Darius Bazley | Mavericks Post-Game | Dec. 12, 2021
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00:00 >> At Kalo KC Thunder.com, you all were able to kind of keep it within striking
00:04 distance through the first three quarters.
00:08 What allowed you to stay close and
00:10 then what wasn't quite there in that fourth quarter?
00:14 >> I mean, even us being able to stay in close like within the first three
00:19 quarters, we still wasn't playing really well.
00:22 Coming out of the first half in the locker room,
00:26 we knew that we weren't playing like our best version of basketball.
00:31 The coaches came in and they gave it straight to us.
00:35 And I don't think that we just didn't have enough.
00:39 Coach explained it, we just weren't the hungry team and I agree.
00:43 I said one through four all quarters,
00:46 I don't think it was just there enough to make the plays.
00:52 Just doing the right stuff required to win that game, thought it was very winnable.
00:59 But again, we just weren't the hungry team.
01:06 >> Paris Austin, okcthunder.com, wanted to ask you just specifically about your
01:10 blocks, you had three tonight and really this season you've led the team in blocks
01:15 this season, just wherever you felt yourself kind of growing and
01:18 something about anticipation or just being able to get more on to that defensive end.
01:22 >> I think my confidence just grows because I'm guarding
01:27 pretty good guys every night and so I got to be ready for that challenge.
01:34 And then also, I don't know, it's just something that gets me going.
01:43 So, stops are obviously important.
01:46 I don't know, I mean, I kind of realized I'm blocking shots and
01:52 it's kind of like a goal of mine, I'm like, all right,
01:57 I'm gonna block his shot tonight, but I'm sorry.
02:03 It's kind of hard for me to focus on myself when we just lost,
02:08 to kind of pull that away.
02:10 So, my mind is just like kind of focused on the whole scheme, the team, everything.
02:17 >> Completely understand that and you guys have two days off after this game.
02:20 What are some of the key takeaways from this one?
02:23 Knowing that you want to get back to zero and zero, but
02:25 what lessons can you kind of extract from this one?
02:27 >> We got to be ready to go.
02:29 I mean, everybody knows it, we got to be ready to play from the jump.
02:34 48 minute game, we hear that a lot.
02:38 Sometimes I think we kind of like dig ourselves a hole and
02:41 then we're able to get ourselves out of it and it shows a fight in us.
02:45 But just being able to get out on teams early and
02:49 stay consistent with that, something that we need to do.
02:52 We'll definitely watch film and take away from tonight's game.
03:00 And just try to sharpen up and get better in areas that are really key for us.
03:05 Because in each game, we kind of have like some principles and
03:09 some key things that's gonna put us in good shape no matter who we play.
03:12 So, just probably sharpen those things up.
03:15 Like I said, watch film, guys get their bodies ready and
03:18 just be ready to come out and play against New Orleans.
03:20 >> Joe Masato, the Oklahoman.
03:23 Darius, it looks like just from the outside that you get more intense with each
03:27 defensive play that you make.
03:29 You sort of like feed off the energy when you are guarding the guys that
03:33 are the caliber of offensive players that you're guarding.
03:35 >> For sure, that's how I try to get myself going.
03:40 And I know I gotta bring the fight early on, especially I mean, for
03:45 example, like tonight against Porzingis, he's a really good player.
03:48 So just being ready for whatever he was coming my way with.
03:54 But I definitely try to feed off of that.
03:58 And I think that also spreads, it's contagious.
04:05 My teammates see me get amped up or after I get a rebound or
04:10 a block, sprint the floor really hard.
04:12 I think it's just contagious and everyone kind of follows afterwards.
04:15 So I try to, yeah.
04:17 >> How hard is it to balance progressing and
04:22 getting better on the defensive end versus doing it on the offensive end?
04:26 You can't focus on everything at once.
04:28 Like how much of a balance is that?
04:31 >> I think the easiest thing is just to just focus on things you can control.
04:36 I mean, I put in the work every day.
04:38 It's just, I find it easiest when,
04:42 like I said, I focus on things I can control,
04:46 running, rebounding, defending.
04:49 And then offensively just keeping it simple as possible.
04:52 Just running the floor, shooting open shots, attacking close outs.
04:56 There's a guy in front, pass it, make the right play.
04:59 And transition, same rules apply.
05:02 And then defensively, obviously follow our game plan.
05:07 But just playing hard.
05:11 I think everything else will follow when you do that.
05:15 I can't really control when shots going or not.
05:18 But all I can control is my effort, energy.
05:23 And that's the best way to just kind of keep the balances by just focusing
05:28 on things I can control.
05:29 >> Anything on Zoom?
05:32 Thank you, Darius.
05:34 >> Mm-hm.
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