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So we have learned how to handle setbacks, things not going our way and just getting to work instead of getting distracted or making excuses or feeling sorry for ourselves. This group, we have faced tough times this year. Can you run us through your playbook -ĮRIK SPOELSTRA: I don't even know how to answer that. Before the series, we spoke to Caleb Martin, speaking about you and Coach Riley, said you are at your best after defeat. And we needed every bit of what he did tonight. He puts in more time than he probably should. But Max has also proven that he can impact winning regardless of whether the ball is going in. Offensively, yeah, it's always great to see the ball go in. If you give him a task, he'll do it, and that's winning basketball. He's also a guy that will come in and help rebound. He's physical, he's in the right spots, he's a great block-out guy. How pleased were you the way he got going early in the first quarter, kind of set the tone for you guys?ĮRIK SPOELSTRA: Of course, everybody is going to be looking at that final number: How many threes did he hit? But he's a winning basketball player. In Game 1, you mentioned Max Strus is ignitable despite the poor shooting effort he had in Game 1. You gain strength from that.īut this is a very tough opponent. We want to be able to have that privilege of having adversity and being able to overcome it. It steeled us and we developed some grit, which is what we all want. Because of all that adversity and the 57 close games that happened, due to a lot of that, it hardened us. We handled it the right way where you are not making excuses about it, the injuries, the changes lineups. We faced a lot of adversity during the season. I know mental toughness has been a bedrock of the organization for a few decades, but why do you think this team has shown to be so resilient over and over?ĮRIK SPOELSTRA: Well, we've talked about it in all the previous three series, so I feel like I'm being redundant. Yes, it always looks better if the ball goes in. So we did get some relief points on cuts and extra passes, ball movement that led to open shots. That the ball is going where it needs to go and everybody understands what we are trying to get accomplished. And that doesn't guarantee you anything either, but at least you give yourself the best chance. You guys all had a bunch of really, really impressive shot-making games this postseason, but tonight what did you feel you did better as far as the offensive process, especially in that fourth quarter?ĮRIK SPOELSTRA: More intentional. So it's not like he can just stand and rest on the offensive side, and yes, he has to play 40-plus minutes, as well. To take arguably the toughest cover in the league for all the myriad of reasons that I don't need to get into, and then he has to shoulder a big offensive role for us, as well. Kyle just has this veteran championship experience that just kind of settles everybody, and he just makes the big, appropriate plays, our big plays at the appropriate times.Īnd then Bam, we just can't say enough of how difficult his responsibilities are in this series. Their run in the second quarter happened with Jokic on the bench. Fortunately we were able to make a lot of big defensive plays down the stretch, and then we got a lot of contributions, which you're going to need against a team like this. They love to put themselves out there in those moments of truth. They force you to have to compete at a super-high level, but you have to do it with a brain and you have to do it with discipline.Īnd our guys, regardless of how the head coach feels, during the fourth quarter, our guys love to compete. Basically every other huddle we're talking about what it's going to require and all those extra efforts and physical plays without fouling, just making winning plays.īut I think at that time, we were talking about some schematics. I think we were talking about some schematics. Can you take us into the fourth quarter? I know being in that spot is a place where you guys have got edge, obviously, very comfortable this year, but the mindset knowing the stakes of the next 12 minutes, what was said in that huddle?ĮRIK SPOELSTRA: I don't totally remember.

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