On slow starts for two games in a row:
“The slow starts are killing us. You can’t give up 40 points in a quarter, unless you’re going to score 45 points, and we weren’t going to score 45 on [the Clippers]. We have to do a better job and we have to take something away. We can’t give up points in the paint and three-point shots. They had 56 points in the paint. Obviously, they started the game hot. They had 10 three pointers in the first half. We just have to do a better job. I understand that playing back-to-back road games are tiring, but we have to do a better job in those areas.”
On playing uphill:
“We talked about [playing uphill] last night. If you get yourself down, you’ll be playing uphill all the time. It has to be a perfect storm [if you’re going to win like that]. It may happen every now and then, but for the most part you have be playing like you’re exchanging blows and putting yourself in a position, where if you have a run in the fourth quarter or at some stage, then it gives you separation or closes the gap. You can’t have a gap that big.”
On the performance of Clippers center Montrezl Harrell:
“[Montrezl Harrell] did exactly what I expected him to do in the paint tonight. We’re not the only team he’s done that against. He has been playing great basketball. He’s been a really physical player. He’s been able to put the ball down and get it into the basket. That was the result tonight. He did a great job scoring. When he [wasn’t scoring], we fouled him. We have to cut down on our fouls too. We just fouled too much.”
GUARD JRUE HOLIDAY
On the team’s identity:
“I think we have somewhat of an identity. We never give up. We always play hard and that’s what we kind of hang our hats on no matter who we’re playing.”
On the fight of this team:
“[Not giving up] is kind of what we do. There’s been a couple of times in the season where we’ve been down. We try to fight back. Sometimes it’s a little too hard with the deficit though. I feel like [never giving up] is standard for us.”
On the development of Brandon Ingram:
“[Brandon Ingram] is a bucket. He is always going to be a bucket. He has been a bucket when he was with the Lakers. I think it’s just a different situation [he is in now]. He has a bigger role here on a different team. He’s able to just go out there, play his game, and feel free. I feel like he really enjoys it.”
On preparing for players like Montrezl Harrell:
“He is a good player. You always have to be ready for NBA players. Anytime somebody can have a good game. He had a good one.”
On the team’s defense:
“I think [we had more problems] on the defensive end, not the offensive end. We allowed 70 points in the first half. We have to find ways to [contain] that.”
FORWARD BRANDON INGRAM
On how the team can improve:
“We just have to continue to keep pushing, continue to trust each other on the offensive and defensive ends. Just not getting down when things aren’t going our way. Just continue to keep the pressure on and look back at film and see what we can do better on.”
On the team’s defense:
“We have to be aggressive on the defensive end. I think going back to being aggressive on the defensive end leads to a rhythm in our offense. We’re just free flowing and executing better when we’re aggressive on defense. We just have to come out aggressive.”
On the level of concern for the team’s defense:
“I’m not concerned at all. When we’re locked in, and I’ve seen this earlier in the season, we’re really good on that end. If we play [good defense] the full 48 minutes, we can look really good. The good thing about it is that we play the Clippers again pretty soon.”
