April 4, 2022 • 35 mins
Hosted by Sarah Kustok, NBA Flashback is the podcast that takes you back to the best moments in NBA history through exclusive archival audio from the NBA vault, along with new interviews with the players and coaches who were in the building.
In this episode of NBA Flashback, we go back to May 2nd, 2015 and relive Game 7 of the Western Conference First Round series between the defending champion Spurs and the "Lob City" Clippers. We talk with Matt Barnes about his impressive contribution to the win and what he said to Chris Paul to encourage him to get back on the court after an injury. We even hear from Chris himself on the improbability of him hitting the game winning shot.
NBA Flashback is available on the iHeart app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. NBA Flashback is a production of iHeartMedia and the NBA.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
NBA Flashback is a production of I Heart Radio in
the NBA. Coming into the series, everyone was wondering where
the Clippers mentally tough enough to dethrone the champions? What's
over the drop? What a worry? By Chris Paul Night,
thing is way for two? Quite Criffin. Griffin goes it's splitter,
(00:26):
draws the five counted at lawn. Oh what a shop
by Just Duncan Reed, grows it up, couldn't let it,
throws it down, the boy let it erupting the San
Antonio Spurs on the drive grows it up, and the
tough shot from Paul Paul again putting on the finishing
(00:50):
touches of a masterpiece. Jeff Griffin from a line to
the name look out blow, It's the two most exciting
words in sports. Game seven the Lob City Clippers versus
the defending champion Spurs. Two legendary teams, one on the
way up and one on the way down. They battled
(01:11):
back and forth for six games and met in an
epic first round Game seven that did not feel like
a first round series to anyone involved in attendance or
watching on TV. On today's episode of NBA Flashback, we
go back to May two, when the world was first
being introduced to the fictional hip hop mogul Lucius Lion
(01:33):
on the show Empire and the musical Hamilton's could only
be seen off Broadway. The Spurs were led by Tim Duncan,
Tony Parker and Mono Junobli, and they were facing the
Clippers with Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan's But
as it turned out, a player that was mostly overlooked
at the time would make some of the biggest plays
(01:54):
in the game. We are honored to be joined by
NBA Champion fourteen year NBA vet the co host of
All the Smoke podcast, Matt Barnes. Matt, thanks so much
for spending a little time with us. Thank you for
having me. Well, we got a hopefully great memory for
(02:15):
you because I had so much fun going back and
watching this game, remember watching it live and now looking
back at it and just, um, how impactful you are.
Going back now. This was your third year with the
Clippers and this was a dramatic back and forth series. Um,
you battle back. You won Game six in San Antonio
to force a Game seven at home in l A.
(02:37):
Do you remember what the feeling was like inside the
locker room with the team as you were heading into
that game seven. Yeah, it was just, you know, we
have a tremendous opportunity. The first franchise has kind of
been a staple of basketball, you know, kind of from
my run winning several championships, and you know, we knew
we had a chance to somewhat in the dynasty and
(02:58):
you know, really make a on for us. You know,
we thought we were one of the best teams in
the league. And I think to beat San Antonio was
you know, the first step proven that the crew on
TNT had their final picks before the game. Give me
a winner tonight and give me a reason you like them.
I might have to go with the San Antonio Spurs
because they've proven time and and time out that they
(03:19):
can be the better focused team. Yes, the Clippers are
are becoming more focused and starting to you know, become
more well becoming to to think like a champion. But
you know, the Spurs, you know, for the for the
past four years, everybody up here kind of the Spurs out.
They just keep staying more focused. They just keep coming
(03:40):
and coming and coming. So I'm gonna have to go
with the Spurs on this game something. Did you see
Shock and Kenny and the in the T n T
in the pregame broadcast, they were saying that they were
speaking of that like the experienced UH championship pedigree team
in the Spurs. I'm not smart enough to say this
is the day that the Chaps lose. The Chaps will
not lose today. This when will be a blast. Kevin Harlan,
(04:01):
Chris Webber, Jamie Maggio have it covered game. The champion
Chaps will win all through the champions here. So did
you guys see yourselves as the underdogs going into that
one or how did how did you kind of frame
your mentality of how you felt like you got stacked up? Uh?
Kind of the underdog even though we had a home
court Game seven. But you know, as they mentioned, you
(04:23):
know this that core of man new Tony and Tim
had hung banners and no matter what seed they were,
you know, I mean, their experience along with Pop kind
of always gave them the upper hands. So you know,
we knew it was a tall task, but we also
knew we were at home and we had that on
our side, and we tried to utilize that. We we
(04:44):
have some audio of Doc rivers pregame speech to you
guys in the locker room. You have an opportunity to
win a title with you take take alright, So people
have had their whole careers and they haven't had that opportunity.
Some are coming to the end of their rears and
they'll have no more. All right, we have one you
gotta take. I'm just gonna end with this, all right.
(05:06):
This is a player's game. It always is, it always
will be. You go out and just play, uh, next play,
next play, next play. And a lot of what he
was saying was you have an opportunity to win a title,
and if you did, would you take it? I said,
some people played their whole careers and never had had
this opportunity. Do you remember much of that speech. Do
(05:27):
you remember the things that Doc was saying and just
kind of how he was sending a message to you
guys prior to the game. I don't recall the actual speech,
but the one to me, the best thing about Doc
was those type of speeches. He can get you ready
to do absolutely anything. And you know, he drew from
personal experience, he drew from joint experience, he drew from
(05:49):
just history and that was always one thing Doc was
great at was you know, those pregame speeches to kind
of really get you fired up and ready to go
and run to a wall. You always brought a toughness
of veteran presence to Lobs City. When you think about
your role with this team, how would you describe it?
And uh defender, uh, protector and just kind of doing
(06:14):
the dirty work. I mean we had a very talented
team that year. Um, I was the guy that kind
of did a little bit of everything, whether it be scoring,
whether it be defense, rebounding, hustle plays, you know, keeping
Blake and Chris safe. Uh, you name and I did it.
And you had a tremendous first quarter. We're talking about
how the core, the soul of the toughness, the protector
(06:37):
of this team. Um, but the rest of the group
got off to a little bit of a slow start.
You though, carried him. It's Barns all good free, that's
a good Matt Barns. Who else gotten now at a
twenty two in their series from deep and stopping, He's
seven of them. Sat Antonio run your most consistent player
of the soul of this team. As he comes out
(06:57):
and knock shots and seems like that's just I eight,
you have ten quick first quarter points, um and you
had played in big games in your career. How did
you personally approach a game seven or this game seven?
Because it looked like you were being really aggressive, Just
really to stay aggressive, but also you know, understanding my role.
(07:18):
You know, like I said, I was someone who was
capable of scoring, but you know we had some big
guns that that was their job. And as you mentioned,
we kind of got off to a slow start. So
I just you know, kind of turn my aggressive up
up for a little bit, kind of sneaking behind the defense,
hitting a couple of corner threes, another shot outside, another
three by Farns, a good screen by Jordan and Matt
(07:39):
Barnes is a two triples. You know, from my experience,
it's always the others that step up. You know what
the main guys are gonna do, Blake prisons, who else
is gonna stuff the day? Also, people will use use
a different nages this type of games. Getting to the
basket on cuts this bay, you know, and in the
defense shows Danny Green treating out now splitterage out like
(08:02):
we said, this geno body and g out in the
first page, plungs tonight for the l A Flippers. You
love seeing that Matt Long is not just aggressive on
the defensive there to be a rather efficient offensively. You're
normally just doing what I was doing, but again adding
a little bit aggressive this too, because I noticed, you
know that the rest of the team had kind of
got off to a slow start. In the last thing
we wanted to do was, you know, put ourselves in
a hole, you know, with the championship experienced team like
(08:25):
San Antonio and broken up our call and turn over
bottle ship Antonio go third, Paul stock at croke up
the three tell you what we cant stop on totally
any twier in the n B out, I'm sure pen
DeAndre Jordan's just so intimidating with his hands up. But
(08:47):
right here, as you just see Chris Paul, he grabs
his hamstring. You do not like seeing this, but you
like seeing that he's still tough even though we grabbed
that hamstring. But we'll have to see how the text ask.
He goes to the bench late in the first quarter,
Chris Paul, he went out with that hamstring injury, and
he could see him on the bench he's got his
head in his hands. You're just hoping that those trainers
(09:07):
over there have some Mr byad that israelful. Chris Paul,
what were you thinking? And you were on the bench
at that same time, what were you thinking when you
saw um CP hurt? I mean, it was really just
empathy for him, you know what I mean. I kind
of took the whole team situation away because Chris just
always had bad luck with little things, you know. I
(09:28):
mean not that the hamstring was a little thing, but
hand injuries, hamstrings, it was always something that was kind
of hampering Chris. And he would have great seasons and
you know the knock was, you know, he'd get hurt
in the playoffs. You could hear that all throughout the media.
So I really just felt, you know, just the human
side of me and just like, man, you know, how
does this keep happening to him? But you know, he
is one of the top three or four guys I've
(09:50):
ever played with it. You know, they say, who are
you going to take the war? I'm taking Chris Paul.
He was, you know, defeated for a little bit. I
said a couple of things to him. The trainer said
a couple of things to him, and and and low
and behold this guy tufted out and came back out
there and helped us. Do do you remember what you
said to him? It was just something like, you know,
hanging there, you're gonna be all right. Don't do it
if you feel like you're gonna hurt yourself. But if
(10:11):
if you think you can give us anything, let's get it.
It's just like I got you, Maddie. He's to call
me Maddie. He's like, I got you, Maddie, I got you.
Chris Paul is the most important player in this series
because he is truly a definition of an extension of
his coach on the floor. Now that we look at
the Clippers, their ball handlon are gonna be by guys
who liked him. One on one moves is to the
guys to get others involved, very interested to see how
(10:34):
they played down the stretch without Paul. Well, it was
Jamal Crawford that that took over the point guard responsibilities
from Chris, and he played really well to me on
all Buy three. Probably once you're gonna really sign the
fact that he's storing get in those games. You have
(10:54):
other points for the Clippers. You're right to knock it down.
A little bit of a circuit shot right there, which
is his style and play. I've sleep Jamal just announcing
officially announcing his retirement. Can you put in perspective one
how big he was in this game, but just what
what he meant to that group, to that team. Jamal
is the guy that everybody loves, whether you're playing against
him or you're playing with him. He just has an
(11:15):
energy and spirit that is so pure and just such
a basketball guy that he was always big for our team.
He does he has gid advoct is your side is
crawlf with dribs and knocks that down. Coach Prop is
just gonna get a talk out saying this is I
won't get I don't want this guy to get up
and sacrifice to you know, being able to be a starter.
(11:35):
But was was was comfortable taking that role and coming
up the bench, because that's a hard thing. I've been
a starter and someone's coming off the bench of my
career and it's two completely different mentalities that not everyone
can handle it. And I think that was something he did,
was he was able to embrace it for the betterment
of our team. And you know, obviously he won three
six Men Awards on the zone, so I think he
kind of helped him. Absolutely. He was kind of a
(11:56):
Swiss Army knight. Whether he needed to be a playmaking
point guard or a two guard that came in and
it got hot and scored. Jamal could literally do anything
we have to do on the offensive event. From watching him,
that's when we certainly miss both of you guys. Three
shocked Javal, troffold fish table, the cripples of four point lead,
(12:18):
Chelford that's got twelve points and tromp mines on eight chucks.
Jamal played great and Chris Paul returned in the second quarter,
a little hobbled but still affective. Paul with water shot
if you want Territic fit away Paul with the defensive
player of the year right there. What injury he's playing,
(12:41):
He's just saying he's leaving it all out. Yere tip tatus,
what a find the den us Chris Paul. He sets
the dinner table. Guys don't eat unless he puts that
pool or your table before the break. Let's go into
the locker room. But Doc verse at halftime for another
(13:02):
classic speech. I'll yea all at you. They gotta make
a mistake. I'll y'all at it all right. WHI y'all
gotta forgive yourself first and move on. All right. Now,
we didn't make two D game like says, and that's
what we got to take away. We give him some buck.
(13:24):
So this was Pete Blake Griffin. He was your top score.
Obviously it could be such a dominant player. He was
in foul trouble though in the first half. How do
you do you remember how you guys kind of got
him going and start looking and see a bunch more
plays in the second half. Do you remember different aspects
how you got him going? In this one, we just
wanted to get him on the move because we knew
(13:45):
he was, you know, a nightmare and batchup for those guys,
whether you know it was they had to truck, put
tim on him, put bains on him. Um, I think
they put d on him a little bit. Griffin dominant
in their series smid range game. There's been absolutely terrific,
shutting up everything out could it definitely has it as
(14:06):
long as he could mix a balance of shooting that
jump shot and taking it to the whole and not
just going for the bait. It means that he could
become a facilitator if it's not this person to guard
with the easiest person to guard as someone always looking
at discord himselves. Blake has stated that much tougher getting
other guys at ball, but we knew that he you know,
getting him on the move. There wasn't really a power
forward at that time. With all due respect to Timmy
(14:27):
being a little bit older, they can really stay with
Blake and um, it was really discontinuing there. You know,
kind of a group effort, you know, everyone kind of
saying a little time to him and then you know,
putting him in the positions to be most effective. They're
going on shote Griffin, Griffin, but what's it up? Been
in and Blake has put in thirteens and we all scored,
you know with his versatility. You know, he was kind
(14:48):
of a point forward. So we just try to find
unique ways to get him on the move on screen
and roll screening, pops slice cuts to make him more effective.
He also was and we still see this now in
his career with such a great passer, I think we
focused so much about his his dunks and jumping a billy.
He averaged over five assists a game. Uh that season
you talk about him slicing and cotton you had you
(15:09):
had a back cut. This was early in the second half. Um,
nice pass from Blake. Get energy as you see Fat
Barns with the fat put talk the smacks to glass
just for a little but Dunkedin got filed slapped the
back forward. It was a really it felt like a
really pivotal play. Do you remember that play? Yeah, I
(15:29):
think it was an inbound playing. Kauai was guarding me
and I think, yeah, yeah, I had a slice cut
off the side and got an ani one and I
want to say, we're gonna bring it. Talked about like
the defense there, Leonard just picked up a story. Yeah,
the story the clippers of the bench. But in my
opinion is Nat Barns and came out and gave me
swelled points in the first half, far beyond his season average.
(15:50):
Playing defensive. Now doing the same thing in the second half,
getting off to the blazing stuff. But now it was
you know, Blake was as talented as he was offensively,
as a score would opened up his offensive scoring more
with his ability to start passing. You know what I mean,
Because some guys are just getting the ball, they're going
to score, throw two or three guys at him. But
Blake's kept people honest because he would find cutters, he
(16:11):
would find corner three shooters, he would find the shape guy.
So no, I definitely remember that play, and it was
really a big play. I remember the crowd went crazy
for it. Yeah, the crowd went crazy for that. The
crowd also went crazy at the end of the third quarter.
You guys are down one and Chris Banks in a
three at the buzzer to give you guys a lead,
and it did. It went bananas with us, Chris Paul
(16:34):
with the law, he got it. Dezzert, what's really do? League? Unbelievable?
How much do you feel like that shot changed the
momentum of the game. It was huge, you know what
I mean. For Chris to be going through what he
was going through, it just seemed like there's a little
(16:56):
basketball angel out there with us, like, Okay, this is
our time, and we just hit this crazy shot up
to going in the fourth like we're at home, let's
let's San Antonio out. And you mentioned this earlier. I mean,
with the spur side of things. Tim Duncan thirty nine
years old at this time, man who's thirty seven. It
was the last game for the Big three of San Antonio,
(17:16):
where it was they were the main focus of the team,
and you talked about kind of ending them, ending that.
You know, Kevin and I don't think they want this
to be a swan song, but they've gone through it.
They know that this could be the last moment of
all of those guys playing together. They're not gonna make
it big, not win one for the Gipper, They're gonna
win one for the Spurs way, and that's stick to
the process, don't cry, see what happens. And there in
(17:38):
the middle of that process now that they know what
they have to lose if they don't win any day.
But Duncan at thirty nine years old, he scored seven
in this one, ten of those in the fourth quarter.
Duncan with a good spin on Jordan. What a good
move by Tim. And when he's taking his time doing
a crab crawling. There the reason why it's so hard
to check him. You don't know if he's going over
(17:59):
his rights order, which is a great for the basket,
or coming back to our nut shoulder, which is quite
over the hook for his flash shot, but a good foul.
We're to have patience by Tim Donkin. How hard was
he to deal with? Even late in his career? Tim
was incredible And if I'm not mistaken, I mean you
can tell he was on about one and a half legs,
if not one, I mean it seemed like like one
of his legs didn't even ben But he was just
(18:21):
such a warrior, so skilled and and and you know,
obviously knowing the nuances and the tricks of the game
at his age, he was able to still be very effective.
And don can finds himself in a mismatch and he
exploits are going right in dude, Chris Pauls. So he
was still obviously our main focus um as far as
scouting and putting a defensive play together was And obviously
(18:43):
we knew they had a young up and coming Kawhi Leonard.
You know, Tony Parker was a monster man who was
you know, in his own right with one of the
greatest players of all time. But you know, Tim, although
it wasn't as consistent as it was before, was still
was still a major problem not only for us but
the league that season. Yeah, definitely definitely on the critical
(19:03):
to the s intorial. The Clippers have a SERI time.
Trove me threes, J J Riddick jack under five minutes left.
You guys are down by three and J J Reddick
(19:23):
hit backed back threes gives you guys a lead. Reddick.
How clutch was JJ not only in this one, but
just in how you watched him and how he was
able to be so effective in pivotal moments. JJ was,
you know, one of those guys that just really didn't
get rattled. You know, I think he fed off the
energy of our team. He knew he was kind of
(19:45):
the hired gun to just come out when you're open.
You know, you're one of the best shooters in the
world shoot that day, and we all just always you know,
whether he was off or on, we'd always continue to
just feed him and give him the confidence, letting them
know that, you know, the next shot is the most
important shot. U. So J J was always ready and
sometimes the deceiving matchup for some guys because you know,
(20:05):
he would not only were they able to knock down
open shots, but starting putting the ball on the floor
and get and get into the basket as well. So
you know, anytime we needed big shots. You know between Blake,
Chris Jamal JJ, you know one of those guys are
gonna be able to make that happen. Checked up water
(20:26):
in and sit turning all by three. You guys down
three again just over two minutes left. And this is
normally you think about the Spurs points where their experience
they would pull away. You hit a massive three to
tie it again, makes the gookicks it up. What were
(20:49):
you feeling when that three at that point of the
game went in. Um, I got put back in the game.
And I remember they pressured j J and j J
was driving from the baseline here our bench kind of
found you right at the top of the art and
know it was just a path and I was in rhythm, uh,
and I was able to knock it down and tie
the game. The Clippers will use their final time out
(21:11):
san Antonio with a twenty in the full, Rabovitch and
his Spurs and defending the title are taken right to
the precipice. And now that takes us to this huddle
of Los Angeles and Doc Rivers and as he draws
one up for his two trying to break through and
(21:31):
establish their own identity exactly and if your doc rivers,
you have some great options right now. First, you're tied,
so you can take the last shot. Second, with Rittick
in the corner, the Crawfit in the corner, and with
Blake Griffin setting the pick a mole. As a defense,
it's gonna be tough to remember who your responsibility is.
And also they stick to your tenants and to communicate.
(21:53):
But I'm sure that ball is gonna be in Chris
Paul's hands until it gets to the person who needs
to shoot it that's not him. After some file shots
on both sides, games tied again, there's eight point eight
seconds left. You're in the huddle, Docstrawn up a play.
You're the inbounder. Do you remember that? I remember the shot.
I just don't remember what the player what I remember.
I remember the thing with you know, to get the
(22:14):
ball to Chris, and I don't know if I don't,
I don't want to call it feels the ice because
I know he was hurt, but it sometimes kind of
turned into an ice. And he got that that that
bank off the glass green one second left, Chris, he's
(22:34):
that shot. The building goes nuts. Chris Paul says, this
is my house. If you're a San Antonio fan, what
two better defenders be? Could you have the green and
dunking right there? The presence of mind to gathering stuff.
You see he's limping, he's hurt. He can't even explode
off of that leg, but he does. Whill's the ball in?
Chris Paul. Here's Chris Paul on his game winning shot.
(22:56):
You know it's funny, it's crazy. When we finished walk
through the day, Uh, when the team broke down, Um
Dot called me and Blake over and we talked about it.
Then we talked about if we get down into a
last second shot, what we wanted to do. And we've
been in that situation a lot of times already this year,
and most of the time I had made it, tell
(23:17):
you the truth, and we talked about it, and finally
it worked when we needed Blake Griffin got a front
row seat. I was running down the lane Um and
he kind of disappeared behind Tim, Tim and whoever saw
the shot go up, I jumped. Um probably was the
closest to the goal to see it go through. So
that was pretty cool. Um. But the Spurs they still
(23:39):
have a chance, and they run a loud play for Kauai,
do you remember this at the rim your garden Bell
and Elliott's three point line. I remember they ran the
play and something happened, so they gave me a peek
at the play check it to go quick trigger finger.
(24:06):
Something happened where they had they read it. It didn't counsel.
They had to run it again, and I've already seen
what the play was. If I'm Papa Vinch, I'm very
upset to this message. With your rhythm, your cadence is
a play call. This allows the deepense to get set
back up. Interverted whistle in the middle of the last
second play is not something you expect because the defense
(24:32):
is a chance to scout that same play. But it
was crazy because I just kind of acted like I
wasn't really paying attention, like, oh, they're gonna run a lot,
and and they have Blake on them, so this is
gonna be easy. So the fact that they ran the
same play twice, that's why I was able just to
completely leave Bell and Elli and go with me, seeing
everything coming at me and and Kauai was coming at
(24:54):
an awkward angle off an upward move that I was
able to just slide over and almost volume well swat passed,
geta and round out in a Jordan in front of
him to be found. Let it knocked the right Barns,
the defending champions of Toronment. I have my clip rooms
have ripped the herd out of the spurs. It was
a great past. It was right at the end that
(25:15):
co I probably put the cot and put in see
right here they tried to get to halle. You can
look who comes over. Matt Barnes, who's been there all
night tonight with the help making sure that he helps
defensively the team just on the string. You asked these guys,
they're off here for something big. Matt Barnes like a
safety coming over to help. The end of the game,
(25:44):
everyone's hugging. This was only It wasn'tly a first round series,
but it seemed like it felt like more. How how
would you characterize why winning that was so special? I
just think it was big. I think the one kind
of knocked on our team. Looking back, that team, what
seven years later was you know, we underachieved. We clearly
had one of the most talented teams in the league,
(26:07):
but it didn't It didn't get us anywhere, you know,
so we thought you know that year was alright, we
just not the best team off in the world. This
next round we're gonna play you know, James Harden and
in Houston, but we've had some success against them, and
then we're gonna play against the Warriors because you know,
we've we've had good success. This is right before they
kind of make their dynasty run, so we've had success
(26:28):
against them. So it kind of felt like not looking ahead,
obviously taking it series by series that it was laid
out for this to be the year we're gonna make
a championship run. Post game, there was nothing but respect
between the two teams. Coach Pop had something to say
to the Clippers. Well, let me say something first. I
usually don't do that, but Kudo's congratulations everything to the Clippers. Uh,
(26:52):
Duck and his staff players. Uh, great series of really
played well. Both teams played with class, Both teams competed
their butts off. It was great stuff, great series. So
congratulations of them. I am really happy for them. Sad
for us obviously for a lot of reasons, but really
happy for that group. They're trying to get it going
(27:13):
and uh, they're obviously in the right direction. Dacer Rivers
couldn't believe it was just a first round series. That's
a series for the ages. Um amazing, it's a first
round uh series. You know, Tim, with like two minutes left,
Tim Duncan walks up to me, this is the first
round and and uh, you know he almost took it
(27:36):
out and I was thinking the same thing. Um, And
that is the classiest organization, the classes players. Um the
best coach to me ever or one of the top ones,
and so all our respect goes to them. I mean, um,
(27:57):
if we could scratch that somehow, some way in the
next year's uh, we would be thrilled to death. Um.
So um, you know, it was a great win for
us beating that franchise, but just their class. Um. And
then the last thing that I loved about this series,
it was all basketball, you know. Uh. It was clean, solid,
(28:22):
beautiful basketball by both teams. And Uh, I'm a better
person because I went through this series. I guarantee you that,
Like I think if we had have won the series
against someone else, if we probably would have been happy obviously,
and we would have won the series. Uh, But playing
against them, it's like being taught doing a competition on
(28:44):
how to act, how to um play and how to
trust um. You know, they did it and then we
did it. They did it and then we did it.
You know, you think Matt Barnes three was a trust pass.
You remember that three kicks it but the guy was
(29:04):
covered through it to the open guy, Matt Burns is
wide open. He made it three. They came down did
the exact same thing. So, uh, just playing against them
absolutely was a great lesson for us as well. Post game,
Jamie Maggio talked to Chris Paul on the court, and
you send the defending champions home packing in the first round.
We saw the hugs between the both teams. What did
(29:25):
you say to Tim Duncan there? Told him how much
I love him. Man. I didn't know Tim since I
was eleven years old. Man, his nephew played on the
same Hey you team, So everybody always knows the way
for us connection. But he's been like a mentor big
brother to me since I've been in the league. Chris
Paul also recognized the legends on the Spurs team and
the mentality that got them to win. My son had
(29:45):
a game at nine forty five this morning. I went
to that game, and uh, he was telling me on
the way home that I had to win the night
and uh, you know, just you know those guys right
there are legends, you know, seriously, from Pop to Tim
to Tony to Tamanu, And like we've been saying, all serious,
(30:05):
they're not gonna beat themselves down the stretch. Our team
has a thing that we say, what Doc says, don't
let go to rope. At any time, we could have
let go of the rope and just been like, it's
these guys. We fought hard and we could have just
conceded with um. You know, we kept fighting and guys
made plays in order to win. Well, how do you
(30:27):
what do you think this series meant to Chris? Obviously
he's been a lot of big ones throughout the course
of his career, but at that time, what do you
think this meant to him? I think it was huge
because I mean the knock on him was you know,
a great point. Garbanel Championship, you know, and for some reason,
people measure your career your legacy. You know, how good
you are if you're one of those upper echelon players
(30:48):
on the number of championships you have, so I know,
you know, it meant the world for CP to get
past the spurs. You know, the same old story. He's hurt,
but he toughed it out. He was able to, you know,
to get a little bit of rest going into the
next round. I don't even think he played game one
actually of that Houston series of I'm Mistake, And so
(31:09):
I just think it was big because, like I said,
you know, he was the best player on our team,
and there's always a lot of you know, he's this,
but he doesn't have the ring tight talk when it
came to Chris. But what about Chris Paul? Him spring
string and the first quarter cutting it out another team
seven ringer for Joe Briggers, who's seventh, and Chris Paul
(31:34):
got a little six foot assassin had twenty seven points.
He had eight teen in the shock and half and
he had nine other fourth quarter. Dac Rivers spoke to
CEP's ability to fight through his injury and hit that
final shot. He's just a tough kid. Uh, that's it. Tough.
He's just a tough Uh. He's a street fighter. I
(31:55):
mean he really is. He's a street fighter. I I
love him to death because of his will. J. J.
Reddick reiterated that CP was the key to the win.
We didn't need any extra motivation per se, but to
see him healthy was a sense of relief. And uh,
I mean we we needed him to win. Regardless of
(32:17):
the motivational factor. From the basketball standpoint, we needed him
to win. You see what has happened in a lot
of games this series where it has come down to
a couple of possessions, and uh, you know, we needed
CP to have the ball in his hands at the
end of the game. Tim Duncan also acknowledged Chris Paul's
impressive performance despite his injury. An amazing competitor. I know
he's a little hurt. I think he was playing a
(32:38):
little hurt and he played through all that fun ways
is gonna be done. I mean, it's just an unbelievable
lash shot over over two of us. The Lakers were
struggling through those couple of years. Um and obviously l
A is a Lakers town. But did you feel like
the vibe was changing a little in the city with
that Clippers team, that you were making more Clippers fans. Yeah, definitely,
(33:00):
and we really took pride on it was funny. I
talked about this on JJ's podcast. I did about a
month ago. It was always going to be a Laker town,
but we really took pride on like we tried to
beat them by fifty every time we played them, So
it was it was kind of a shift, you know.
And obviously, you know, we had a huge amount of
support for that lob cuity team from our fan base,
from the city, um and although we knew it would
(33:22):
never be a Clipper town, it would never even be
a Clipper arena, we just kind of rode the way.
And one thing about me was, you know, my whole career,
I was an underdog. So obviously playing with the Lakers
was a tremendous opportunity. There's nothing like being a Laker
and the historical significance of their franchise. But me, again
being an underdog, I really took pride in trying to
create some kind of legacy or path for the Clippers,
(33:45):
because you know, for the longest time they were the
dormat of the lead and uh, you know, and I
think I speak for a lot of us as we
really took a lot of pride and kind of trying
to put the Clippers on the map. We weren't trying
to be the Lakers. We weren't trying to be the
team of l A. We were just trying to have
a you know, a little bit of history for that franchise.
That's incredible. That's incredible, and you certainly did. Um then
(34:06):
what that means said, I know, I know you want
a title with Golden State, and you've had a ton
of big wins throughout the course of your career, But
how where would you rank this game when you think
about some of the best games that you've been a
part of. You know, this game was special. That serious
is tough, you know what I mean. Again, although they
were a little bit older, you know, to be able
to kind of end a run for a Big three group,
(34:27):
that was tough. I think they won four titles together.
So it was just special, you know, and obviously Pop
being one of the greatest coachures, if not the greatest
coach of all time. It was just it was significant,
you know what I mean, Tim was Tim again, you know,
Man new Tony, all the pieces. That organization was just
kind of the standard for basketball at the time. So
(34:49):
it was it was it was big. Matt. We cannot
thank you enough for sharing these memories, sharing the time,
and of course all the great stuff that you do
now that we get to watch, and especially the all
the small podcast is tremendous. It's tremendous, So thanks for
joining us. Thank you guys for having the best of
luck with your show. Ye NBA Flashback is a production
of I Heart Radio and the NBA. For more podcasts
(35:12):
from I Heart Radio, visit the I heart Radio app,
Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast
NBA Flashback is a production of I Heart Radio in
the NBA. Coming into the series, everyone was wondering where
the Clippers mentally tough enough to dethrone the champions? What's
over the drop? What a worry? By Chris Paul Night,
thing is way for two? Quite Criffin. Griffin goes it's splitter,
(00:26):
draws the five counted at lawn. Oh what a shop
by Just Duncan Reed, grows it up, couldn't let it,
throws it down, the boy let it erupting the San
Antonio Spurs on the drive grows it up, and the
tough shot from Paul Paul again putting on the finishing
(00:50):
touches of a masterpiece. Jeff Griffin from a line to
the name look out blow, It's the two most exciting
words in sports. Game seven the Lob City Clippers versus
the defending champion Spurs. Two legendary teams, one on the
way up and one on the way down. They battled
(01:11):
back and forth for six games and met in an
epic first round Game seven that did not feel like
a first round series to anyone involved in attendance or
watching on TV. On today's episode of NBA Flashback, we
go back to May two, when the world was first
being introduced to the fictional hip hop mogul Lucius Lion
(01:33):
on the show Empire and the musical Hamilton's could only
be seen off Broadway. The Spurs were led by Tim Duncan,
Tony Parker and Mono Junobli, and they were facing the
Clippers with Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan's But
as it turned out, a player that was mostly overlooked
at the time would make some of the biggest plays
(01:54):
in the game. We are honored to be joined by
NBA Champion fourteen year NBA vet the co host of
All the Smoke podcast, Matt Barnes. Matt, thanks so much
for spending a little time with us. Thank you for
having me. Well, we got a hopefully great memory for
(02:15):
you because I had so much fun going back and
watching this game, remember watching it live and now looking
back at it and just, um, how impactful you are.
Going back now. This was your third year with the
Clippers and this was a dramatic back and forth series. Um,
you battle back. You won Game six in San Antonio
to force a Game seven at home in l A.
(02:37):
Do you remember what the feeling was like inside the
locker room with the team as you were heading into
that game seven. Yeah, it was just, you know, we
have a tremendous opportunity. The first franchise has kind of
been a staple of basketball, you know, kind of from
my run winning several championships, and you know, we knew
we had a chance to somewhat in the dynasty and
(02:58):
you know, really make a on for us. You know,
we thought we were one of the best teams in
the league. And I think to beat San Antonio was
you know, the first step proven that the crew on
TNT had their final picks before the game. Give me
a winner tonight and give me a reason you like them.
I might have to go with the San Antonio Spurs
because they've proven time and and time out that they
(03:19):
can be the better focused team. Yes, the Clippers are
are becoming more focused and starting to you know, become
more well becoming to to think like a champion. But
you know, the Spurs, you know, for the for the
past four years, everybody up here kind of the Spurs out.
They just keep staying more focused. They just keep coming
(03:40):
and coming and coming. So I'm gonna have to go
with the Spurs on this game something. Did you see
Shock and Kenny and the in the T n T
in the pregame broadcast, they were saying that they were
speaking of that like the experienced UH championship pedigree team
in the Spurs. I'm not smart enough to say this
is the day that the Chaps lose. The Chaps will
not lose today. This when will be a blast. Kevin Harlan,
(04:01):
Chris Webber, Jamie Maggio have it covered game. The champion
Chaps will win all through the champions here. So did
you guys see yourselves as the underdogs going into that
one or how did how did you kind of frame
your mentality of how you felt like you got stacked up? Uh?
Kind of the underdog even though we had a home
court Game seven. But you know, as they mentioned, you
(04:23):
know this that core of man new Tony and Tim
had hung banners and no matter what seed they were,
you know, I mean, their experience along with Pop kind
of always gave them the upper hands. So you know,
we knew it was a tall task, but we also
knew we were at home and we had that on
our side, and we tried to utilize that. We we
(04:44):
have some audio of Doc rivers pregame speech to you
guys in the locker room. You have an opportunity to
win a title with you take take alright, So people
have had their whole careers and they haven't had that opportunity.
Some are coming to the end of their rears and
they'll have no more. All right, we have one you
gotta take. I'm just gonna end with this, all right.
(05:06):
This is a player's game. It always is, it always
will be. You go out and just play, uh, next play,
next play, next play. And a lot of what he
was saying was you have an opportunity to win a title,
and if you did, would you take it? I said,
some people played their whole careers and never had had
this opportunity. Do you remember much of that speech. Do
(05:27):
you remember the things that Doc was saying and just
kind of how he was sending a message to you
guys prior to the game. I don't recall the actual speech,
but the one to me, the best thing about Doc
was those type of speeches. He can get you ready
to do absolutely anything. And you know, he drew from
personal experience, he drew from joint experience, he drew from
(05:49):
just history and that was always one thing Doc was
great at was you know, those pregame speeches to kind
of really get you fired up and ready to go
and run to a wall. You always brought a toughness
of veteran presence to Lobs City. When you think about
your role with this team, how would you describe it?
And uh defender, uh, protector and just kind of doing
(06:14):
the dirty work. I mean we had a very talented
team that year. Um, I was the guy that kind
of did a little bit of everything, whether it be scoring,
whether it be defense, rebounding, hustle plays, you know, keeping
Blake and Chris safe. Uh, you name and I did it.
And you had a tremendous first quarter. We're talking about
how the core, the soul of the toughness, the protector
(06:37):
of this team. Um, but the rest of the group
got off to a little bit of a slow start.
You though, carried him. It's Barns all good free, that's
a good Matt Barns. Who else gotten now at a
twenty two in their series from deep and stopping, He's
seven of them. Sat Antonio run your most consistent player
of the soul of this team. As he comes out
(06:57):
and knock shots and seems like that's just I eight,
you have ten quick first quarter points, um and you
had played in big games in your career. How did
you personally approach a game seven or this game seven?
Because it looked like you were being really aggressive, Just
really to stay aggressive, but also you know, understanding my role.
(07:18):
You know, like I said, I was someone who was
capable of scoring, but you know we had some big
guns that that was their job. And as you mentioned,
we kind of got off to a slow start. So
I just you know, kind of turn my aggressive up
up for a little bit, kind of sneaking behind the defense,
hitting a couple of corner threes, another shot outside, another
three by Farns, a good screen by Jordan and Matt
(07:39):
Barnes is a two triples. You know, from my experience,
it's always the others that step up. You know what
the main guys are gonna do, Blake prisons, who else
is gonna stuff the day? Also, people will use use
a different nages this type of games. Getting to the
basket on cuts this bay, you know, and in the
defense shows Danny Green treating out now splitterage out like
(08:02):
we said, this geno body and g out in the
first page, plungs tonight for the l A Flippers. You
love seeing that Matt Long is not just aggressive on
the defensive there to be a rather efficient offensively. You're
normally just doing what I was doing, but again adding
a little bit aggressive this too, because I noticed, you
know that the rest of the team had kind of
got off to a slow start. In the last thing
we wanted to do was, you know, put ourselves in
a hole, you know, with the championship experienced team like
(08:25):
San Antonio and broken up our call and turn over
bottle ship Antonio go third, Paul stock at croke up
the three tell you what we cant stop on totally
any twier in the n B out, I'm sure pen
DeAndre Jordan's just so intimidating with his hands up. But
(08:47):
right here, as you just see Chris Paul, he grabs
his hamstring. You do not like seeing this, but you
like seeing that he's still tough even though we grabbed
that hamstring. But we'll have to see how the text ask.
He goes to the bench late in the first quarter,
Chris Paul, he went out with that hamstring injury, and
he could see him on the bench he's got his
head in his hands. You're just hoping that those trainers
(09:07):
over there have some Mr byad that israelful. Chris Paul,
what were you thinking? And you were on the bench
at that same time, what were you thinking when you
saw um CP hurt? I mean, it was really just
empathy for him, you know what I mean. I kind
of took the whole team situation away because Chris just
always had bad luck with little things, you know. I
(09:28):
mean not that the hamstring was a little thing, but
hand injuries, hamstrings, it was always something that was kind
of hampering Chris. And he would have great seasons and
you know the knock was, you know, he'd get hurt
in the playoffs. You could hear that all throughout the media.
So I really just felt, you know, just the human
side of me and just like, man, you know, how
does this keep happening to him? But you know, he
is one of the top three or four guys I've
(09:50):
ever played with it. You know, they say, who are
you going to take the war? I'm taking Chris Paul.
He was, you know, defeated for a little bit. I
said a couple of things to him. The trainer said
a couple of things to him, and and and low
and behold this guy tufted out and came back out
there and helped us. Do do you remember what you
said to him? It was just something like, you know,
hanging there, you're gonna be all right. Don't do it
if you feel like you're gonna hurt yourself. But if
(10:11):
if you think you can give us anything, let's get it.
It's just like I got you, Maddie. He's to call
me Maddie. He's like, I got you, Maddie, I got you.
Chris Paul is the most important player in this series
because he is truly a definition of an extension of
his coach on the floor. Now that we look at
the Clippers, their ball handlon are gonna be by guys
who liked him. One on one moves is to the
guys to get others involved, very interested to see how
(10:34):
they played down the stretch without Paul. Well, it was
Jamal Crawford that that took over the point guard responsibilities
from Chris, and he played really well to me on
all Buy three. Probably once you're gonna really sign the
fact that he's storing get in those games. You have
(10:54):
other points for the Clippers. You're right to knock it down.
A little bit of a circuit shot right there, which
is his style and play. I've sleep Jamal just announcing
officially announcing his retirement. Can you put in perspective one
how big he was in this game, but just what
what he meant to that group, to that team. Jamal
is the guy that everybody loves, whether you're playing against
him or you're playing with him. He just has an
(11:15):
energy and spirit that is so pure and just such
a basketball guy that he was always big for our team.
He does he has gid advoct is your side is
crawlf with dribs and knocks that down. Coach Prop is
just gonna get a talk out saying this is I
won't get I don't want this guy to get up
and sacrifice to you know, being able to be a starter.
(11:35):
But was was was comfortable taking that role and coming
up the bench, because that's a hard thing. I've been
a starter and someone's coming off the bench of my
career and it's two completely different mentalities that not everyone
can handle it. And I think that was something he did,
was he was able to embrace it for the betterment
of our team. And you know, obviously he won three
six Men Awards on the zone, so I think he
kind of helped him. Absolutely. He was kind of a
(11:56):
Swiss Army knight. Whether he needed to be a playmaking
point guard or a two guard that came in and
it got hot and scored. Jamal could literally do anything
we have to do on the offensive event. From watching him,
that's when we certainly miss both of you guys. Three
shocked Javal, troffold fish table, the cripples of four point lead,
(12:18):
Chelford that's got twelve points and tromp mines on eight chucks.
Jamal played great and Chris Paul returned in the second quarter,
a little hobbled but still affective. Paul with water shot
if you want Territic fit away Paul with the defensive
player of the year right there. What injury he's playing,
(12:41):
He's just saying he's leaving it all out. Yere tip tatus,
what a find the den us Chris Paul. He sets
the dinner table. Guys don't eat unless he puts that
pool or your table before the break. Let's go into
the locker room. But Doc verse at halftime for another
(13:02):
classic speech. I'll yea all at you. They gotta make
a mistake. I'll y'all at it all right. WHI y'all
gotta forgive yourself first and move on. All right. Now,
we didn't make two D game like says, and that's
what we got to take away. We give him some buck.
(13:24):
So this was Pete Blake Griffin. He was your top score.
Obviously it could be such a dominant player. He was
in foul trouble though in the first half. How do
you do you remember how you guys kind of got
him going and start looking and see a bunch more
plays in the second half. Do you remember different aspects
how you got him going? In this one, we just
wanted to get him on the move because we knew
(13:45):
he was, you know, a nightmare and batchup for those guys,
whether you know it was they had to truck, put
tim on him, put bains on him. Um, I think
they put d on him a little bit. Griffin dominant
in their series smid range game. There's been absolutely terrific,
shutting up everything out could it definitely has it as
(14:06):
long as he could mix a balance of shooting that
jump shot and taking it to the whole and not
just going for the bait. It means that he could
become a facilitator if it's not this person to guard
with the easiest person to guard as someone always looking
at discord himselves. Blake has stated that much tougher getting
other guys at ball, but we knew that he you know,
getting him on the move. There wasn't really a power
forward at that time. With all due respect to Timmy
(14:27):
being a little bit older, they can really stay with
Blake and um, it was really discontinuing there. You know,
kind of a group effort, you know, everyone kind of
saying a little time to him and then you know,
putting him in the positions to be most effective. They're
going on shote Griffin, Griffin, but what's it up? Been
in and Blake has put in thirteens and we all scored,
you know with his versatility. You know, he was kind
(14:48):
of a point forward. So we just try to find
unique ways to get him on the move on screen
and roll screening, pops slice cuts to make him more effective.
He also was and we still see this now in
his career with such a great passer, I think we
focused so much about his his dunks and jumping a billy.
He averaged over five assists a game. Uh that season
you talk about him slicing and cotton you had you
(15:09):
had a back cut. This was early in the second half. Um,
nice pass from Blake. Get energy as you see Fat
Barns with the fat put talk the smacks to glass
just for a little but Dunkedin got filed slapped the
back forward. It was a really it felt like a
really pivotal play. Do you remember that play? Yeah, I
(15:29):
think it was an inbound playing. Kauai was guarding me
and I think, yeah, yeah, I had a slice cut
off the side and got an ani one and I
want to say, we're gonna bring it. Talked about like
the defense there, Leonard just picked up a story. Yeah,
the story the clippers of the bench. But in my
opinion is Nat Barns and came out and gave me
swelled points in the first half, far beyond his season average.
(15:50):
Playing defensive. Now doing the same thing in the second half,
getting off to the blazing stuff. But now it was
you know, Blake was as talented as he was offensively,
as a score would opened up his offensive scoring more
with his ability to start passing. You know what I mean,
Because some guys are just getting the ball, they're going
to score, throw two or three guys at him. But
Blake's kept people honest because he would find cutters, he
(16:11):
would find corner three shooters, he would find the shape guy.
So no, I definitely remember that play, and it was
really a big play. I remember the crowd went crazy
for it. Yeah, the crowd went crazy for that. The
crowd also went crazy at the end of the third quarter.
You guys are down one and Chris Banks in a
three at the buzzer to give you guys a lead,
and it did. It went bananas with us, Chris Paul
(16:34):
with the law, he got it. Dezzert, what's really do? League? Unbelievable?
How much do you feel like that shot changed the
momentum of the game. It was huge, you know what
I mean. For Chris to be going through what he
was going through, it just seemed like there's a little
(16:56):
basketball angel out there with us, like, Okay, this is
our time, and we just hit this crazy shot up
to going in the fourth like we're at home, let's
let's San Antonio out. And you mentioned this earlier. I mean,
with the spur side of things. Tim Duncan thirty nine
years old at this time, man who's thirty seven. It
was the last game for the Big three of San Antonio,
(17:16):
where it was they were the main focus of the team,
and you talked about kind of ending them, ending that.
You know, Kevin and I don't think they want this
to be a swan song, but they've gone through it.
They know that this could be the last moment of
all of those guys playing together. They're not gonna make
it big, not win one for the Gipper, They're gonna
win one for the Spurs way, and that's stick to
the process, don't cry, see what happens. And there in
(17:38):
the middle of that process now that they know what
they have to lose if they don't win any day.
But Duncan at thirty nine years old, he scored seven
in this one, ten of those in the fourth quarter.
Duncan with a good spin on Jordan. What a good
move by Tim. And when he's taking his time doing
a crab crawling. There the reason why it's so hard
to check him. You don't know if he's going over
(17:59):
his rights order, which is a great for the basket,
or coming back to our nut shoulder, which is quite
over the hook for his flash shot, but a good foul.
We're to have patience by Tim Donkin. How hard was
he to deal with? Even late in his career? Tim
was incredible And if I'm not mistaken, I mean you
can tell he was on about one and a half legs,
if not one, I mean it seemed like like one
of his legs didn't even ben But he was just
(18:21):
such a warrior, so skilled and and and you know,
obviously knowing the nuances and the tricks of the game
at his age, he was able to still be very effective.
And don can finds himself in a mismatch and he
exploits are going right in dude, Chris Pauls. So he
was still obviously our main focus um as far as
scouting and putting a defensive play together was And obviously
(18:43):
we knew they had a young up and coming Kawhi Leonard.
You know, Tony Parker was a monster man who was
you know, in his own right with one of the
greatest players of all time. But you know, Tim, although
it wasn't as consistent as it was before, was still
was still a major problem not only for us but
the league that season. Yeah, definitely definitely on the critical
(19:03):
to the s intorial. The Clippers have a SERI time.
Trove me threes, J J Riddick jack under five minutes left.
You guys are down by three and J J Reddick
(19:23):
hit backed back threes gives you guys a lead. Reddick.
How clutch was JJ not only in this one, but
just in how you watched him and how he was
able to be so effective in pivotal moments. JJ was,
you know, one of those guys that just really didn't
get rattled. You know, I think he fed off the
energy of our team. He knew he was kind of
(19:45):
the hired gun to just come out when you're open.
You know, you're one of the best shooters in the
world shoot that day, and we all just always you know,
whether he was off or on, we'd always continue to
just feed him and give him the confidence, letting them
know that, you know, the next shot is the most
important shot. U. So J J was always ready and
sometimes the deceiving matchup for some guys because you know,
(20:05):
he would not only were they able to knock down
open shots, but starting putting the ball on the floor
and get and get into the basket as well. So
you know, anytime we needed big shots. You know between Blake,
Chris Jamal JJ, you know one of those guys are
gonna be able to make that happen. Checked up water
(20:26):
in and sit turning all by three. You guys down
three again just over two minutes left. And this is
normally you think about the Spurs points where their experience
they would pull away. You hit a massive three to
tie it again, makes the gookicks it up. What were
(20:49):
you feeling when that three at that point of the
game went in. Um, I got put back in the game.
And I remember they pressured j J and j J
was driving from the baseline here our bench kind of
found you right at the top of the art and
know it was just a path and I was in rhythm, uh,
and I was able to knock it down and tie
the game. The Clippers will use their final time out
(21:11):
san Antonio with a twenty in the full, Rabovitch and
his Spurs and defending the title are taken right to
the precipice. And now that takes us to this huddle
of Los Angeles and Doc Rivers and as he draws
one up for his two trying to break through and
(21:31):
establish their own identity exactly and if your doc rivers,
you have some great options right now. First, you're tied,
so you can take the last shot. Second, with Rittick
in the corner, the Crawfit in the corner, and with
Blake Griffin setting the pick a mole. As a defense,
it's gonna be tough to remember who your responsibility is.
And also they stick to your tenants and to communicate.
(21:53):
But I'm sure that ball is gonna be in Chris
Paul's hands until it gets to the person who needs
to shoot it that's not him. After some file shots
on both sides, games tied again, there's eight point eight
seconds left. You're in the huddle, Docstrawn up a play.
You're the inbounder. Do you remember that? I remember the shot.
I just don't remember what the player what I remember.
I remember the thing with you know, to get the
(22:14):
ball to Chris, and I don't know if I don't,
I don't want to call it feels the ice because
I know he was hurt, but it sometimes kind of
turned into an ice. And he got that that that
bank off the glass green one second left, Chris, he's
(22:34):
that shot. The building goes nuts. Chris Paul says, this
is my house. If you're a San Antonio fan, what
two better defenders be? Could you have the green and
dunking right there? The presence of mind to gathering stuff.
You see he's limping, he's hurt. He can't even explode
off of that leg, but he does. Whill's the ball in?
Chris Paul. Here's Chris Paul on his game winning shot.
(22:56):
You know it's funny, it's crazy. When we finished walk
through the day, Uh, when the team broke down, Um
Dot called me and Blake over and we talked about it.
Then we talked about if we get down into a
last second shot, what we wanted to do. And we've
been in that situation a lot of times already this year,
and most of the time I had made it, tell
(23:17):
you the truth, and we talked about it, and finally
it worked when we needed Blake Griffin got a front
row seat. I was running down the lane Um and
he kind of disappeared behind Tim, Tim and whoever saw
the shot go up, I jumped. Um probably was the
closest to the goal to see it go through. So
that was pretty cool. Um. But the Spurs they still
(23:39):
have a chance, and they run a loud play for Kauai,
do you remember this at the rim your garden Bell
and Elliott's three point line. I remember they ran the
play and something happened, so they gave me a peek
at the play check it to go quick trigger finger.
(24:06):
Something happened where they had they read it. It didn't counsel.
They had to run it again, and I've already seen
what the play was. If I'm Papa Vinch, I'm very
upset to this message. With your rhythm, your cadence is
a play call. This allows the deepense to get set
back up. Interverted whistle in the middle of the last
second play is not something you expect because the defense
(24:32):
is a chance to scout that same play. But it
was crazy because I just kind of acted like I
wasn't really paying attention, like, oh, they're gonna run a lot,
and and they have Blake on them, so this is
gonna be easy. So the fact that they ran the
same play twice, that's why I was able just to
completely leave Bell and Elli and go with me, seeing
everything coming at me and and Kauai was coming at
(24:54):
an awkward angle off an upward move that I was
able to just slide over and almost volume well swat passed,
geta and round out in a Jordan in front of
him to be found. Let it knocked the right Barns,
the defending champions of Toronment. I have my clip rooms
have ripped the herd out of the spurs. It was
a great past. It was right at the end that
(25:15):
co I probably put the cot and put in see
right here they tried to get to halle. You can
look who comes over. Matt Barnes, who's been there all
night tonight with the help making sure that he helps
defensively the team just on the string. You asked these guys,
they're off here for something big. Matt Barnes like a
safety coming over to help. The end of the game,
(25:44):
everyone's hugging. This was only It wasn'tly a first round series,
but it seemed like it felt like more. How how
would you characterize why winning that was so special? I
just think it was big. I think the one kind
of knocked on our team. Looking back, that team, what
seven years later was you know, we underachieved. We clearly
had one of the most talented teams in the league,
(26:07):
but it didn't It didn't get us anywhere, you know,
so we thought you know that year was alright, we
just not the best team off in the world. This
next round we're gonna play you know, James Harden and
in Houston, but we've had some success against them, and
then we're gonna play against the Warriors because you know,
we've we've had good success. This is right before they
kind of make their dynasty run, so we've had success
(26:28):
against them. So it kind of felt like not looking ahead,
obviously taking it series by series that it was laid
out for this to be the year we're gonna make
a championship run. Post game, there was nothing but respect
between the two teams. Coach Pop had something to say
to the Clippers. Well, let me say something first. I
usually don't do that, but Kudo's congratulations everything to the Clippers. Uh,
(26:52):
Duck and his staff players. Uh, great series of really
played well. Both teams played with class, Both teams competed
their butts off. It was great stuff, great series. So
congratulations of them. I am really happy for them. Sad
for us obviously for a lot of reasons, but really
happy for that group. They're trying to get it going
(27:13):
and uh, they're obviously in the right direction. Dacer Rivers
couldn't believe it was just a first round series. That's
a series for the ages. Um amazing, it's a first
round uh series. You know, Tim, with like two minutes left,
Tim Duncan walks up to me, this is the first
round and and uh, you know he almost took it
(27:36):
out and I was thinking the same thing. Um, And
that is the classiest organization, the classes players. Um the
best coach to me ever or one of the top ones,
and so all our respect goes to them. I mean, um,
(27:57):
if we could scratch that somehow, some way in the
next year's uh, we would be thrilled to death. Um.
So um, you know, it was a great win for
us beating that franchise, but just their class. Um. And
then the last thing that I loved about this series,
it was all basketball, you know. Uh. It was clean, solid,
(28:22):
beautiful basketball by both teams. And Uh, I'm a better
person because I went through this series. I guarantee you that,
Like I think if we had have won the series
against someone else, if we probably would have been happy obviously,
and we would have won the series. Uh, But playing
against them, it's like being taught doing a competition on
(28:44):
how to act, how to um play and how to
trust um. You know, they did it and then we
did it. They did it and then we did it.
You know, you think Matt Barnes three was a trust pass.
You remember that three kicks it but the guy was
(29:04):
covered through it to the open guy, Matt Burns is
wide open. He made it three. They came down did
the exact same thing. So, uh, just playing against them
absolutely was a great lesson for us as well. Post game,
Jamie Maggio talked to Chris Paul on the court, and
you send the defending champions home packing in the first round.
We saw the hugs between the both teams. What did
(29:25):
you say to Tim Duncan there? Told him how much
I love him. Man. I didn't know Tim since I
was eleven years old. Man, his nephew played on the
same Hey you team, So everybody always knows the way
for us connection. But he's been like a mentor big
brother to me since I've been in the league. Chris
Paul also recognized the legends on the Spurs team and
the mentality that got them to win. My son had
(29:45):
a game at nine forty five this morning. I went
to that game, and uh, he was telling me on
the way home that I had to win the night
and uh, you know, just you know those guys right
there are legends, you know, seriously, from Pop to Tim
to Tony to Tamanu, And like we've been saying, all serious,
(30:05):
they're not gonna beat themselves down the stretch. Our team
has a thing that we say, what Doc says, don't
let go to rope. At any time, we could have
let go of the rope and just been like, it's
these guys. We fought hard and we could have just
conceded with um. You know, we kept fighting and guys
made plays in order to win. Well, how do you
(30:27):
what do you think this series meant to Chris? Obviously
he's been a lot of big ones throughout the course
of his career, but at that time, what do you
think this meant to him? I think it was huge
because I mean the knock on him was you know,
a great point. Garbanel Championship, you know, and for some reason,
people measure your career your legacy. You know, how good
you are if you're one of those upper echelon players
(30:48):
on the number of championships you have, so I know,
you know, it meant the world for CP to get
past the spurs. You know, the same old story. He's hurt,
but he toughed it out. He was able to, you know,
to get a little bit of rest going into the
next round. I don't even think he played game one
actually of that Houston series of I'm Mistake, And so
(31:09):
I just think it was big because, like I said,
you know, he was the best player on our team,
and there's always a lot of you know, he's this,
but he doesn't have the ring tight talk when it
came to Chris. But what about Chris Paul? Him spring
string and the first quarter cutting it out another team
seven ringer for Joe Briggers, who's seventh, and Chris Paul
(31:34):
got a little six foot assassin had twenty seven points.
He had eight teen in the shock and half and
he had nine other fourth quarter. Dac Rivers spoke to
CEP's ability to fight through his injury and hit that
final shot. He's just a tough kid. Uh, that's it. Tough.
He's just a tough Uh. He's a street fighter. I
(31:55):
mean he really is. He's a street fighter. I I
love him to death because of his will. J. J.
Reddick reiterated that CP was the key to the win.
We didn't need any extra motivation per se, but to
see him healthy was a sense of relief. And uh,
I mean we we needed him to win. Regardless of
(32:17):
the motivational factor. From the basketball standpoint, we needed him
to win. You see what has happened in a lot
of games this series where it has come down to
a couple of possessions, and uh, you know, we needed
CP to have the ball in his hands at the
end of the game. Tim Duncan also acknowledged Chris Paul's
impressive performance despite his injury. An amazing competitor. I know
he's a little hurt. I think he was playing a
(32:38):
little hurt and he played through all that fun ways
is gonna be done. I mean, it's just an unbelievable
lash shot over over two of us. The Lakers were
struggling through those couple of years. Um and obviously l
A is a Lakers town. But did you feel like
the vibe was changing a little in the city with
that Clippers team, that you were making more Clippers fans. Yeah, definitely,
(33:00):
and we really took pride on it was funny. I
talked about this on JJ's podcast. I did about a
month ago. It was always going to be a Laker town,
but we really took pride on like we tried to
beat them by fifty every time we played them, So
it was it was kind of a shift, you know.
And obviously, you know, we had a huge amount of
support for that lob cuity team from our fan base,
from the city, um and although we knew it would
(33:22):
never be a Clipper town, it would never even be
a Clipper arena, we just kind of rode the way.
And one thing about me was, you know, my whole career,
I was an underdog. So obviously playing with the Lakers
was a tremendous opportunity. There's nothing like being a Laker
and the historical significance of their franchise. But me, again
being an underdog, I really took pride in trying to
create some kind of legacy or path for the Clippers,
(33:45):
because you know, for the longest time they were the
dormat of the lead and uh, you know, and I
think I speak for a lot of us as we
really took a lot of pride and kind of trying
to put the Clippers on the map. We weren't trying
to be the Lakers. We weren't trying to be the
team of l A. We were just trying to have
a you know, a little bit of history for that franchise.
That's incredible. That's incredible, and you certainly did. Um then
(34:06):
what that means said, I know, I know you want
a title with Golden State, and you've had a ton
of big wins throughout the course of your career, But
how where would you rank this game when you think
about some of the best games that you've been a
part of. You know, this game was special. That serious
is tough, you know what I mean. Again, although they
were a little bit older, you know, to be able
to kind of end a run for a Big three group,
(34:27):
that was tough. I think they won four titles together.
So it was just special, you know, and obviously Pop
being one of the greatest coachures, if not the greatest
coach of all time. It was just it was significant,
you know what I mean, Tim was Tim again, you know,
Man new Tony, all the pieces. That organization was just
kind of the standard for basketball at the time. So
(34:49):
it was it was it was big. Matt. We cannot
thank you enough for sharing these memories, sharing the time,
and of course all the great stuff that you do
now that we get to watch, and especially the all
the small podcast is tremendous. It's tremendous, So thanks for
joining us. Thank you guys for having the best of
luck with your show. Ye NBA Flashback is a production
of I Heart Radio and the NBA. For more podcasts
(35:12):
from I Heart Radio, visit the I heart Radio app,
Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast
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