Aleksej Pokusevski | Boston Celtics | Mar. 21, 2022
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00Alexi, what's the feeling like out there as you all are making that fourth quarter come
00:12back and putting the pressure on a team that's now gone, I think, 22 and four out of the
00:18last 26 games?
00:19I mean, we kind of show ourselves that we can play with them.
00:20We just didn't start the game the way we wanted.
00:21It's probably why we lost the game, but, you know, it was a good 48-minute game.
00:37I think we caused a good win.
00:39And then it was pretty magical in that second quarter what Trey did.
00:45What was your perspective on that six-minute, 23-point flurry?
00:50I mean, he's a, you know, talented guy, and he's got to get even better, so I'm happy
00:57for him.
00:58He's really playing hard.
00:59He's getting better every game.
01:00He's learning a lot.
01:01So I'm happy for him.
01:02Do you think it's because you opened his car door for him?
01:08For sure.
01:09I think there's a thing because, you know, he's a guy that needs a lot of help around.
01:14Paris Lawson, OKC Thunder.com.
01:15Poku, you kind of got off to a slow start in that first half.
01:18Only made one shot, but then you were super efficient, only missed one shot in the second
01:23half.
01:24What was it at halftime?
01:25What are you thinking to yourself just to kind of right the ship and get that going
01:28for you?
01:29I mean, just to get back to the things that are going to make me, you know, go into defense,
01:35stops, rebounds, energy plays, you know, I think that was a thing I didn't want to push
01:42anything forward, and I can do it.
01:43And it seemed like you guys were really emphasizing playing fast against this team.
01:46Just how important was that aspect of it, especially on the offensive end?
01:50It was pretty important, but, you know, most of the people can't stop, so we can run.
01:55Derek, I think he had one of the best defensive teams, I'm not sure, but, you know, he's
02:00switching every team.
02:01It's pretty hard to play with him, you know, you've got to keep the ball moving, if you're
02:05out of possession.
02:06I think we did a great job in the second half of the day.
02:09Interselect of the Athletic.
02:11You're defending a wide variety of players, oftentimes you're late in this game, you're
02:16probably the center, earlier in the game you're defending wings, what's your comfort level
02:21switching between bigs and guys out on the perimeter?
02:24I feel pretty comfortable, because I'm sticking to the things that, you know, whoever I'm
02:29starting.
02:30I think it's a great thing to do that, you get to learn a lot, to play, you know, different
02:38spots, but I think I can do a lot of defense and have a team that matches with my line.
02:46How are you feeling physically, defending bigger guys, you're defending bigger, stronger,
02:50older guys down on the block, how do you feel?
02:53They're pretty strong, much stronger than me, but I'm like Coach said, you know, physicality,
02:59you know, you can choose that.
03:00So I'm trying to choose physicality, being in chess, you know, I'm still using my length
03:05and bringing energy.
03:08And then how's your finger feeling?
03:09I mean, it's alright, nothing more, it's getting better.
03:16Chess Martinez of the Oklahoma Precinct, thank you for taking the time to talk to us today.
03:20You guys had three players that scored at least 20 points, you were nearly the fourth
03:23one, just one shy.
03:24Does it feel like guys are starting to click at the right time?
03:26I mean, is that something you all can build off of?
03:28It's not something that we're trying to do, it's just something that's going to come with
03:33it's own.
03:34We're kind of a group, we have a guy that can score, but if we play together and play
03:40the right way, everyone can score.
03:43Appreciate it.
03:46Hey Poko, another great game for you in the second half of the season.
03:54Can you talk about the confidence level that you play, especially on the decision making
03:59that you take on tonight's game and how this comfort level affects you on both ends?
04:06I mean, last game was a bad game for me, first half wasn't the best for me, but this game
04:12I was just trying to get back to the basic things and I know that my teammates and coach
04:17are trusting me and they're pretty tough with me, they're helping me push through it.
04:23I was just trying to get back inside the team and make any energy play so I can get back
04:29to whatever is that in the game and help the team win.
04:37Thank you.