Thunder Lose 2012 NBA Finals: Reactions From Royal Ivey, Reggie Jackson, and Eric Maynor

As I entered the Thunder locker room last night, at first, I couldn't tell they had lost. Everybody looked just like they did after the previous two finals losses in Miami. They were somewhat down and quiet, but I didn't see depression. Since everyone was busy interviewing Harden and Westbrook, I decided to get some reactions from the guys who were there all season, but didn't get to necessarily play in the finals. Namely, I talked to Royal Ivey, Reggie Jackson, and Eric Maynor.

After talking to them, I felt the despair sink in. They were professionals and answered the questions well, but you could tell they were just as sad as the guys out on the floor. Reggie Jackson was pouring over some papers, and Royal Ivey seemed fixated on getting ready to leave. The locker room couldn't have seemed smaller at that point, with a sparser than usual press entourage crowding around the players, blank white walls everywhere, and the Big 3 smoking cigars only a few hundred feet away.

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Welcome to Loud City: When you checked into the game tonight, what was running through your head?

Royal Ivey: Just finish out the game, you know? Just be a professional. That's what I do. Finish out the game, you know? It's tough. But uh, coach called my number, and I got up, and I just wanted to finish out. That's all I was thinking.

WTLC: What do you think was the main reason the Thunder lost this series?

RI: They were the better team, you know? They got one on the road and they protected home. That's what the playoffs is about, protecting home. And they did that well, you know? We needed to get one win here and we couldn't get that done as a team. So, you gotta sit down. They got the job done, so you gotta take your hat off to them.

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WTLC: What do you think was the main reason the Thunder lost this series?

Reggie Jackson: Well, it was a good team. They played well. I take my hat off to 'em. They were hot. Hard to stop 'em. They executed. They did what they were supposed to do. They handled it on the court. And we had a tough mental loss. They just played well the whole series. The whole playoffs.

WTLC: What are your expectations heading into next season?

RJ: Everybody comes back. Do what you can do. Let this feeling resonate the whole Summer. Push you to get better and try to come back and win it next year.

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WTLC: What do you think was the main reason the Thunder lost this series?

Eric Maynor: It's hard to say the reason we lost. I felt like we gave it our all. They made more plays than we did. They made more plays and they was able to get the four before we got there.

WTLC: Can you tell me a little bit about your emotions when you were sitting on the bench tonight?

EM: It hurts. It hurts to lose. It hurts to be in that position. It hurts to not be out there and help my teammates. But at the end of the day I'm still proud of my teammates for the stuff that they did do good. I'm excited. I'm excited about this group. I'm excited about coming back with them. I'm excited about getting healthy and being a part of this again next year.

WTLC: Speaking of next year, what are you expectations heading into next season?

EM: We're just a bunch of guys that's gonna work hard. Work hard every day and we can live with our results. We can live with our results whatever happens.