« Reply #1207 on: September 16, 2020, 12:46:08 AM »
Here's what they all said after the game:
Brad Stevens
On what he’s seeing late in games where the ball movement dries up
“I think obviously switching has something to do with it. We need to handle it better, there’s no question about it. Not only was there probably too much pounding of the ball, it was also not as much space the way they were guarding. We need to do a better job of that. We’ll go back and look at different ways we can attack better at the end of the game.”
On Kemba Walker’s tough night
“They’ve got great athletes out there. I think the guys, some of the guards, are able to keep in front with their length. Then Bam was switching a ton of pick-and-rolls all day. He is a tremendous defender. We’re going to have to figure out, again, better ways to attack, especially late. I thought we really moved it at times, then we did get stagnant.”
On blowing a 14 point lead
“The fouls killed us. Then the transition. Our transition defense, in addition to playing slower and pounding the ball more, we just got to be a lot better in all those areas. These games go back and forth like this. We were down six, then took that lead. We got to play better, though. Transition defense really stands out. That Herro three with a minute left in regulation was a killer. There were multiple other plays that led up to that that I thought let them back in.”
On whether hunting mismatches was why the offense stagnated
“I’ll look at it and get back to you.”
On Tatum taking a 3-pointer to end regulation and getting blocked on a dunk in OT
“I trust that he’ll make the right decision. He’s a hell of a player. When he has the ball, I feel good about it.”
Kemba Walker
On his recent poor play
“I’m just playing terrible to be honest. Not much I can say but I have to be better. I have to do better for this team on both ends of the floor, have to make better decisions, just have to make shots overall.”
On isolating too much
“Yeah I agree, we definitely pounded the ball a lot, but at the end of the game that’s going to happen sometimes. Just have to try to make great decisions, try to find a way to put the ball in the basket.”
On lessons learned from this game
“As far as us, we just have to clean some things up. We’ll get to the film. Transition was key. They were great in transition. That’s what they do. They’re a really great time in transition so we have to do better on that.”
On whether closing out games will be a focus
“I’m sure of that. We’ve gotta wait and see, but yeah, we’ve gotta be better. We’ve gotta find a way to close these games out down the stretch.”
On similarities between Miami and Toronto
“Yeah. These guys are well-coached and very solid on defense. We just have to continue to make plays for each other, try to make the best decisions possible out there on the court. Like I said, we’ll get to the film and we’ll just learn from our mistakes and come back better.”
Marcus Smart
On Game 1
“It was exactly how we expected it. It was a great game, two great teams who play really hard. They got the plays that they needed that mattered. They did their job and it’s up to us to come back in Game 2 and do ours.”
On what happened late in regulation and overtime
“It was exactly that. We got stagnant. We rested and we got complacent, and against a team like this, you can’t get complacent. Up 14, up 20, up 30, they’re really good at playing from behind. Like I said, when it counted they made the plays down the stretch. It was a great play by Bam, a [dang] good play by Bam. But like I said, it happens. They did their job and it’s time for us to do ours in Game 2.”
On how Miami got so many good looks late
“A lot of miscommunication on our part and a lot of guys hit some tough shots. We believe if we clean a couple things up we can fix those things and it’ll be a different outcome. You’ve got to tip your hat to those guys. They executed very well down the stretch and we didn’t, especially on the defensive end, like I said. We had miscommunication on a lot of guys' part. And in transition we allowed them to do what they do best, and that’s get out and run.”
On falling into stretches of complacency
“It’s something that happens, but it'; something that we can fix and that’s the good thing about it. We can come in tomorrow, see what we gotta do. Watch some film, see what we gotta tweak and fix and come back on Thursday and hopefully get a Game 2 win.”
On whether the habit of getting complacent can be fixed
“It’s definitely something that can be fixed. It’s part of the game. You’re not going to be perfect every night, you’re going to make mistakes. You just try to learn from your mistakes on both ends.”
On bad communication and reaching causing fourth quarter fouls
“It’s a bit of both. We gotta put our hands up and make them go through us. We bailed them out, especially late on a couple of those shots they were taking to get to them to the line and silly fouls. You gotta guard your yard. They put a lot of guys in isolation and picked on a lot of guys and you gotta guard your yard, plain and simple.”
On finding ways to get Jaylen Brown more involved
“Continue to move it. We’re great, but to beat a team like this, it’s going to take everybody. When we allow those guys to set their defense and just look at the ball and stare when we’re not moving, it’s tough. It’s tough. They can beat anybody. So for us, those isos are good. But we have to limit those isos as much as we can and just really get them moving. Just play and keep them on their heels.”
Jayson Tatum
On his regulation-ending 3-pointer and the dunk that was blocked in overtime
“I mean, I like both shots that I got. I just missed one. They made a great play at the rim on the second one. I don’t know. Just take whatever the defense gives me, to be honest.”
On losing a 14 point, fourth quarter lead
“Yeah, we got in foul trouble early in the fourth. That hurt. Then we just have to be more consistent, continue to do what got us the lead. I think we shied away from that a little bit, allowed them to get back in the game.”
On the last possession in overtime
“I mean, you just said it. He made a great play. He made a good play. Can’t do nothing about it.”
On seeing his son today
“It’s great. Two and a half months or whatever without seeing our families. It’s refreshing to finally get to see some familiar faces, spend some quality time with him.”
On the challenge posed by the Heat
“We are going to watch film. There are a lot of things to talk about, to look at, to make adjustments for Game 2. That’s what the Playoffs is: making adjustments, seeing what you did well, seeing what you can do better, move on.”
On whether they learned more about Miami
“They’re a good team. They are here for a good reason. There are four teams left. Well-coached. Some great players. I mean, it’s not like I’m surprised. They’re a good team.”
On the disappointment of losing Game 1
“I guess it’s disappointment. You never want to lose a game. But it’s not the end of the world. Best-of-seven. Just get ready for Game 2. It is what it is.”
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/09/15/sports/celtics-lose-game-1-heat/
TP for the work collecting and presenting that info!
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