Video: Spurs vs. Thunder Game 4 Postgame Interviews

DeJuan Blair talked about the energy and physicality that he brings to the team. The Spurs outscored Oklahoma City by six points in his 9:36 of playing time.

“We just have to be a little more physical,” Blair said. “That’s when I came in and tried to spark it. I did a good job and we just came up short. We knew this team was going to be a tough battle playing in this environment. We aren’t going to sweep everybody. This team is legit.”

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Scott Brooks talked about protecting home court and returning back to San Antonio with the series knotted at two games apiece.

“We knew important (Game 4) was,” Brooks said. “It’s a lot easier going to San Antonio 2-2 instead of being down 1-3. But we knew, when we lost our first two games, our guys did not get down on themselves. We knew they did a good job protecting their home-court and we have to do the same.”

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Boris Diaw talked about whether the performance of Nick Collison, Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins was surprising.

“It’s not surprising, they are in the NBA for a reason,” Diaw said. “They can definitely play well, hit shots but, of course, we gotta pick and choose and we try to rely on getting the ball to these guys instead of Durant. But tonight they really came out.”

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Tim Duncan talked about the importance of the Thunder frontcourt.

“Throughout the entire game their three bigs were the difference,” Duncan said. “They missed like two or three shots combined and they were great passing the ball.

They were making some unexpected shots but, at the same time, they were cutting to the basket getting dunks. Ibaka made some great jumpshots himself. They made it all around the place.”

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Kevin Durant discussed the keys to defeating the Spurs in Game 4.

“I wouldn’t say that I carried us,” Durant said. “We all made a good effort to play together. We had 27 assists, it comes from moving the ball and making the right plays. Doing that in the first three quarters opened up for me in the fourth (quarter) and I was able to make some shots. Russell set great screens, James made great passes. I just try to do my job and finish.”

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Manu Ginobili talked about the importance of winning Game 5 in a 2-2 series.

“It’s a great challenge,” Ginobili said. “We are playing against a really talented team and we earned ourselves the possibility of having home-court advantage and hopefully we use it. Both teams took care of business at home and hopefully we keep that trend. Game 5 is always huge, it’s going to be a very important (game).”

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Stephen Jackson talked about whether the Spurs should get credit for playing hard.

“We shouldn’t get any credit for playing hard,” Jackson said. “It’s basketball. It’s the Western Conference Finals, you are supposed to play hard. If you are scared, go to church tomorrow’s Sunday. You gotta be ready to play. Pop shouldn’t have to come and scream at us and tell somebody to play hard. A lot of people would die to be in this position. Go out there and give it your all. Whatever happens, happens.”

Jack also joked that anyone would be able to knock down the shots Collison and Ibaka received.

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Gregg Popovich talked about Kevin Durant’s 36-point explosion (65% shooting). Durant also added eight assists and six rebounds.

“It didn’t seem like that, it was a fact (responding to whether Durant seemed to have a good game),” Popovich said. “I was there, I saw it. He was great, we tried to do a couple of different things but his play was better than anything we did defensively, that’s for sure. He finished it off in fine fashion.”

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