Quote board: “We’re one team. We succeed together.

Following the Dallas Mavericks closing out the first-round series against the Los Angeles Clippers in game 6, winning 114-101, a number of players along with head coach Jason Kidd spoke with the media. If you want to read the recap or some of the other stories about the series, check out the homepage. Here are the soundbites directly from the players and Kidd.

Jason Kidd

(On Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving’s second-half performance…)

“It was Kai-like (Kyrie Irving) there in the second half. I thought he was having a really good game, had some good looks there in the first half that just didn’t go down. But as we talked before the game, just his calmness, his energy is always positive in the locker room. Then there in the third, he got going and in the fourth, he kept going. That’s just the leadership and trust that the guys have on the floor with him. Just his calmness and he took what the defense gave. He got going, helped us with that 8-0 run to start the third. I thought from that point on, we just went.”

(On what makes Irving so successful in elimination games, going 13-0…)

“His team and teammates, his decision-making of when to go, when to let others go. His basketball IQ is like no other, it’s extremely high. His patience. The confidence that his teammates and coaches have in him that he’s going to do the right thing – you can see that. I think that’s why his record is perfect.”

(On the impact Mavericks center Daniel Gafford and Mavericks forward P.J. Washington Jr. have had since joining the team at the trade deadline…)

“They’re very important when you look at the culture of our team. Our defense changed when they got here. They’re not going to complain. You don’t have to run a play for them. They want to do whatever it takes for the team to win. We’ve said this since they’ve gotten here, over and over. We’ve been so consistent that they’ve changed the culture and just understanding that our defense came when they arrived. We needed that in this series and we’re going to need that going forward. Those two are very important to what we’re trying to do.”

(On his postgame message to the team…)

“We just enjoy it. But I don’t say much in front of the cameras. Once the cameras left, just enjoy it. We’ll have tomorrow off, regroup on Sunday and then focus on Oklahoma City. But they should enjoy it. To beat the Clippers is no easy task; it wasn’t a given, those guys earned it. To enjoy it. They have tomorrow off, and we’ll get back to work on Sunday.”

Luka Doncic

(On how he feels about moving on to the next series…)

“I am going to rest today before I talk about the next series. You know, I will see you guys tomorrow.”

(On how Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving played in the second half…)

“Amazing. He was trying to get going, and he said to me ‘I am going to get it going.’ Never in doubt with Kai (Kyrie Irving). [It’s] just amazing to see the kind of plays he makes.”

(On how important it was to close out the series tonight…)

“It was big. If we would have had to play a game seven and then we won and had to play again on Tuesday, it would have been tough. It is important to get rest.”

(On what it feels like to beat the Clippers in the playoffs after losing twice to them before…)

“Of course. I lost twice to them, so it was even bigger motivation to beat them. They have a great team, and you have to work really hard to beat them. So, I am happy.”

(On his other teammates, like Mavericks forward Derrick Jones Jr, Mavericks center Daniel Gafford and Mavericks forward P.J. Washington Jr., stepping up tonight…)

“No, not just tonight, the whole series. Tonight, of course, they stepped up. But they have stepped up the whole series and the whole season. They never complain about anything. They just hoop and play hard, which is amazing.”

Kyrie Irving

(On what Jason Kidd said at halftime…)

“He didn’t need to say anything to me at halftime. I don’t think much needed to be said in general, just because it was a tie ballgame, we were playing pretty well, everybody touched the basketball pretty often. I didn’t get as many look as I’m probably used to getting, or I would have wanted, but I was just following the flow of the game and then, coming out of halftime, just being ready to use my conditioning to the best of my ability, beat them up and down the court, continue to play some tough defense, and get some easy ones for my teammates.”

(On what goes through his head when he hears that he’s 13-0 in close-out games…)

“When I hear 13-0, that’s not my full playoff record. I’ve had my fair share of battles with my peers in this league. When I think about the 13-0 in close-out games in general, I just know we have to get there to that point to be able to be ready to have the other team submit. It’s one of the hardest things to do as a competitor: to have your opponent concede or submit.”

(On being a fan favorite in Dallas…)

“I’ve been in this league for a while now so I’m just grateful for the ones who have been with me since the beginning, those who still rock with me now, all the new supporters I’m grateful for them. It’s a new generation that’s watching me now, so I’m aware of that.”

(On his embrace with Luka Dončić postgame and playing alongside him…)

“It’s easy to play alongside somebody like that. But you also have to be sure of yourself because when somebody’s that special it’s easy to kind of fall into that secondary role. There’s no primary, secondary – we’re one team. We succeed together. We fail together. And that’s always been the M.O. since the beginning of the season. We’re a team, and everybody has a specific role. Everybody has that skillset that they bring to the team. Just be the best version of yourself. So, when me and Luka are getting it going like that it just feels good and makes the game a lot easier. Off the court, you know, [he’s a] 25- year-old kid [so I] do my best to make him smile and have good energy and also [he’s a] new father so try to support him in other ways and on the basketball court it just looks seamless.”

P.J. Washington

(On what went through his mind seeing Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving play in the second half…)

“[It was] unbelievable. It is like NBA 2K. [It was like] a mamba takeover. He was just doing what he does. He is special, and I am just glad to be on his team. You all have seen it, so there isn’t much to say honestly.”

(On what it’s like to be on the court with Irving…)

“I am just in awe every night with both Luka [Dončić] and Kyrie [Irving]. They are special players and make special plays each and every night. Just to be a part of something special here in Dallas, I am excited to be here and excited to play my role as well.”

(On how he feels after being a part of the changes the team had made this year…)

“I think the biggest thing for me was on the defensive end. I told you guys when I first got here that was my main emphasis coming in, and that is where I hang my hat - me and Dan (Daniel Gafford). I feel like we just came in with that presence each and every night and it turned our season around. Credit to us and credit everyone for trusting us on that end. I feel like we are fitting in great.” (On his first playoff series with the Mavericks…) “Exciting. There were ups and downs. We stuck together throughout the whole series, and that’s all that matters. Now on to the next one.”

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