Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Boston Celtics | Mar. 21, 2022
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00:00 Yeah.
00:01 Nick Gallo, KC Thunder.com.
00:02 Shay, well, maybe what was special about tonight's fourth quarter, the way that you were able
00:09 to rack up so many points as a team against one of the best defenses in the league and
00:12 really put pressure on them down the stretch?
00:15 Yeah.
00:16 I think we just, we tried to win.
00:19 We tried to compete.
00:20 I don't think, we just tried to go over the bank.
00:26 But I expect that from this team every night, no matter the circumstance, we're going to
00:31 give it our all going down the stretch.
00:34 And then that six-minute flurry by Trey in the second quarter is kind of one of those
00:39 magical things that happens throughout the season.
00:41 What was your perspective on that stretch from him?
00:44 Yeah, it was just so fun.
00:47 Puts in a lot of work.
00:51 You do a lot, obviously, working in the NBA.
00:56 It's a learning experience.
00:57 Your first time doing it.
00:58 And just to see his work pay off, special.
01:01 It was super fun to watch.
01:05 Paris Lawson, OKC Thunder.com.
01:07 Going back to that fourth quarter, you came in kind of after the group was able to get
01:12 some rhythm offensively.
01:13 What did you feel, especially in that start of that fourth quarter, where you guys were
01:17 starting to able to get some rhythm offensively?
01:19 What kind of sparked that for you guys?
01:21 Yeah, just be aggressive.
01:27 Just stick to the game plan.
01:29 I think, well, I know we were trying to make-- there are other guys beat us, not Jason and
01:36 Jalen.
01:38 They were getting to that, I think, the first three quarters more than we'd like them to.
01:42 And then we tried to make them uncomfortable in the fourth quarter and that was a work
01:45 for them.
01:46 And then offensively, it seemed like there were several plays where they would make a
01:49 basket, but you guys would score super quick out in transition.
01:52 What could have been transition, but it was a made basket.
01:55 How important was it playing with that pace tonight?
01:58 Yeah, that's when we're at our best.
02:00 We're playing fast.
02:03 It's the floor opens up, our athletes get in space.
02:07 And just like the athletic-- Grant Williams was dunking a lot at the beginning of the
02:12 game, but you got him, blocked him at the rim.
02:15 As a guard, do you take pride in being able to block shots?
02:19 Yeah, any form of getting a stop.
02:22 Block shots, steals, charge, I don't take too many of them, charge.
02:28 Any form of getting a stop and generating opportunity on the other end.
02:34 I don't know if you noticed, there's a lot of green in the crowd, a lot of Celtics fans
02:38 here, and even a lot of people cheering for the Celtics at the beginning of the game.
02:42 But it seemed like as you guys got closer in the fourth quarter, the crowd really seemed
02:46 to turn in your favor.
02:47 Is that something that kind of gets you going?
02:50 Not really.
02:54 I would say I felt energy throughout most of the night.
02:57 Our own crowd was really good.
03:01 Boston, obviously being a marquee franchise, can have fans wherever they go.
03:05 I expected that.
03:06 The game was fun, the crowd made it super exciting.
03:11 Justin Martins of the Oklahoma, appreciate you taking the time to talk to us today.
03:14 31-9 for you just seems routine at this point, even with the ankle injury.
03:18 How are you feeling right now, before and after the game?
03:20 Is it bothering you?
03:21 Are you able to play through it?
03:23 Yeah, after most games it's sore, obviously.
03:28 I try to do whatever I can to recover as fast as possible.
03:32 But yeah, after most games it's sore, and I just think it's day by day.
03:35 I try to get back to the best possible.
03:37 You guys had three players who scored at least 20 points.
03:40 Poku almost a fourth one.
03:42 Is that something you guys can build on, just the fact that multiple guys are starting to
03:45 really hit their stride at the same time?
03:47 Yeah, it all comes down to development for us.
03:52 I think if their guys work at it, the opportunities they're given, that's going to show.
03:58 And it's going to head in the right direction for sure.
04:00 I think we're seeing that, especially the offensive.
04:02 Appreciate it.
04:04 [inaudible]
04:08 Hey, Shea. Hope you're doing well.
04:10 How good a sign for you was the way that you fought until the end of the fourth quarter
04:15 tonight?
04:16 And how good you can be, and especially you, how this situation helped you to get better
04:21 as a player?
04:28 One more time, Christos.
04:29 One more time.
04:30 Please, and thank you.
04:31 No problem.
04:32 How good a sign for you was the way that you fought until the end tonight?
04:36 And how good you can be as a team overall with games like this?
04:41 Yeah, that's one of the things we pride ourselves on, playing 48 minutes, never taking our foot
04:47 off the gas, playing until the final whistle blows.
04:51 And I'm excited because of that.
04:53 We play super hard, and good things happen when you play hard.
04:56 Thanks, guys.
04:57 [BLANK_AUDIO]