Wilks | Phoenix Suns Post-Game | Dec. 29, 2021
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00:00Just on the second night of the back-to-back going up against the Suns,
00:03you got a lot of guys still in pretty unique circumstances.
00:05Just what did you think of the effort and the fight that you guys showed tonight?
00:08I was really proud, you know, of our guys.
00:12We had some guys go out, you know, up until the last minute,
00:16right before the game.
00:17And some key players that we missed, you know, K. Rich,
00:22you heard during the game, he's a key veteran for us.
00:25And just part of the mentality that our guys had, you know,
00:29like next man up mentality, next guy ready to step up,
00:34ready to step in, continue to compete,
00:36play the style of basketball that we want to play.
00:39And so just proud, you know, it's a high-level team,
00:42you know, that we're playing against.
00:44I don't think the final score is, you know,
00:46indicative of how close it was.
00:48You know, it's, you know, five, six minutes left,
00:51and it was a two-possession game.
00:52So, you know, we made it a fourth-quarter game, you know,
00:56which is hard to do against a high-level team on the road.
00:59And so our guys came out, competed, and played together.
01:02And we were able to do that.
01:04Can you talk about guys next man up mentality?
01:06Ty Jerome stepped in, had a career night.
01:08Just as soon as he stepped on the court,
01:10it seemed like he was contributing at a high level.
01:12What did you see from him offensively tonight?
01:15First off, just happy for Ty, you know, in terms of,
01:18you know, he's a guy that's a consistent worker,
01:22whether he's in a rotation or out of the rotation.
01:25He's a guy that's supportive of his teammates.
01:27So for him to get the opportunity here
01:29against his old team to come out and compete,
01:33you know, he brought a level of veteran leadership,
01:35which he, you know, adds to.
01:37He's a young guy, but he's still, he's like a veteran.
01:40He's constantly communicating, helping our guys,
01:42make sure guys are in the right spot.
01:44He has a very high IQ.
01:46And so, you know, he just came out and competed,
01:49made good decisions out there, got guys in the right spot,
01:53you know, and helped us, you know, play together.
01:55Aaron Wiggins continues to make really big jumps.
01:58Just what have you seen just the rapid growth
02:01out of him since last week?
02:03He's still young, developing player.
02:06You know, development is the lifeblood of our organization.
02:10And, you know, Aaron has been committed to that process,
02:14being with us at times, going to the blue at times,
02:19still playing, you know, the same style of basketball
02:22and, you know, playing within a team concept.
02:25But then, like I said the other night,
02:26being able to stand out, you know, individually.
02:28So I think defensively, you know, he competes,
02:32you know, gets after, you know, consistent multiple effort guy.
02:38And, you know, offensively,
02:40just looks to play the right way,
02:42doing a good job of being downhill
02:44and, you know, taking, you know, usually taking quality shots.
02:49Scottie Hopps has been a professional
02:50for a really long time.
02:52Tonight was his first NBA basket.
02:55Just your thoughts on a guy turning in like that,
02:58getting the opportunity, you know,
03:01sort of living out that NBA dream.
03:04Yeah, Hopps is one of our favorites.
03:06You know, our guys love him.
03:07And I don't know if you can hear our bench
03:09when he made that shot.
03:10Like, our bench just erupted.
03:12But that speaks to, you know, the type of guy that he is.
03:16And he's a really good player.
03:18And so, you know, just happy for him along his journey.
03:21Like I said, pre-game, for him to get this opportunity,
03:24for guys to get this opportunity.
03:26And, you know, it was a good feeling, you know,
03:28for him to come out and he contributed and made shots,
03:31you know, in key moments of the game
03:33and gave us a chance to stay in the game.
03:35So for him to do that tonight, I think it's pretty special.
03:41So can you give us an update on Jay
03:44just him being like stretched today?
03:47Yeah, I had to, you know,
03:48get an update from the medical staff.
03:49I just, you know, got it last minute that he was out.
03:52So pretty sure you're here, whatever it is.
03:55But you just, I guess, felt something in the warm-ups
03:57that wasn't something that happened last night?
04:00Not that I'm aware of.
04:02So, like I said, I can't really speak to it.
04:04I got to defer to our medical staff.
04:05They just kind of gave me the update, you know, right before.
04:08So hopefully he's fine and we can get him back soon.
04:13Guys outscored them 50 to 40 in the paint.
04:15Just especially early on,
04:16it seemed like the paint was really playing a factor
04:18and all the three-point shot wasn't falling.
04:20Just how big of an emphasis was that coming into tonight?
04:22It was a really big emphasis.
04:24You know, a lot of our guys, you know, game plan-wise,
04:27we know how, especially on side-picking roles,
04:30they like to keep you pinned on the side.
04:32And one of the things I really emphasized before
04:34is, like, don't concede, you know, try to get middle.
04:39Let's get our physicality into the game.
04:42We got to play with a lot of pace
04:44because if we play slow, it allows them to, you know,
04:47get on top of you and pin you to the side.
04:49So our guys did a good job making,
04:51you know, playing with pace, good velocity on their cuts,
04:55and then make sure we got over the top of screens
04:58so that we can get downhill.
05:00And that was, you know, a big emphasis for us.
05:02Like, touch the paint, we know they're a really good team,
05:06good defensive team.
05:07It's going to take multiple efforts.
05:08So we wanted to get downhill, put pressure on the paint,
05:11and, you know, hopefully get finishes.
05:13And if not, you know, spread out to the perimeter
05:16and get quality shots.
05:18We felt like we had some good looks as well tonight.
05:21You know, quality looks, we just fortunately
05:24didn't get them to go down.
05:25But, you know, we were there.
05:27Mike, you guys aren't just missing players and coaches,
05:30but several staff members as well
05:32that usually travel with you.
05:33Like, what have you seen from the organization
05:36these last couple of days,
05:37maybe people doing jobs that they're not used to
05:39or shifting in another direction?
05:42It's just, it's not surprising at all in terms of,
05:48you know, we're all pulling and rolling in the same direction.
05:52And that's what I love about the organization.
05:55We support one another.
05:57People are willing to step in and do what's ever needed.
06:02And you just feel that during these times.
06:04You know, like I said, it's an adverse time,
06:07you know, unfortunate time in terms of the virus.
06:10But one of the silver linings is that you see,
06:12you know, some of the love that people display for one another,
06:16caring for one another, stepping up for one another,
06:18helping one another.
06:20And, you know, I'm seeing that, you know,
06:22consistently every day, you know, in our organization,
06:25people stepping up, supporting one another,
06:27and being there for one another.
06:28Jobs that may not be, you know,
06:31your everyday role or responsibility,
06:33people are ready to step in and help any way they can.
06:37Anyone else in the room? Okay.
06:40We have a couple on the Zoom here.
06:41We got the first one from Christos Saltos.
06:44Go ahead, Christos, your question.
06:47Hello, Coach. Hope you're doing well.
06:49What type of challenge for you guys
06:53was that game playing without Shea?
06:55And what did you say about the consistency
06:57of Aaron Wiggins on the floor in the last three games?
07:02You know, whenever you lose a key player,
07:07you know, it's tough.
07:08You know, a guy that's of Shea's caliber,
07:13it's not easy.
07:14You're not going to replace him by one player.
07:16So, you know, what we try to do is just do it collectively
07:20by playing together.
07:22Like I said, sharing the ball was a big emphasis.
07:25Make sure the ball kept moving,
07:27putting pressure on the paint,
07:28and just try to do it collectively, you know,
07:30to give ourselves a chance to compete.
07:34All right, and we got a last question
07:35for Christine Barfield.
07:36Go ahead with your question, Christine.
07:39Can you just talk about your decision
07:41in not playing Gabriel Deck tonight?
07:47You know, we have, you know,
07:48certain lineups, certain rotations.
07:51You know, we have a lot of respect for Gabby
07:54and his work ethic and what he brings,
07:57you know, to the team.
07:58You know, and then some nights it's going to be,
08:01you know, a different guy's number.
08:03And we went with the guys tonight that,
08:05you know, we felt were ready to go.
08:09Thank you, Coach.
08:10We'll be with the players next.