Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Sacramento Kings Post-Game | Feb. 28, 2022
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00:00 Nick Gallo, KC Thunder.com.
00:02 Shea, they as a team, I think they're seventh in free throw attempts.
00:06 They lead the league in and ones.
00:08 Just what makes it difficult to defend them without fouling?
00:13 Seem to get to the line a lot tonight.
00:14 >> Yeah, they play really fast pace, more possessions.
00:19 Then they have a few guys over there that are good at getting to the line.
00:27 And just adds up, but adds up to them to make big things.
00:32 >> Certainly got to the line yourself and just seemed to kind of get whatever you
00:36 wanted, but also got things going in terms of momentum for the entire team.
00:40 I think you had 28 assists.
00:42 What were you doing to just kind of get everything working for
00:45 the offense as a whole?
00:47 >> I was just trying to be aggressive.
00:49 Make the right basketball play.
00:52 But like I said, just be aggressive, play down here, play to my strengths.
00:59 >> Paris Lawson, okcthunder.com.
01:00 The pace of this one you mentioned is just really up tempo tonight.
01:05 How big of an emphasis was it for guys like you, Teo,
01:07 Trey to really push the pace and try to get those quick actions there?
01:12 >> It was big.
01:13 It's easier to play faster, more space, open court.
01:19 And that's one of our strengths.
01:24 Guys can make plays for all, better in open space and open court.
01:30 >> And I wanted to ask you specifically about Teo.
01:33 He had a lot of really high energy plays tonight.
01:35 So it seemed like we saw a lot of emotion out of him tonight.
01:37 Just where are you seeing him kind of grow and
01:39 blossom over this part of the season, I guess?
01:42 >> Yeah, he's getting better and he's playing with confidence.
01:46 He's taking advantage of his opportunity.
01:49 I said this before, but we have a lot of guys that deserve opportunity and
01:54 that work their butts off.
01:55 He's one of them, Sean.
01:56 >> Yeah, Shay, it looks like you're playing really
02:01 efficiently since you've come back.
02:05 What are you seeing out there?
02:08 How is the game looking to you now versus maybe at the beginning of the season?
02:13 You understand what I'm saying?
02:14 >> I'm just playing my game, playing free.
02:22 I think as the season's gone on, I've gotten into more of a rhythm.
02:26 My cardio's got better throughout the season, obviously.
02:32 Yeah, ultimately I just feel more comfortable.
02:36 [BLANK_AUDIO]
02:39 >> Interesting, I thought Mark said that his philosophy with fouls is that he
02:43 feels like he's fouling you out if he takes you out of the game if you have five
02:47 fouls, just your thoughts on that.
02:49 >> I like that philosophy, for sure.
02:52 >> [LAUGH] >> For sure.
02:53 Yeah, he always says with that you still gotta play defense.
02:59 But for sure, I like it, so I like it.
03:02 [BLANK_AUDIO]
03:04 >> Joe Masato, The Oklahoman.
03:06 Shay, after being out a month, you've scored 30 plus in three straight games
03:11 after being back, have you come back even faster than expected or
03:15 feel even better than maybe you thought you would?
03:18 [BLANK_AUDIO]
03:24 >> Not really, I expected this.
03:26 I've said before, I worked my butt off from the time I was off to try and
03:31 be ready to be back 100%.
03:32 I kinda used the time to get better as well.
03:35 [BLANK_AUDIO]
03:37 >> But obviously you have a big target on your back every night as the focal point
03:42 of the defense and even more so with guys like Josh and Lou and Ken Rich out.
03:46 Do you take that on as a challenge in any way?
03:49 >> Absolutely, I try to play through different schemes.
03:56 I'm still happy.
03:57 I think the best players in the league have to go through that at some point in
04:01 their career.
04:02 I try to get better at that, for sure.
04:05 >> Thanks.
04:06 [BLANK_AUDIO]
04:09 >> So when you're recovering from an injury,
04:11 everybody's focus is obviously the injury itself.
04:14 But how did you stay mentally sharp during that time when you weren't playing?
04:19 >> Stayed engaged with the team, stayed engaged with the coaching staff.
04:25 I had a certain way that we wanna play, which I think that was.
04:29 And then, I just need to be physically ready as fast as I could.
04:34 [BLANK_AUDIO]