Before the Denver Nuggets battle against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of their Western Conference Semifinal series, we’re taking a look back to earlier this week.
As the L.A. Lakers and Denver Nuggets faced off in Game 5 on April 29, a game that almost seemed like a replay of Game 3, where Jamal Murray showed what he is made of, and a game that is the reason I believe there is a big chance we will see the Nuggets going to become back-to-back champions.
After the Nuggets closed the series in said Game 5, I had the chance to talk to veteran center DeAndre Jordan. We spoke about his start in the league and he shared his thoughts on watching Jamal Murray’s shot, that eliminated the Lakers.
Aurelia Rieke:
“Thank you for taking the time. Big win for you guys today, but first I would like to ask you about a different topic before I come back to the game today. You got drafted by the Clippers. Just kind of curious. You played there 10 years. How is it for you to see how the Clippers develop as a franchise and now even getting their own arena. What does that mean to you?”DeAndre Jordan:
“I think it’s awesome. I think I was a part of the culture change with like Chris and Blake, we kind of helped to change the culture a lot also with JJ Reddick and Jamal Crawford and and guys like that. So we were, I think very integral in that kind of blossoming. And just to see them continue to have success, it’s awesome. I wish they would have had a new arena when I was playing there. But I’m excited to be able to kind of see that franchise continue to grow and have something of their own.”Aurelia:
“Do you watch their Games, and do you still feel a little bit connected?”DeAndre:
“I have a history there, like I played 10 years for them. I had some great teammates with the Clippers, I loved it wearing the Clippers jersey, representing the city and that team for a long time. So I’ve always felt connected. I have friends on that team, so I still maintain watching the games. I can’t root for them too much, but yeah sure.”Aurelia:
“Now coming back to the current situation. You were with the Lakers for a short time and they ended your contract after some months. How much do you enjoy it playing them? Also looking at last year’s playoffs and how you swept them, while now beating them again.”DeAndre:
!It’s fun. I don’t have any grudges towards that franchise at all. I think when you’re in the playoffs, you want to beat anybody. If it happen, we had to play the Clippers, I still want to beat them. But you know they have two Hall of Fame players, a team full of guys who know how to play basketball and it’s always fun to be able to compete and advance. So they’re just another team that we want to beat. They played their asses off, but there is no bad blood or anything like that with me or the franchise.”Aurelia:
“And how scary was that when you saw AD go down, or what happened to Murray’s calf, KCP being in the locker room for a while, during the game. What is going through your mind when you see all these injuries happening, how frustrating is that sometimes?”DeAndre:
“Yeah, I mean, it sucks. Like, injuries suck. I think at this point of the season, nobody in the NBA is healthy. They have something going on with their knee, ankle, back, wrist, something. Just a wear and tear of then season. Nobody at this point is 100% I tell you. But I think that’s the beauty of it, guys fight through injuries. Because this is where your legacy is built in the postseason and you run to continue the good hours.”Aurelia:
“Okay, last question. When you saw Murray taking that shot, can you share some thoughts? Right before, and then in the moment when you realized, okay, it went in.”DeAndre:
“Yeah, I mean, we’re confident in Jamal to take those shots. He lives for those moments. When he shot it, it kind of was, like everything got quiet for a bit. And then once he dropped, we kind of went crazy, but we still needed to get a stop. But once we knew that they weren’t gonna call a timeout, he was kind of like, you can see it in his eyes.
It was a crazy shot, man. It was a great defense and I’m just glad that he made the shot.”Aurelia:
“Yeah, I mean, it’s so crazy thinking of that he was questionable.”DeAndre:
“Yeah, to come out like that, dropping 30 points. It was crazy.”Aurelia:
“I mean, I’m very happy for you that you won, but I really wanted to have a long series.”DeAndre:
“Thank you so much. Yeah I know you really wanted to go back to L.A.”Aurelia:
“Just because I really enjoyed the series so much, you know.”DeAndre:
“The next one will be even better, for sure.”Aurelia:
“Ok ok I can’t wait. Thank you for your time. “
