, a two part question.
02:00 Melovin, I know he's a 34, but I mean, he had seven assists in the fourth quarter.
02:06 You can speak to his passing.
02:07 And then secondly, do you feel like this was in any way a carry over from maybe some
02:11 confidence that you guys got from coming back from 18 down?
02:16 >> I mean, it's for sure something that I think tonight also that you learned from,
02:21 right, 48 minutes is a long time.
02:23 When things aren't going your way, you can do one of two things.
02:28 You can either kind of give up, get frustrated, stop playing, or
02:32 you can compete harder.
02:34 And in both of these games, our guys stayed in there, like I said,
02:37 in the huddles, they were positive with each other.
02:40 And we kept fighting.
02:42 And then tonight, he started the fourth, there was more pick and
02:46 rolls with Mark, that's where he got the assist.
02:48 But then he had a good pass to Brandon.
02:51 He had a really good pass to JT right on the back cut.
02:56 He had a good pass to Miles to put us up one.
02:58 I mean, obviously, his vision and
03:02 his ability to deliver passes is really remarkable.
03:10 So he's just playing at a super high level.
03:15 >> I know Mike mentioned it, but what did you guys miss from PJ being out?
03:20 Was it like a game jump?
03:22 >> Well, that was a little bit part of the issue because we played lineups,
03:26 I mean, we didn't have a center.
03:28 So I mean, especially in the first half, I thought we did better.
03:32 But I mean, we didn't know, cuz this morning PJ did shoot around and
03:37 everything, so he's played the five quite a bit.
03:40 Miles has never played the five, so we had to play like two,
03:45 like I think about five and a half minutes segments there with a team that
03:49 never played in those spots.
03:51 So that was, the first half it was really bad and
03:55 the second half it was not great.
03:58 But I mean, it's just, there's nothing you can do about it.
04:02 >> As a playmaker, obviously, I know that was that special,
04:05 but can you just talk a little bit about his scoring aspect after going off for
04:09 another 30 point night?
04:10 >> Yeah, I mean, and you know what he's doing?
04:12 Yes, he's finishing a run, asking a lot better than he has in the past.