Aleksej Pokusevski | Miami Post-Game | Nov. 15, 2021
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00:00Nick Gallo, KCThunder.com.
00:02Alexi, the defense in that first half was really good.
00:06I think there was a stretch that you all forced
00:08like six turnovers in a 13-0 run.
00:12What would you like best on that end of the floor
00:14in the first half?
00:14I mean, they're obviously a good team.
00:17In the second half, we played our best defense.
00:20So we used that to make some tough shots.
00:23But in the first half, we were there.
00:25Offensively, we didn't make shots and some open layups.
00:28But when we played together in defense,
00:31we gave ourselves a chance.
00:33And then offensively for you, you kind of
00:35got going there in that second half.
00:38What was working for you just kind of at all three levels
00:41you scored in transition and then from behind the arc too?
00:43I was just trying to use open shots to make those
00:48and make a run for our team.
00:51We were down by like 13 or something like that.
00:54I was trying to make some energy plays, something like that.
00:57We didn't use our shots the best.
00:59But we can still learn from it and get to the next game.
01:03Paris Lawson, OKCThunder.com.
01:04Poku, you guys had 10 blocks tonight as a team.
01:07At the season high, you had one as well.
01:09Just what did you see?
01:10Was there anything in particular that allowed you guys
01:13to get under the rim and affect shots like you were tonight?
01:16I mean, we're trying to be like a big rim protection team.
01:21We have some good top guys that can be there and block shots.
01:25We want to try to use that.
01:27I think it's just, you know, what if we bring every night,
01:31we can still give ourselves chances to win a game.
01:35Just going back to the offense for a second,
01:37that last shot at the end of the third quarter,
01:39Shea passed it to you, you knocked down the three.
01:41Just what did you see in that moment
01:42and what made you decide to pull the trigger there?
01:44I mean, you know, when Shea has a ball,
01:46everyone's probably going to like be on him.
01:49And he's a guy that sees every pass.
01:51So he made a simple pass.
01:52I was open. Time was running out.
01:54So I was just shooting an open shot.
01:57Joe Masato, the Oklahoman.
01:58Alexey, just to follow up on what you just said,
02:00as far as teams are really keying in on Shea
02:03defensively and trying to get the ball out of his hands,
02:07how have you seen him handle that?
02:08And what can the rest of you guys do
02:10to sort of take that pressure off him?
02:12He's like a great player, obviously,
02:14but he's whenever two players get on him,
02:16he's making a simple pass.
02:19We just got to, you know, take open shots.
02:21Today, we didn't take all the open shots that we had tonight.
02:25But, like, you know, he's using those things
02:28to make his teammates better.
02:30And we, I mean, we're like playing together,
02:32but we can use that better, I'm sure.
02:35We just got to keep learning from the games.
02:44Jerry Ramsey on Zoom. Go ahead, Jerry.
02:48Hey, Poku. I just want to kind of talk about
02:49your decision-making on the court offensively.
02:53The last couple of games,
02:54you've really shown off going to the basket.
02:57Also, you know, hitting open threes
02:58and even getting baseline, knocking down some jumpers.
03:01Are you getting more comfortable on the offensive end
03:04using all facets of the game?
03:07For sure. I mean, you know,
03:09it's still like 12 games in the season.
03:11I'm trying to find my rhythm in the offense,
03:13but, like, those are open shots.
03:16I still got to take those.
03:18My teammates are, like, helping me with that.
03:21I'm just going to keep shooting those, and I hope I made it.
03:26Daniel Bell. Go ahead.
03:27Kind of a follow-up to that question.
03:29You seem a little bit more comfortable overall
03:32and more relaxed, and it seems like
03:34you're having a little bit more fun on the court.
03:36Is that an astute observation?
03:41It's like, I mean, coach and teammates,
03:43like, they believe in me, and they're seeing me play.
03:47Like, through the defense and some, you know, good plays,
03:51I'm trying to keep myself on the court
03:52and just help the team, but, like, offensively,
03:55I know I'm going to be there.
03:56Like, I'm just trying to keep working on the shot
03:59and, like, simple plays.
04:02Thank you, Coco.
04:03Appreciate you guys.