I think 24 8 tonight, just throughout these five games has he been even Maurin valuable than maybe you even thought coming into the Siri's?

I wouldn't same or invaluable.

I think we came into this knowing how impactful he could be with this lineup and then playing so much small ball.

Ah, and you go back to the regular season matchups.

So he's been phenomenal, but it's not surprising for any of us.

Obviously, we have looked to feature him or get him or touches, and, you know, tonight was another example of him taking advantage of that.

So, um, you know, 13 year vet, a lot of games under his belt, and he's stepping up when we need him to step up a lot.

You know, I think the best thing about Paul Millsap he's true to himself never tries to be something he's not, and he's not a rock guy.

He's not a guy that's gonna be screaming and yelling, but I think his calm nature, his calm demeanor has in effect in our group young team going through all this for the first time.

And when you can look to a four time All Star with 90 playoff games under his belt, that's reassuring.

You know, the easy kind of the com for our team, and, uh, I think that has a tremendous impact on all of our young players.

Jamal A really got to go in there in the first half.

Scoring wise just just were to see Mate rank in terms of tough shot makers.

You've come across in the league.

He's definitely up there, you know?

You always think about.

I think stepping Curry is great.

Great finishers below the rim finishers, if you will.

I think what Jamal has, he can finish all different types of shots, but he also has the athleticism to finish above the rim.

But I thought he was terrific tonight.

You got there, get 24 points, nine assists and no turnovers and gained five of a playoff game and this is your playoff debut and as I mentioned, I think after last game what I'm marveling at what Jamal Murray is, the consistency at which he is playing at right now.

First round it was a little bit up and down, which tomorrow is gonna show up.

We kind of go is he goes in this in this playoff series.

He's been phenomenal and he's impact in the game in so many ways, scoring, playmaking and rebounding.

And I think he's playing some pretty good defense is well, so, uh, great job by him.

Nikola and Jamal and Paul seem to take turns dominating on offense.

You had six guys in double figures tonight.

Is that a product of game blow or is there a game plan to spread the ball around?

That's, Ah, that's who we've been.

I mean, you go back to the 82 game regular season were second lead in assists per game?

A something we heart bond, something we practice.

It's something we preach.

Ah, and that's part of our culture being selfless, making plays for a team mate and playing for each other, not just with each other.

And I think it whenever you watch us play were a fun team to watch because of how himself which we are.

It's not just one guy dribbling the ball 25 times and shooting.

It's actually guys making the right play playing off of each other and really, really unselfish basketball.

And ah, that's what I love about a group of guys are connected.

You can tell by watching us play how much we care for each other.

And that's part one of things I love most about a group, not toe.

Take the conversation away from basketball.

But you spoke pregame about the shooting a lot and that you thought you'd be ableto keep your mind focused on the game.

One.

To start, I'm wondering if you caught yourself drifting at all, or if you thought about the shooting at all, whether it was during the game or halftime, or you're able to kind of block that out.

Yeah, I was, Ah, to be honest, Harrison.

Really?

Ah, able to block it out, concentrate on the task at hand.

Ah, then obviously after the game and your thoughts go out, you know, to the family of the student that was killed, and you hope that there hang in there in such a tough night, and and all the other families that were affected?

Um, no, but a tragic story, obviously.

Hopefully we brought a little relief to the fans in the Denver area tonight with another really quality home win against a very good basketball team?

Um, I don't know if you guys realize is going into tonight's game.

The Siris was tied 22 as we all know, but the total score was separated by two points.

Same exact number of threes were made by both teams.

Same exact number of free throws made by both teams.

So even across the board.

And for us to come out here tonight and build a 30 point lead and play the defense that we did, you know, for 3.5 quarters is remarkable.

Um, I think we need to invite Nathaniel rate lifting the night sweats back more often.

He asked me before the game for some advice on his free throw.

He'd never taken a free throw before I said, We'll pull out the Rick Barry and he went under hand and made it so Ah, what a great night for everybody.

And hopefully that bring some some joy to a you know Ah, really sad day.

In many of many regards, Coach, I know the benches had struggles that play well in the first half struggle that at the end of the third star the fourth.

But Nicola was in until 3 50 with a pretty sizable lead can go through your thought process on what you felt was important about keeping him in until the foul out.

Yeah, they cut it down to 20 or 22.

And, um, you know, I was getting nervous about taking guys out too early.

Obviously, it's a very delicate balance for him, for Jamal, for any other story that's in the game that late.

You don't want anybody getting hurt.

Ah, but I just didn't I really love the 1st 3/4 That fourth quarter was really tough to watch and sit there as they continue to kind of, Ah, eat away at the lead and make threes, and we turned the ball over and we didn't get back.

So it's just an insurance blanket for me keeping him out there.

But allow the assistant coaches.

They're saying we've got to get him out.

We got to get him out and obviously I finally did so probably little bit too long, Matt.

But I want to make sure we get the win coach, your defensive presence in the paint tonight.

Whether that was just sticking hand in there when they were driving or getting the rebound.

How important was that for you guys to get off on the right foot In the last two games?

I think we've done so much better of a job in terms of defending the paint.

You know, there have been many gains.

They've had high fifties low sixties in the paint, and I think that's back to back games where they've been low forties, which is a much more manageable number.

And then you talk about the three point defense 10 of 37.

Um, so you know, all the guys that played tonight deserve credit in that regard.

Um, and it's hard because name and C J are coming at you.

They're attacking, so you have to pick them up and have a great one on one defense.

But there's got to be help behind it.

We felt the last couple of games to money, blow byes and easy layups, and we wanted to be different Tonight.

We want to make sure there was help behind that drive and make them have to finish some tough shots.

We know going into Portland for Game six is gonna be really tough game.

My hope is that Game six in San Antonio, we did not come ready to play mentally and physically.

I hope that we have a much different mindset going into Portland for game number six.

Michael.

Two questions.

One you mentioned, um, Steph and Kyrie.

When talking about Jamal, does he remind you of those two guys?

And then the other thing is through five games.

Now Dame has not beaten you.

Hey, had 38 in Game one, but you want that one anyway.

Are you?

Are you trying to make someone else beat you from the Blazers?

I would say regarding Jamal and the Steph and Kyrie comparisons.

Jamal's his own player.

He's his own individual, and I don't want him trying to be anyone else except him.

I want him to be the best Jamal Murray possible.

Ah, I referenced those guys in regards to their ability to finish, and I think Jamal has some of that same ability.

But Jamal is a completely different player, and and I love him, and I'm thankful that I have the relationship I had with him and know that he's going to be here for a long time.

Um, the second question was, Yeah, I mean, he no disregard anybody else in the Ross.

He's their best player.

And when you watch the five games against O K C in the first round, he dominated that Siri's ah, big shot after big shot.

And I think any time you're playing against a team in the playoffs, like we try to do it tomorrow and LaMarcus in the first round you game plan to take that guy out.

And you know, we regarded him really well in the regular season, and we have guarded him really well in five games now.

And you know I like like Terry said, he's missed some open shots, but I think you have to keep our defense some credit after nine games, regular season and playoffs.

The fact that we have defended him at the level we've defended him, and I'll say this once again, though, because he's a great player.

He's an all Star for a reason.

Um, he's capable of scoring 50 in Game six and were well aware of that.

So we have plenty of work to do.

We're not done yet.

Uh, Michael, two questions that did you take exception to the flagrant on Yokich, What did you see there?

And also you touched a little bit briefly about the mentality you need.

This team needs going to Game six.

What do you think they've learned from that?

First Game six in San Antonio they could take into this one.

Did not really get a good look at the flagrant, to be honest with you, so I'll have to look at that.

But the referees looked at it.

They called it so they took care of that on the court.

I think for us what we learned in Game six is, um San Antonio is not just going to roll over because we're up three to Portland is not gonna roll over because we're up 32 We won two games in a row.

They're going to fight just like San Antonio.

They have a very good home court record.

We have to bring the fight.

We have to be in the physicality, the attack mindset on and be ready to play from Jump Street.

We did not have that in game six of San Antonio, and hopefully we learned our lesson and we'll have it, you know, into two days from now.