(On the game):
“Good game by our guys, I thought, in the second half. We kept preaching to our guys in the first half, push the pace, push the pace, push the pace. Our pace was very slow and methodical in the first half. Also, we didn’t do a great job defensively, getting stops. I thought in the second half, our guys really focused and locked in defensively. Because of that, we were able to get some run-outs and get some easy baskets. We talked about our guys rebounding in the second half. Our guards and our perimeter guys had I think a total of three rebounds in the first half. That increased to 10 by the end of the game. The other thing we talked about was to keep moving the ball. Our pace wasn’t good and our ball movement wasn’t good. We had six assists in the first half. We ended up with 13 assists in the second half. On top of that, we should have had more. We missed some easy shots around the rim that could have increased our assists total in the second half to 15, to 16, if not more. The last thing, like I said, our pace was better. We had 13 fastbreak points as opposed to six or eight in the first half. Give our guys credit for trying to make adjustments at halftime and going out and playing the way that we wanted them to in the second half.”
(On winning on the road):
“It was a big win for us. As you know, we’ve been struggling on the road. So for us to come out here and get a win in this building. These guys – I don’t care who’s on the floor for them. And as you know, we’ve struggled no matter who is in uniform for the other team. Especially on the road, for us to lock in and fight the right way to get that win, to start the road trip off the right way, was big. You give our guys credit for coming out the second half and playing the game of basketball like they know how.”
(On Luol Deng’s debut):
“I thought it was good. I liked the stuff that he was saying to our guys at halftime, before the game, in the huddles and during the flow of action. He was great on the bench. I thought on the floor, too. You could see some little nuances that he has out there, in terms of feel for the game, that’s going to help us dramatically once he gets real comfortable and once we get comfortable with him.”
(On the win):
“I feel like in the second half we were just feeding off one another’s energy. We picked up our pace on both ends of the floor, trying to get multiple stops. That led out to our fastbreak points. We were just taking advantage of the easy baskets. We kind of slowed down, but also just being more aggressive on both ends of the floor. That kind of opened the game up.”
(On Luol Deng):
“He settled down early. In the second half he tried to press a little bit too much, but that’s what we need him to do just to get his rhythm with all of us. I know that he’s going to continue to get better every single game. I’m looking forward to continuing to play with him.”
(On being vocal on the bench):
“It’s the way the game is going. Guys got to keep the guys positive. Guys were making big plays. As soon as we got the lead, I just wanted everybody just to keep going. I think that’s key when you have a couple of bad possessions, you want to get out of it as quick as you can. When you have some great ones you have to keep encouraging the guys, even if it’s missed shots as long as it’s a good look. We ran the offense great, I thought, in the second half.”
(On the potential of Cleveland):
“I’m really excited. I see the way guys are setting a screen, where we are scoring from. I just want to bring in something that we don’t have. Whether it’s posting up or defensively getting the guys going. You don’t want to come to a new team and bring something that is already there. If my role is to be as loud as I can be on the bench and keep the guys going, then I’m OK with it.”
(On playing in Utah):
“It’s a little better this year than last time around. Last year’s trip wasn’t as successful. It’s always fun to see everybody. There’s not as many people on the team as I played with, but I played with Gordon (Hayward), Jeremy (Evans), Alec (Burks), Enes (Kanter) and Fav (Derrick Favors). The coaching staff, I was with them my last year. Everyone in the building, everyone is in the same places, the security guards and everyone. It’s cool that people were showing me a little love coming back. It’s fun.”
(On playing well over the last few games):
“I’m just playing basketball. I’ve been solid on both ends, doing more than just shooting the basketball. I’ve been able to get out in transition, I’ve gotten steals to get layups, I’ve gone to the free throw line. Today I didn’t rebound, but I’ve been rebounding more the last few games. Today was a little different. Enes (Kanter) was out there eating the glass. I’ve just been aggressive everywhere instead of just being aggressive on the offensive end.”
(On the loss):
“The finish was tougher than anything. The last two minutes of the third quarter, I think they scored 13 to our two. The last two minutes to finish the quarter, we weren’t playing our best basketball and then they started making three-point shots on us. I thought they were the aggressor, and they got good things (to) happen for them as a result.”
(On Kyrie Irving):
“He got his rhythm and he’s that kind of player. He just decided to take it upon himself to pick it up there and we didn’t match his intensity. He got a couple early ones where Trey (Burke) got a couple fouls on him going to the basket. He had a jump shot and then got fouled and he kind of just took off from there. He made a couple big threes. He made one big three in transition. So, tough shot but he made them and he’s the kind of player that can make shots like that."
(On missing Gordon Hayward):
“I mean we need all of our pieces. Gordon is a big part of what we are doing. So him being out, we knew we had to step up. Not just one guy, the team had to step up and rally around each other. I thought we weathered the storm in the first half. (In the) Second half, we just didn’t come out with the same sense of urgency.”
(On the loss):
“Really tough one. We had them most of the time. We played good most of the time but in the third quarter they came out with a lot of energy and we couldn’t answer it. They just did a better job at it.” On the lack of energy from the Jazz “We cannot make any excuses, especially after a good win against Oklahoma City. We just have to do a better job.”
(On playing more with Derrick Favors):
“I feel more and more comfortable with him playing on the court. He helps me out on the defense and the offense. I always have his back, and he knows he’ll always have my back. It’s really nice to play with a good player like that.”
(On playing against Kyrie Irving):
“He’s an All-Star. He got going and helped his team out. What can you say? He made some tough shots.”
(On starting the game):
“It doesn’t change my mindset to be aggressive, no matter if I’m starting or coming off the bench. I make sure I’m ready for my teammates. You have to be aggressive on the court.”
(On the third quarter):
“I just think they came out with more intensity in the third quarter and it bit us. Obviously, Kyrie Irving got going. His team feeds off of him, and once he hit a couple of threes and got to the line, that’s when they went on a run.”
(On having a few days off):
“I think it is going to help a lot. I wouldn’t say that the win the other night made us come out with less intensity, but going into this game we kept emphasizing coming out with a lot of intensity. Coming out and matching the energy. I felt like for the most part we (came out with intensity) in the first half, and in the second half they came out with more of an edge and it bit us down the stretch. We just have to continue to get better as a team and I think we will.”
(On playing against Kyrie Irving):
“It’s good. I think you get better playing against a guy like him. He’s a really good player. I just tried to distract him tonight, but I feel like for the most part, we did a good job on the perimeter, besides him getting going in the third quarter which allowed them to get going as a team.”