Mike Muscala | Toronto Post-Game | Dec. 08, 2021
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 -Can you just walk us through that final shot
00:04 that you made in the shot by Shay?
00:07 -Coach drew up a good play there during the timeout.
00:12 You know, I had Lou there on the back door,
00:14 the back cut that Shay set a screen for him for,
00:17 and I think that kind of freed up Shay a little bit.
00:19 And then, you know, he's been doing such a good job
00:21 all season getting into the paint,
00:23 being patient, finding guys, finishing.
00:26 And, you know, he was just patient in there and found me.
00:29 -What was kind of your perspective
00:31 on the other end of the floor
00:32 and just the great kind of hustle play
00:34 that Bayes made to kind of deflect that last shot?
00:37 -Yeah, that was big time.
00:40 That was big time.
00:41 His defense has been really good recently.
00:43 And, you know, I think with his athleticism and his length,
00:50 you know, he can be a really good defender,
00:52 and I'm proud of him for that.
00:55 -This looks, honestly, really entertaining.
00:57 What was the mood in the locker room
00:59 when you got to the fourth?
01:01 -Yeah, I mean, very happy, you know,
01:04 but I think lessons to be learned
01:06 from a team standpoint and me individually.
01:09 And, you know, credit the Raptors.
01:11 They really turned up there in the fourth.
01:13 You know, I got to be more aggressive there in the fourth,
01:16 and I think as a team, we just --
01:17 You know, their pressure, you know, gave us some problems.
01:21 And then offensively, you know, that kind of fueled their offense.
01:23 But obviously, glad we won, but also a good learning experience.
01:27 -Going back to that final play that set up your three,
01:30 you know, I know you guys have something drawn out,
01:33 but given that Shea dressed so much attention
01:36 and the defense warrants to him,
01:37 are you always ready knowing that that could be a possibility
01:40 that you could just find yourself open to be out there?
01:43 -For sure, yeah.
01:44 Coach mentioned it in the timeout that might be open.
01:48 So, you know, like I said, yeah,
01:50 Shea does a really good job finding guys.
01:53 He's in the offseason long.
01:57 -Because of the defense, especially in that third quarter,
02:00 you guys were able to turn the tides there.
02:01 And by the end of the night, you guys had 12 steals.
02:04 Just what was the focus of the defense
02:06 in that second quarter?
02:08 -I think, you know, being aware of their shooters.
02:13 Van Vliet coming off screen is a good shooter, good passer.
02:17 Trent Jr. is obviously a great shooter.
02:19 You know, they have a good athletic team.
02:22 And, you know, I think a few times in the fourth there,
02:25 you know, kind of got strung out.
02:28 Guarding the pick and roll, pick and pop,
02:30 kind of put us in some rotation.
02:31 So, you know, I look forward to watching the tape on that.
02:34 But I think just, you know, just trying to be aggressive,
02:38 have each other's backs, and, you know,
02:41 even some of the tough shots they hit,
02:43 I feel like, you know, we made them work for that,
02:45 and that's what you want in defense.
02:47 -Mike, you were here when Lou first cracked into the league
02:51 to see him now have games where he hits four threes
02:54 and it's kind of normal for him to be knocking up
02:58 so many shots behind the arc.
02:59 What's that like for you,
03:01 having seen that evolution in this game?
03:03 -Yeah, I mean, it makes him really tough to guard.
03:05 He can get downhill, and he's so physical and aggressive
03:09 getting to the basket,
03:10 and then you pair that with three-point shooting.
03:14 It makes him a really good offensive player.
03:16 So, you know, he's another guy that all season long,
03:21 you know, his attacking mentality, along with Shea,
03:25 has opened up the floor for a lot of guys on the team.
03:27 And, you know, obviously, his defense is always great, too.
03:31 -Mike, you were in the crew
03:32 to help you hit shots at the quarterback club situation.
03:36 -Not to win the game, no.
03:38 Well, actually, I guess maybe in the bubble.
03:40 Yeah. Yeah.
03:43 -Mike, after that Vincent's game,
03:45 you were pretty reflective,
03:46 and you said that you all needed to look in the mirror
03:49 and follow that up.
03:50 What did you expect that way for Detroit here?
03:52 Did that significant to you for the team?
03:56 -Yeah, I think so.
03:57 I mean, you know, we were reminded of it
04:02 by the fans in Detroit, and I didn't hear it here,
04:05 but, you know, I think in a way,
04:07 it's like it's a good reminder for us, you know?
04:11 It obviously hurt really badly that night and the next day.
04:14 Once we got back into practice,
04:15 I feel like our practice has picked up.
04:17 Guys didn't want that to happen again,
04:19 obviously, and, you know, we got guys back.
04:22 We were missing some guys for that game,
04:23 but you don't want to make any excuses,
04:26 so I hope that we remember that pain,
04:29 and I know I will for a while just to,
04:32 you know, push a little bit more
04:33 and be a little more locked in.
04:35 (door slams)
04:38 [BLANK_AUDIO]