What?

Michael, do you all know about your group that the world maybe didn't before tonight?

That I think we're one of the toughest, most resilient teams in any sport that I've ever been around for us to win six straight elimination games to come back from 31 to Siri's in a row.

It just speaks to where belief in each other.

Scott, the love that we have for each other on we don't really get caught up in.

We use this motivation, but we believe we don't.

We don't get caught up in what everybody else says.

You know, I talked to Rachel Nichols about that on Monday, and like, I think you guys kind of have the best of both worlds.

Because on the one hand, you could say, Look what everybody says about us, but then you could look each other in the eyes and go, Yeah, but we know something they don't.

I mean, is that a fair way to frame the way you guys have looked at the whole, uh, all of this, I think Very fair.

I mean, we know that last year were the number two seed in the West.

Most of this season were the two seed up until after the All Star break.

And so people talk about us like we're a seven seed like we were lucky to get into the playoffs, but we knew the truth of the matter were a good basketball team.

We're a team that wins a lot of clutch games, and we've beaten some of the best teams in the n ba.

Uh, our reaction was more to the narrative out there that no one gave us a chance to be the L A Clippers.

So we used that as motivation.

But internally, uh, when we started out training camp in Colorado Springs, Scott, our goal was to win a championship.

So, as happy as we are right now, we're gonna enjoy the moment.

We still have a lot of work to do, and we were excited about the opportunity to play in the Western Conference finals.

You know, Michael, I feel like that.

That's one of the most over played things, and it's coach speak.

Nobody believed, but in this case you're right, man.

Everybody in the world and I'll throw my hand up the way that that first game went after you all played Utah.

I thought maybe you guys were out of gas, and I'm just I'm really wondering what it is.

There a message?

How is it that you get your guys down?

31 and down?

Double digits twice in a row to a team has loaded?

Is the Clippers to find their footing?

What's the message?

How how does that happen?

Well, I think the main messages.

Belief.

You know, we've been here before.

We know what it takes.

And after we as we're going into Game five, Scott, the message was, We just have to win this game.

And even when we're down 16 points in that second half, there was a belief because we have done this in the first round against the Utah Jazz.

Eso I think experience is a great teacher and we never get rattled.

We have such a poised group, and I think that starts with two players, Nicole Yokich and Jamal Murray.

When things are looking really downtrodden, they find a way to play and make plays and other guys, uh, spirits were lifted because our two best players were staying with it.

They compete and they play all the way through.

So resiliency, belief and experience that we've had have allowed us to get to this point.

Beliefs.

Great.

You know, it's better knowing in that fourth quarter, you know, you're gonna win, as as you clearly starts stretching this out and you look around this bubble and you've been there so long and separated from family and this and that when you know you're about to beat this Clipper team and you look around at your group What What are the emotions you feel at that moment?

Part of me is saying, How the hell are we doing this way?

We're all these young guys that we have on that we're playing against all sixth man of the year M V P.

Candidates Defensive Player of the Year And to see it coming to fruition, to see your your dreams.

Coming true is just unreal experience.

And what makes it even better?

Scott is a group that I'm doing it with the coaching staff, the front office, our ownership standing.

Josh Cranky flew down for this game, so we have a very tight connected group on As the clock was winding down, it was just a enjoyment, you know, Great birthday present.

Couldn't ask for a better birthday present.

So I'm so proud of our guys.

I got two more quick wins if you'll indulge me.

What ones About culture.

Of course, it's a It's a buzzword that gets thrown around very casually.

I think every press conference the new coaches were gonna establish a culture is like, Okay, fine.

But what does it look like?

How do you build it on a daily basis?

How does it become riel as you built?

Do you sense that whatever that idea of culture is is really taken root with your team?

Yeah, I would say, definitely.

You know, And you're right.

Everybody talks about that.

When I got hired five years ago, that was one of the first things I said, We have to change the culture.

Uh, yeah.

I mean, like you said, it's coach speak, but I think the difference in our situation is that we've lived by it, We've adhered to it and culture isn't built just in like one season is something that you can't constantly build.

You have to pay attention to and as you're bringing new players in is holding them accountable, making sure they understand that we're a work team were selfless team, and that starts with our best players.

If Jamal Murray and Nicole Yokich buy into being work selfless and trust all these young players that we have coming up behind them, following is, well, it's my job to make sure we're adhering to it and holding guys accountable when we start going.

Aside from that, okay, this is all fun and fuzzy and happy.

Let's let's get down to what's what's waiting for you on the other side and you know what it is.

I mean your ball coach, You live this, you get in there and you look at what you've got to deal with on your first thought of attacking the Lakers.

What what comes to mind?

Well, you know, I've had the privilege of coaching LeBron for five years, and we were together in Cleveland and obviously, uh, one of the greatest players to ever play the game.

And then you have alongside him, Anthony Davis.

And as his players have gone on, you've seen there core players.

The rage on Rondo's, the Danny Green's Alex Caruso's Kyle Cooper stepping up, so but it all starts and ends with LeBron.

That guy's high I Q is off the charts.

We know we're gonna have our hands full.

We had three really close games against them in the regular season, so we're up for the challenge.

One thing I know about that group, no matter who were playing, no matter who's shooting up for the other team, we don't really care because we're gonna play our brand of basketball.

We're gonna bring it.

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