Austin Reaves, D-Lo x Coach Ham React To Lakers Game 2 vs Grizzlies | April 19, 2023

I mean, yeah, but I mean, you go back to last year and you look at the record without John, I think they're like 22 and 25. I mean, this year, I think there's a little worse 11 and 10 or something like that. So, you know, they proved in the last two years that they play really good basketball with and without him. So we knew it was going to be a challenge. And like I said, they were desperate and they played harder than us. But, you know, we felt like we got a good opportunity regardless of who we're playing. As disjointed as the game felt, when you look up at the scoreboard, it's a six-point game with three minutes to go. What do you think allowed you guys to at least get to that point? I think it was just effort coming out of half. Vando was big on the offensive glass, getting extra possessions and really just playing hard. That's all it come down to was us matching their energy. Like I said, with the talent that we have, we're never really out of a game. We just didn't make enough plays down the stretch. Austin, you could feel that kind of defensive desperation that they had and just how difficult it seemed like to dislodge them. What are some of the things offensively that you guys can do to counter that just with efficiency and trying to find ways to get around it? I think it's just playing the right way. You can use their aggression against them, honestly, if you just play the right way. If you get the ball moving, they'll get out of position at some point. We'll go watch the film either tomorrow or Friday and assess what we need to assess, but for this one, honestly. Are you eager to get back? Of course, there's another couple days off. Go back now with a 1-1 split, get the Laker crowd for the first Laker home game that you've had. What do you expect in that game? It's game three in the playoffs. We come down here, we've obviously got game one, so it put us in a good position, which we would have got tonight. But it's the nature of the game. We win some, we lose some. It'll be nice to get back to L.A. and play in front of our crowd and that atmosphere. Obviously, he's getting a ton of defensive attention right now. What can you guys do to get him easier baskets? Just try to make it, like you said, easier for him. Get him the ball in better spots. We got him the ball in a couple tough spots where he had to try to make a shot over two or three people. Just give him a little bit more space and opportunity to play his game. He's got so much talent that if you give him that, he's really hard to stop. But they did good defensively. Like I said, we'll watch the tape and see what we can do to help the whole group. D'Angelo Russell made just two of 11 shots. He's with Mike in the locker room. D'Angelo, it looked like there was a different level of energy and focus from Memphis from game one, which I guess you could expect. You were here for a playoff series last year. What did that feel like on the court, and where do you guys feel like you may have not matched at times in the game? First quarter, they got the best of us. Never allowed us to get any rhythm since then from that point on. So, first quarter. What are the things that you look at defensively, the things that they were doing differently from last game? We got to watch the game. Honestly, to speak on that is too soon. Being out there and watching it gives you a better feel of what was out there and what they were allowing us to do. They got the win, so obviously we probably didn't take advantage of what they were giving us. So, simple as that. And then just for you individually, a less efficient shooting than you typically are, what did you see the way they were defending you and where you were getting your looks from? Just mixing shots. I liked the shots I was getting. Honestly, just missing them. Emotionally, I mean, obviously it's a disappointing game for you guys. You did win one of those down here. What's sort of the mindset of the team as you guys go back to Iowa? On to the next one. Came out here, got a tough one in a tough environment. Just to get the next one. I think our mentality is already on to the next one. Did you see any sort of change in their effort without having jobs? Maybe an expanded mentality or anything like that. Sometimes teams can be almost more dangerous when they're missing one of their key pieces. I don't know about all that. They won without them, lost with them. I don't know. You guys have gotten a pretty big lift from Rui here in two games. What have you thought of the confidence that he's playing with? Huge. He's playing well, doing everything that we ask, and they're allowing him to shoot the ball, so he's more than capable. I think he could dominate the series, honestly. In your position as the point guard, what are you seeing that they're doing to A.D. to try to limit him some? You're doing every playoff series where some of the best players dominate them. You try to double and make it hard for them. Always have two or three bodies on them. Simple as that. They're doing a good job of just keeping their bodies on them. We'll figure it out. We'll respond well. Do you think you can do as a point guard or the other guys can do the basketball? You can't keep saying point guard. Are there things that all you guys can do? Sure. I mean, sure. Got to look at it to say what specifically, but sure. Don't remember them saying point guard. You have the ball sometimes. Austin has the ball sometimes. Basketball player with this team. Not really a point guard role. You kind of just hoot, you know? P.T. Gable, gable. Brad Taylor. Basketball player with this team, meaning, you know, interchangeable. I think what he was saying was they're in a system that whoever has the position to catch it, they push it up to court. Because they have an interchangeable offense, so they get on the wing. And you're on a team with LeBron. He's going to have the ball. Yeah, exactly. Are you doing that little access 360? Yes. What are you going to break down for us? I don't want to do it, but I got to do it. It's just bad defense. You have a great suit, so go to the wall. Little things you can tweak. I'm going to sit right here. When they have great moments, I have great wall moments. So I'm sitting here right now. I'm all for it. Just didn't have their antennas up tonight. You know, unfortunately, they got the game won. I think subconsciously they let the guards down a little bit. A slow start. You knew they were going to come out hard without a jaw. And you needed to match that early. And they didn't. And the momentum just kept going their way. And when the Lakers, you know, they got back, you know, within six. But then, you know, a careless turnover or unfortunate play. You're not going to get calls on the road. So they can't worry about that. I mean, the game was played harder and with more force by Memphis than the Lakers in that game. For me, you just have to find ways to motivate yourself. And bulletin board material. Like when Josh said, there's nobody I fear but the Celtics. Little things like that you have to remind yourself of. Make them fear us. Make them feel us on the offensive end. And it was like if you watched the way the Memphis Grizzlies played, they was being physical. They was creating the contact. Sometimes you got to create that contact to let them know, hey, this is going to be a long night for you two. What did he say? He fears the Celtics? He said there's nobody that he fears in basketball to win the championship but the Celtics. That's the only team he fears. You ever fear anybody? Myself. Don't fear others. A little irresponsible with the ball. Some unforced errors. I think in the first quarter we had five turnovers that gave them and turned 10 points. But from that point on, you know, I thought we clawed and we scratched and we fought. The defense wore on. As the game wore on, the defense got better and better. And we just need to have that mentality at the start of the game. And, you know, at the end of the day, obviously we wish we could have got this one as well, but that's a hell of a team over there, really highly competitive ball club. I said it before the game, it's the reason why they are who they are with or without Ja. Still a huge storage full of talent and guys that play the right way, play hard, and play together. So, you know, my hat's off to them. They came out, had a hell of a performance. You know, they played with a desperation, a sense of urgency. And, you know, obviously we were able to get game one. Unfortunately we didn't get game two. But, you know, having a split nonetheless is a good trip. And so we just have to go home and defend our home court. And then, Darvin, just tactically with Jones in the game and getting a lot behind AD, pulling him up in that screen roll action, what's the adjustment there? How is that different from what they're used to? I have to go back and I really can't talk adjustments. I don't like speaking on it, you know, coming off the emotion of the game, seeing it initially in live action. Once we get back, we'll dissect the film on the plane ride home. And next time I see you, I'll share what I can share. What you just said, that still a good trip, the split. Is that you being big picture and devoid of the emotions of what happened? Because it felt like you guys had a pretty good opportunity. I'm pretty sure if this was the NCAA tournament, my mood would be a lot different. But it's the first of four, not the first of one or two or three. You know, we anticipated a really grueling series. This team, again, it's the reason why they are who they are. Have a lot of pride. High, high elite competitive spirit. Extremely talented roster. So we knew we were going to have our hands full with this matchup. But, you know, again, we were able to do some great things in game one. Game two, not so much. Didn't start off the right way. But we kept at it. We kept competing. And, you know, holding this team to 103 points, even without Ja is a hell of a defensive effort. So, you know, I'm sure A.D. will play better. D. Lo will play better. You know, we had a lot of guys who, you know, had some tough nights on the field. And I don't see that happening too many more times. So we just got to go back, go back to the drawing board and really look at the game, investigate it closely and see where we can get better. The things we did well defensively as the game wore on and try to, you know, sustain the defensive effort that we had in the last three quarters and try to be better offensively. And first and foremost, by not hurting ourselves with unforced turnovers. You mentioned A.D. Really tough game offensively for him. What were they doing to disrupt him? What did you see? I mean, from my vantage point initially, you know, forcing tough catches, denying them, forcing them off the spot and then crowding the paint and tilting behind them, flooding the backside. And, again, just when the shot clock is steady dwindling and, you know, you have to go find a way. He's doing his job. We tell our guys whenever you drive the ball and you collapse, you have two or three defenders around you or you try to post up, you have two or three defenders around you. Now you got to go to the second or third option. Swing it quick and just play a little faster. But, again, you know, my hat's off to him. Taylor and his staff, they're really excellent coaches. And, you know, they bumped up their physicality, bumped up their crowds and defensively taking away the paint. And they came away with the win. So, again, time to go back to L.A. and put our best foot forward and defend our home court. Two quick ones. Dennis said that collision with J.J.J. and, obviously, he missed time late in the season with the next Hornets. How did he come through that? And does that contribute to him not playing down the stretch? Yeah, he'll be fine. He'll be fine in short order. He'll be fine. We just decided to go with who we went with. You guys have had three postseason games since the regular season ended, and two of them have been tough shooting nights for D'Angelo. Obviously, game one was not. It was the opposite. But in the moment, what do you think you can do moving forward to get him going a little bit more? Just playing with more pace. And, again, it's hard, man, when you start off turning the ball over. That's tough. That throws everyone's rhythm off. And so do a better job taking care of the ball. In the first game, we had a whole section on it, screening, really getting hits. They're a physical defensive ball club. So us being able to set good screens and hold our screens to free up guys, try to create an advantage, and just playing with pace. If the first action, initial action we're looking at doesn't work, get on to the second. If that's not there, get on to the third. Really maximize the usage of the shot clock. Darvin, in both games, you guys have been outscored when A.D. has been off the floor. Where have you seen the team struggle, I guess, when he goes to the bench? Again, just defending the rim, trying to come up with offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds, I should say. And, you know, we've got to do a better job. I thought tonight also we didn't do a good job of keeping the ball in front of us. You know, just our on-ball individual defense has to get better as well. Thanks, Coach. Thank you.