FULL Lakers Postgame Interviews: Luka Doncic, Walker Kessler, JJ Redick

[0:02] Obviously JJ there were some some sloppy parts of the game but it still seemed like you came out [0:06] ahead in terms of just total deflections and blocks and steals and how did you feel like [0:10] that played into the game and when you were able to sort of pull away in the third quarter? [0:13] Yeah, hot shooting team you know to start the game and then again there towards the end of the game [0:20] when we were you know had a comfortable like 15 point lead they made some shots. [0:24] You know I thought we did a lot of really good stuff ended up I think we ended up with like a [0:30] 122 offensive rating with 21 turnovers so we know the turnover is a problem we'll continue to work [0:35] at it continue to get better at it didn't love how we you know executed against their you know what [0:42] was a pretty soft trap you know we got to be better there we've gone over that a few times we've seen [0:46] them film we've done it on the court so we got to be better in those situations where we know a team's [0:51] going to trap when we have a double digit lead and then defensively for us you know again some really [0:57] good high level shot making what they were well over expected at halftime I thought our guys did [1:03] a good job executing with the cross matching keeping Lopez out of the pick and pop versus the five in [1:08] the second half and you know at that third quarter I think I you know I don't know what his stats end [1:14] up being that there just felt like Walker was everywhere you know in that third and really was a [1:20] huge spark for us getting us a win. [1:22] You know after the first game I know you had mentioned kind of his running habits and some other [1:27] things that stood out and tonight he's got the six blocks three steals like the first deal was [1:31] there he kind of jumped the passing lane went down and dunked it what just how much does that add to [1:35] the rest of what he brings? It adds a lot you know the steal in particular like just you know following [1:43] what we're trying to do in terms of being disruptive and making every catch tough I thought there were [1:49] multiple times where it felt like they had a layup and he either came over to block the shot or [1:54] um you know created a an altered shot and uh I just the second effort was great another good game [2:04] for him running as well. [2:05] J.J. you just talked about it but after only playing five games last season and then you know [2:11] missing some of the preseason how impressed are you by how quickly Walker has gained his rhythm and [2:17] just what have been your uh impressions after two games? [2:20] Um yeah I felt like he was a really good player um certainly proven that correct um he's a fantastic [2:31] basketball player and I think he'll continue to get better and that was one of the reasons that we [2:38] wanted him and he was so appealing to us it was because of his age and feeling like you know the fit with [2:44] our two stars was was really good and someone that can continue to grow um and become a just a [2:51] fantastic player in the NBA. [2:54] J.J. uh you guys four sport turnovers today and then you didn't any last season um I'm just curious [3:00] a lot of people spoke about Zaire and Matisse during the training camp run up to this season how much of [3:06] that today was them mucking stuff up defensively helping create offense for you guys? [3:11] A lot of it I mean I think those guys both did a did a good job um you know I think some of the [3:18] Garland stuff was coverage mistakes I know we got a couple layups there when we didn't have a [3:24] low man um but I think overall they took that matchup and did did a nice job I mean he's such [3:29] a dynamic offensive player um Matisse obviously you know I thought was really good on ball today um [3:38] and then when he's sort of playing that free safety role when he's off the ball with Zaire [3:43] on ball or Q on ball um just he's a playmaker he's a defensive playmaker. [3:48] And then those guys you know they both end up with 13 and 14 points and um I think [3:57] he's hit those threes in the second half there were momentum swinging threes and [4:01] Zaire did a great job he got a crash um versus a smaller guard he got the early seal in the [4:06] first half versus smaller guard they both played just an all-around really really good basketball game. [4:10] JJ a couple for you um the um the turnovers um particularly the the Luka and Austin turnovers [4:16] tonight how much of that is over the course of the season like they are high degree of difficulty [4:22] players at times and they're going to turn the ball over just probably because of that and how much of [4:26] it do you think is still like you know so many new pieces on the court yeah maybe not yeah I would [4:33] say probably it's it's a lot of that um you know not being you know particularly with like special [4:39] situations like traps and stuff like we've got to be better I mean there's one play where Q's [4:44] you know running away from the ball and it's not even looking at the ball I had flashbacks to game [4:49] six in Utah in 2017 when I did the same thing to CP and he almost killed me so um how did you survive [4:57] that barely uh we ended up winning the game so uh lost the series but won the game um the you [5:05] know the the reality is the a lot of the a lot of the turnovers are just the pass in front of [5:12] them just make the pass in front of you you know we talked about about those guys um I think it's [5:18] just it's again it's the familiarity it's you know I think they they obviously 16 assists tonight they [5:25] trust their teammates they they want to be playmakers it's it's building that over the course of the [5:29] season the familiarity where guys are going to be in their spots and certainly as you know Luka's getting [5:34] blitzed tonight with Jackson like there's going to be opportunity and they really turn up they [5:40] they pulled the nail guy over they pulled a low man all the way over so um they're trying to create [5:45] turnovers out of that stuff um so we'll just continue to build out you know our our options [5:50] out of that and and we'll be better through through two games you guys have been a pretty dynamic team [5:56] how have you felt like you've been in minutes and I guess kind of yeah I mean you're just you're [6:08] you're figuring out I think early in the season with all this stuff is like archetype archetype [6:13] match-ups like what is a good match-up for bench units what's a what's a poor match-up do we [6:18] alter the matrix that you're not going to figure it out in two games thanks coach thank you I'm [6:24] fantastic I got my two shakes I'm good same place yeah it's just calories I'm just fat so I gotta [6:33] eat a bunch hey I'm walking back way way back over here oh yeah you see you walking in with blood on [6:43] your knee yeah two drinks there how are you feeling now after having you only played five games last [6:49] year you played two games so far and you're playing with four fours how are you feeling right now three [6:54] more to beat my record so or four more I guess I think I'll be able to make it knock on wood [7:00] I'm starting to get your rhythm back or that's still going to take some more time well I mean [7:08] you know I think um the way we're playing you know with with how unselfish the guys are um it's pretty [7:16] easy to get back in rhythm you know because we're just competing to win um you know I think the rest of [7:21] it kind of takes care of itself Walker I mean you're certainly a focal point of this defense this year [7:31] what did you see from the rest of the group Matisse and Zaire and then Colin coming in his day three [7:36] steals and raising the intensity yeah just aggression um you know they do they do such a good job you [7:43] know I mean I don't know how many steals they have but regardless like even the stats that oh geez [7:50] we had a lot of steals man that's crazy um yeah I mean you know it speaks for itself you know it's uh [7:59] just aggression and you know just making plays um I mean one play like I guess over the top pass to [8:08] uh maybe Brooke or something T swiped at it got a hand on it and then Zaire ran out of nowhere got [8:15] the ball like that you know it's just aggression and playing hard man it's fun fun to fun to watch [8:21] and you know fun to compete with Walker uh Austin was really good all night long but particularly [8:29] in that third quarter he kind of exploded at 13 points I think he just missed one shot found you [8:33] for a few laps just what was his impact like offensively especially in that second half yeah I mean he's such a [8:38] talented player um you know only scoring but I mean how many assists yeah I mean he must have had [8:45] yeah I mean you know I think that's either we just got some talented ball players um we got some [8:52] winners on this team you know and that's just it was a great response in the second half from everybody [8:58] um but yeah man he's a he's an extremely talented talented player hey Walker uh after everything you've [9:04] been through we've been playing five games this season being so limited this preseason [9:11] oh it's so much fun it's so much fun um you know it was definitely a a tougher year for me um you know [9:21] but God is faithful and just to be here now I'm just so thankful and so thankful for this opportunity [9:27] so thankful to be healthy you know and it's uh just very very thankful hey Walker um you Luca and Austin [9:36] had a few action where you guys ran together because how do you feel like you guys you know [9:40] are fitting together yeah I mean with guys like Luca and Austin I mean you know you can put anybody in [9:47] with them and they'll figure it out you know because they're just so talented um so yeah all the credit [9:53] goes to them they're they're incredible incredible ball players Walker you're obviously familiar with [9:58] Colin oh yeah you know just um what did you kind of see out of him from tonight and then just you know [10:04] how how important has he been leadership wise kind of behind the scenes yeah I mean he's a bull um [10:10] there's a reason why that's his handle but um yeah he's a he's a maniac man um but I love I love [10:18] bull you know every every possession offense defense you know he's got a certain chip on his shoulder [10:23] just plays with a certain tenacity um and as far as leadership you know he gets the guys going with [10:30] his energy you know he's everywhere screaming ball in his fist I mean you know all y'all can see it [10:36] so that you know that kind of stuff is contagious six blocks three steals for your best defensive [10:45] performance up to this point in the shorts that we've seen now but you feel like you're finding [10:50] a rhythm defensively and getting your game shape back yeah I think they were pretty generous with [10:56] the blocks I don't know if I really had six but um yeah I know I definitely feel like I'm getting my [11:01] rhythm back um a little bit you know but obviously you know it's a long season um so just trying to stay [11:09] stay humble and stay hungry you know just keep trying to compete and win the the steal in the [11:15] first quarter that you had up the inbounds pass you know that team the other way isn't a play you [11:19] see a ton of time from a big drop into the ring is there is there anything that kind of sparked that [11:25] is it something that you guys have been working on in practice uh I wouldn't say really to work on it um [11:31] you know sometimes you just see a ball in the air and you know you decide you want to go try to get it um you [11:36] know I think uh and I've certainly you know I've turned the ball over too just not going to meet [11:41] the ball on the offensive side um so being a big you know you're not really expecting your guy to [11:46] really go for it um so I don't think he's really expecting me to make a run for it uh Walker you're [11:52] going back to play the jazz on Sunday you got some real momentum going I'm just curious what emotions [11:57] go into that are you glad to get it out of the way earlier no I mean I'm so excited you know to [12:02] compete against those guys um you know Coach Hardy does a great job you know with with that franchise [12:09] and you know all my past teammates they're they're great players really talented um really competitive [12:13] so I think it's going to be you know a very competitive game um but I'm just excited to go [12:17] go compete Walker uh back to the blocks and steals if what I have here is correct you're the big waker [12:24] in history to have six blocks three steals in a game you just put into perspective what it's like [12:31] within these first two games to just have some statistical games like this versus I mean you [12:37] know it's definitely definitely an honor um it's kind of crazy there's already been seven guys that [12:43] have done it before um but I know I mean there's some absolute legends you know in the Lakers franchise [12:50] but definitely definitely an honor thank you awesome thank y'all [12:59] after halftime it's kind of you know back and forth right it's open time right before half time you [13:20] guys go on the run in the third quarter what did you feel like you put together as a team in that [13:24] stretch to separate the game a bit I think it started with our defense I think we did some great [13:29] things defensively in that second half second that third quarter uh so got go out and ran and got some [13:38] turnovers on their side so we could score from that in the summer you know you think about some of the [13:43] new players and the names and right and Thibel and Grimes and Williams but with Sexton when you see it on the [13:49] floor so far and just the the energy the athleticism the defensive stuff what have you made of some of [13:54] those new teammates on the wing uh really good I know we're just starting but I saw some great stuff [13:59] in the training camp I was very excited to go to play games with those guys uh so I think everybody has [14:05] been uh like the energy has been uh very good and I think everybody played great look they're playing [14:13] against Rui today really when I saw on him what was that like I don't like Rui [14:20] no it was just great to see him you know that's my guy uh we had uh two one and a half years together [14:27] you know we are great friends and that's always very nice to see it what have you made of that that [14:35] impact that Walker's been able to have in his minutes and through you know eight quarters of [14:40] the regular season uh unbelievable honestly uh just I mean we know what we're getting you know I'm not [14:47] surprised by how he's playing you know he he knows how to play this game he played for a long time [14:54] I'm not surprised but uh the fact that he's he's doing anything you know just putting a lot of people [15:00] wrong uh it's just unbelievable have you felt about kind of his mobility and transition and have you guys [15:06] fully even unlocked that you think he had as like 11 for you guys I mean definitely you know uh you [15:13] know I like to throw those passes full court uh so I think there's still some work from that uh you [15:18] know just for me how to pass it uh figure out where he wants the ball but it's obviously a lot of [15:24] improvement hey Luca uh it's been two games but how was Walker's kind of roll threat roll gravity [15:30] open up stuff for you and for the rest of the team can you say oh how has Walker's kind of [15:34] rolled threat him as a roller open up stuff for you and oh yeah a lot uh you know in these two [15:40] games you know trying to put to me he plays the in the short roll which is something new for him [15:46] and the fact that he adapts us open uh it's really good especially for a for a tall guy like him uh but [15:51] his role has been great you know he just wanted to go for the team and he's done that hi Luca uh so playing [15:58] with guys like Austin and Walker who really really had great shooting nights tonight what how much more [16:04] easier does it make your role as a playmaker when you're playing with guys who are shooting that [16:10] well on the floor tonight and really really converting on their chances it makes it a lot easier [16:21] there are a few exceptions overall uh to win a title you need a top 10 defense offense i don't think [16:27] there's any question that you know the Lakers can have top 10 offense in preseason you did have a top [16:32] 10 defense is that kind of the goal the standard to be that level on both sides yeah i think our [16:38] different grades on three phases you know first eight seconds then eight uh i think we have a lot [16:46] improvement in today's game they're getting a lot of shots you know the score 16 16 threes which is [16:53] hard to guard uh i think we still have a lot of improvement but that's the ball for sure Luca you [16:59] guys scored another one two you're gonna see yourself someday um two decks i guess you're right [17:08] it don't feel longer um you guys had uh you know 125 points but you and Austin had 17 turnovers combined [17:16] what does that say about i guess one the ceiling offensively and and still again like the room [17:23] that this group has in terms of like getting to know one another i think we have a lot of i like that [17:29] you said both me and AR you can just say me i said just you to AR before of course for me i expect [17:36] that uh but no on all seriousness i think we have a a lot of a lot of room still left to prove obviously [17:45] my game was terrible uh but we got it we are 2-0 i'm not playing a team great by me and AR and we have [17:53] a lot of room left uh so it's very exciting news honestly thanks Luca i know you were going to say [18:00] you gotta go talk to Rui