LAC Mailbag and 24 Seconds with...

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Mailbag 11/10: Speights Answers Fan Questions

Stevie Gonzales – You were such a great pickup for this Clippers team. How is team chemistry so far and where would you say your comfort level is with the team? #LACmailbag

MS: “Team chemistry is good. Still a process, still getting better. My comfort level is always good. It doesn’t matter if I’m on the bench, on the court, walking around, my comfort level is always good.”

Devon Maisonneuve – As a Clipper fan, I was so excited when they signed you. What factors led to you signing with the Clippers? #LACmailbag

MS: “Having a chance to play for a championship caliber team with a good coaching staff, and the opportunity to play consistently every night and have a bigger role here coming off the bench.”

Kys (@SweaterGawwd) – What’s your favorite part about playing with the Clippers? #LACmailbag

MS: “just getting to know these players. Playing against them, you really don’t know them like that. But it’s fun playing for Doc (Rivers), and it’s fun being here.”

Rowan Kavner, Clippers.com

24 Seconds With…Chris Paul

What’s gone into the defensive consistency early this year?

CP: “I think when you start off the season, you always wonder, sort of, what your team identity is going to be, and once you get a few games under your belt, you start to see that. I think now our team is excited about our defense. We get excited about stopping teams and trying to keep them under a certain number or whatnot. I think that is something that can be contagious all season long.”

How did the 2-0 road trip give you guys a boost?

CP: “J.J. (Redick) said something about it toward the end when we were on the bench. He was talking about our road trip and how good that was and how this year, when we come off road trips when we do well like that, not having letdowns. Because we’ve been together so long, we can name games over the years where we’re like, ‘Man, we shouldn’t have lost that game.’ I know it sounds repetitive, but it’s just attention to detail. One of the biggest things we keep talking about is finishing. Finish the game, finish everything that we do. If it’s a drill, every day in practice, having the same mindset and not getting complacent.”

How do you sustain this level of play going forward?

CP: “In all seriousness, not to be funny, this is our job. This is what we signed up for. We have a lot of guys on our team that have been in this league a while. I think what’s nice about it, too, is we have so many different guys that can push each other. Whether it’s, I think it was last week I was a little sick going to into the game and (Blake) came up and told me before the game, ‘I know you don’t feel good, but let’s go.’ We have guys on our team where we push each other. On certain nights, long schedule, long season, we have to pick each other up.”

Rowan Kavner, Clippers.com

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24 Seconds With…Blake Griffin | 11/15/16

You guys have the fourth best point differential in NBA history through 11 games. What does that mean to you?

BG: “I think it just shows our focus. I think our focus has been in the right place. I think guys have completely bought in. Guys aren’t really worried about personal stats. It’s about executing and doing your job, doing what you’re supposed to do, being there for your teammates… It feels like somebody’s always there for you when you mess up, and you’re always looking to be there for somebody; not even necessarily messing up, but you run somebody off the line, somebody’s there for you, and you have their back.”

Is the narrative that the Clippers can do this in the regular season but not the playoffs a fair one?

BG: “I think I talked about it before, people are going to say whatever they want to say. When I came into the league, the talk was, ‘you don’t want to go to the Clippers, they’ve never had a high draft pick be successful.’ Then it was, ‘you’re not going to make the playoffs.’ Then it was, ‘you can’t sustain it.’ It’s always going to be something, until you win. I’m not worried about all that talk… Each year is different. If you don’t think we still have the same goal every year and we’re going to try to win a championship every year, then you’re crazy.”

What’s gone into the ball moving better, and can you notice it?

BG: “Ball movement’s been really good. I think our cutting has been great. That was a point of emphasis early on in training camp as well. Even when we get it in the post, the movement’s there, and it’s knowing each other and knowing the offense so well. Last year, Luc (Mbah a Moute) was still getting familiar at times. This year, everybody kind of having a year or even more under their belt has really helped our offense.”

Rowan Kavner, Clippers.com

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Mailbag 11/19: Redick Answers Fan Questions

Moises Ajanel – J.J., which tattoo artist did your full sleeve? #LACmailbag

JJ: “Bryan Randolph, from Spider Murphy’s in the Bay Area. I had made it my goal to find out who did Adam Levine’s or David Beckham’s, and I ran into Adam Levine first, so I asked him.”

Cris (@_yungcris) – Who is your favorite shooter of all time? #LACmailbag

JJ: “Reggie Miller…or Wyatt Earp (laughs)”

Harry (@BamideleHarry) – Would you take part in the 3-point challenge again if given the chance? #LACmailbag

JJ: “No… the only way I’d do it is if I was an All-Star.”

Rowan Kavner, Clippers.com

24 Seconds With…Blake Griffin | 11/30/16

Before the Nets game, he let Griffin know of the decision. After a crazy finish to the double-overtime loss, Griffin talked about the difficulties resting for that Tuesday night game.

When did you find out you’d be getting the night off?

BG: “Doc mentioned something to me in Indiana. I kind of brushed it off like, ‘There’s no way that’s happening.’ Then, yesterday afternoon, I had to go up to Doc’s room, so I walk in there and it’s like our trainer, our head of player performance, (executive vice president of basketball operations Lawrence) Frank, Doc. It was like I walked into an ambush (smiles). They showed me all the science. (Director of performance) Mark (Simpson) had his little pamphlet ready to go for the argument we were about to have. After a little bit, I just was like, ‘Well, if this is what you think is best for the team, I’m going to do it.’”

Did you try to convince them to play?

BG: “I definitely presented my case. Wasn’t as well-prepared as I would’ve liked to have been... I didn’t have a pamphlet (laughs). I walked in there straight out of the training room. I was frustrated before the game, especially now (after the loss) it’s even worse, but this is what our staff and what our coaching staff and training staff feel is the best thing, and we as players have to do that. Other teams are doing it as well.”

Rowan Kavner, Clippers.com

24 Seconds With … Doc Rivers | 12/13/16

The D-League has talked about using four or five referees in a game. What do you think of that concept and is it something you’d want to try here?

DR: “Being in a committee, we’ve heard it. I just like that you use the D-League just to try anything to see if it makes our league better. We thought about going to two. I like two, I got away with more, personally. The third guy caught me (laughs). I know the four are what they more are going to experiment with. They’re trying to figure out the position, where to put him. It may be good… let’s see. I don’t really care, as long as it’s well-officiated.”

Where have you seen the evolution of J.J. Redick’s skills, beyond shooting?

DR: “It’s more he puts the ball on the floor. It’s funny, I always thought he could a little bit. Coach K (Mike Krzyzewski) always told me that as well, and J.J. always told me that, I must say. It may be more me, I didn’t trust it enough. But in pick-and-roll, he’s very good. I would say in this year more than in years past, we’ve put him in those situations. That’s probably growth for him, but I would say in this case it may be growth from the coach. I just trust him more now doing that.”

(Postgame) Where do you see the Clippers needing to improve most after the last few weeks?

DR: “Transition D is number one, always. I think that’s where we slipped the most, and then our on-ball and our weak-side defense. We had a stretch where we were getting steals and getting our hands on the ball. Our deflections have been way down, so, those are the areas we’re going to focus on.”

Rowan Kavner, Clippers.com

Mailbag 12/16: Jordan Answers Fan Questions

Klay Kellison – How did it feel to receive your Olympic championship ring? #LACmailbag

DJ: “That was amazing. I didn’t know they gave out championship rings, I thought we just got a gold medal. That was amazing, especially in front of the home crowd. That was really cool. They’ve supported me for a long, long time.”

Ryan Johnson – If you could face off 1-on-1 against any NBA center, past or present, who would it be? #LACmailbag

DJ: “Hakeem Olajuwon”

Royal Basketball (@RoyalBasketball) – Who was your favorite center growing up? #LACmailbag

DJ – “Shaq”

Spiro Schialdone (@Spiroschialdone) – What’s your greatest memory since entering the NBA? #LACmailbag

DJ – “Making the playoffs for the first time.”

Rowan Kavner, Clippers.com

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Mailbag 12/22: Austin Rivers Answers Fan Questions

Alex Drury – What do you think you’ve improved most at since you entered the league? #LACmailbag

AR: “I think my patience has been the biggest thing. I think I was always in a rush early on in the league. I think I’ve learned to be patient, and to not give what the defense is giving me but to take through my rhythm, through my speed. I think that’s the biggest thing.”

Joshuwa Gensemer – How did it feel to have your jersey retired at your high school? #LACmailbag

AR: “It was one of the most memorable nights I ever had, and it has little to do with the fact my jersey was retired. I think it was more, the fact that I got my jersey retired with my former and current teammates is probably one of the coolest things I think any teammate could have, to see where I’m at now, where I was before, and to have everybody see that was pretty cool.”

Katy Terry (@kateterry64) – What have you done to improve your 3-point field goal percentage? You’re on fire! #LACmailbag

AR: “Gotten way more shots up. Just been shooting the ball way more, as you just saw. I never did this last year, getting this many shots up, shooting with J.J. (Redick), shooting after J.J., shooting before J.J. I’m trying to shoot more threes than anybody on my team.”

Rowan Kavner, Clippers.com

24 Seconds With … Jamal Crawford | 12/27/16

How do you and Austin Rivers balance the role between distributing and attacking with so many players out, and is it still a learning process playing alongside teammates you might not otherwise if everyone was healthy?

JC: “It’s just tough because, in the NBA, at the end of the shot clock, it always ends up kind of in the guards’ hands. And that sometimes, is why you see (jump shots), because it works around and things break down and it ends up in the guards’ hands. For us, obviously our hearts are in the right place. We’re trying to get guys shots. We’re both naturally attackers and naturally scorers, but we’re very cognizant of trying to get our guys shots, for sure.”

How slim are the margins for error now, and can fatigue start to wear on you guys when you’re so shorthanded?

JC: “It all plays a part, and we’re all fighting. We really are. We’re all competing and trying. But you look at the last three losses, two of them we’re leading in the fourth quarter. So, that’s almost tougher to handle after it’s over with than losing by 20. Sometimes you lay an egg, and you’re down, losing by 20 points. To kind of control your own destiny and control your own fate in the fourth quarter when it’s winning time and to be up two, three, four points and lose that game… it’s tough.”

Rowan Kavner, Clippers.com

24 Seconds With … JJ Redick | 01/03/17

Doc Rivers said he thought the guards attacking more made a difference tonight. Did you see that opening up the floor?

Redick: “I don’t know that. We had 20 turnovers tonight, I don’t know what we shot from the field, but I don’t think it was great. I don’t think that necessarily opened things up. To me, it was our defense, especially in the second half. They had a lot of transition buckets off our turnovers in the first half; then the second half, we had unbelievable half-court defense. It reminded me of earlier in the season when we were just flying around, covering for each other. Our rotations were phenomenal tonight – they were as good as they’ve been in a couple weeks. What’d they have, 40 (points) in the second half, 18- and 22-point quarters. That, to me, is why we won.”

Is there a sense right now of waiting for that same defensive team you were early in the season to show back up, and what do you think has been the reason it’s taken a while?

Redick: “I don’t know, you try to figure these things out. You talk with each guy, you have group discussions, team meetings. I don’t know what has been wrong. The frustrating part, to me, is we were a top five defense last year and have proven this year with this group we can be a top defense.”

Rowan Kavner, Clippers.com

Mailbag 01/08: Bass Answers Fan Questions

Bobby Gamache – At what age did you realize your goal was to reach the NBA? #LACmailbag

BB: “I was probably about 14. I was in high school, a freshman in high school, and I think I grew to be like 6-3. I realized I really wanted to take basketball serious. I felt like I had a chance since I grew about two, two and a half or three inches that year. I was still playing as a big. In eighth grade I was 6’1, then I grew even more.”

Jack Berlage (@BerlageJack) – Has anything led to your recent great shooting performances or is it just getting hot at the right time? #LACmailbag

BB: “Opportunity to be out there and play consistently. Just spending extra time in the gym, making sure I’m preparing like I’m going to play every night.”

cris (@_yungcris) – What’s been your best experience as a Clipper? #LACmailbag

BB: “Really just kicking it with my teammates.”

Rowan Kavner, Clippers.com