Utah Jazz - 117, Los Angeles Clippers - 111
Q. How important is it mentally to win these two home games against a team like the Clippers? And I was also wondering how do you feel about playing in front of an arena packed with fans rooting for your team? I mean, how did it impact on your game?
JORDAN CLARKSON: It's definitely a lot of energy. We're playing against a great team. We knew they was going to come out here and really compete and try to get one here on our home court, but we fought through. I think at one point we was up almost by 20. They came back, threw a little change in the game, and they made a run and got the lead back down. And biggest thing about us, we just kept playing, kept doing what we were doing, running, spacing, and then we started getting stops. That was the biggest thing for us in the second half late in the game as well. Big shots by Joe, Bojan, Donovan, all those guys were making plays toward the end of the game that helped us win it.
But it's definitely great having fans in there. It's a different environment, super loud, definitely ready for going into Staples and experiencing that as well.
Q. There's been a lot of comments about your defense and Bojan's defense. You guys maybe aren't thought of as the stoppers on the team but pretty big efforts from you. I'm wondering what led to that, what kind of comments from the coaches or something you saw in film?
JORDAN CLARKSON: Just film work and I think me and Bojan really locking in knowing that it's playoffs, knowing that guys are all trying to attack. They are trying to get us in switches and stuff like that. So us just kind of locking in knowing it's playoffs, knowing each possession matters, knowing we're going against great matchups, and we just are out there competing and doing what we're trying to do to get wins.
Q. Your game obviously speaks for itself and you've talked a lot about how you really feel comfortable and at home with this Jazz team. I'm just curious, when you think about your legacy, what you want, the mark that you want to leave in the NBA, you also seem to be everybody's favorite player and friend no matter where you go. Do you think about that, like, who you want to be as a person just as much as who you are on the court?
JORDAN CLARKSON: Not necessarily. I'm kind of just like free and I'm just myself. I'm not really worried about a legacy or any of that kind of left behind or anything in the league. I'm just trying to be there for my teammates, give them good vibes, coming out here and competing. Our life is like very stressful, and playoff times is a big concentration, focused moments for us, but I'm still trying to bring that free, just flowing vibe to this team and continue to do that. I really don't think about a legacy and what I leave behind, but if it was, they know JC was free and did what he did on his own time.
Q. Can you kind of just take us through that big fourth quarter run where we started to see some of the other guys take over, whether it was Joe or Royce hitting a big shot or Bojan hitting a big shot, just kind of take us through what it means to have that many guys who can come through in big moments like that.
JORDAN CLARKSON: It's amazing. We do a good job of moving the ball, taking shots. I feel like sometimes in the game we kind of over pass and try to look for the next guy, we find ourself in some trouble, especially me. But I have no problem shooting it. But those guys in those situations making those big plays and finishing the game like that, that's the reason why they're out there, the reason why they're finishing the game and making those shots. They have done it throughout the whole season. Now you seen them do it in the playoffs, big shots by Royce, like you said. I don't think he was really on like he has been in the playoffs this whole game and then you see him bang those last threes and making big plays on the defensive end at the end. That's a real confidence booster for him going into this next game. You see Joe knocking threes down. Bojan just feeling so free and knocking it down. That's a beautiful thing, being able to spread the floor and shoot threes and make plays for each other.
Q. I would like to ask you, how could you rate the level of confidence in the team after those two wins? And also, how different is the dynamic with Donovan, because you have six wins in the six games of playoffs when Donovan came back in action.
JORDAN CLARKSON: Say that first part again. My bad. I got lost in the second question. My bad.
Q. How big, how could you rate the level of confidence in the team after those two wins against the Clippers?
JORDAN CLARKSON: I don't think it has to do with the two wins in terms of our confidence. I think we all are pretty confident coming into every series, every game. We know it's one at a time. We know what our goal is and what we want to accomplish. So I think our confidence level is pretty high. And these two games already happened. Tomorrow we're just going to wash them out, watch film, get back on the court, go to Los Angeles, lock down, and do what we do. Nothing is really changed for us. We are still sticking to the same script and trying to do what we do.
In terms of confidence level, I think it's very high. And then with Don coming back, you see his performances. You see his shooting percentages, what plays he's making on the court. We are asking him to defend as well with Mike being out. He's just stepping up in a big way. He's being a real superstar, MVP-caliber player, All-NBA guy. So that's his job and that's what he does.
Q. With a guy like Donovan, like you were saying, the caliber of player that he is, it could maybe be easy to rely on him a little bit. You've been on teams like that before with a guy like LeBron where you could rely on him to take over games. But what's it like to be on this team where it seems like there's so much trust in putting the ball in everyone's hands, not just Donovan's.
JORDAN CLARKSON: It feels amazing. We know he's a special talent. We know he can get his shot. We know he can score very explosively and go for 50 every night. But he does a good job of getting everybody involved, getting in the paint, making plays for us, getting open threes, starting the blender for us, breaking guys down. It's a special talent that he has and a balance that he has that's been great for us. Like I say, he's just being an All-Star, All-NBA guy and really like a MVP for us. So hey, hat's off to that guy, man. He's worked really hard to get back on this court as well with his ankle stuff and everything, so it's great.
Q. I want to take you back to playing in the first quarter when you crossed up Paul George and hit that step back three-pointer. How much in a moment like that is that just improvisation on the spot or is there something you saw in tape or earlier in the game that you knew you might have an opportunity to do something like that?
JORDAN CLARKSON: That just happens, bro. That's just instinct, catching the ball on the wing. We didn't have it. I just tried to make a play and it ended up happening. I made the three, just ran back. That's all it was. I don't think it's bigger than what it is. He played great defense. He had a contest on the shot. I just made it.
Q. I wanted to take you back to Game 1, because Karl Malone was in the building and he rocks your jersey, he had his family in Flamethrower gear and he actually bought multiple Jordan Clarkson jerseys. I wanted to know how that felt just to have a legend like that just rocking your jersey at the game.
JORDAN CLARKSON: That's pretty dope. Something that I embrace. It's good to see him come to the game and really support. Yeah, I think it's just fire. It's just dope.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports