How would you assess the defensive performance overall in this one?

Uh, I think we played with Central urgency.

I mean, way we were we make sure technique was writing our schemes.

We, uh I think he did a good job forcing those guys off the three point line.

And, you know, they do it to Obama, who was all started posting.

He did this thing, you know, Jeff and D J made him shoot tough shots all night.

And you gotta live with those.

And, you know, he's such a great player.

Um, that he's gonna keep him in the game with his passing, rebounding and shot making.

So I think overall we did.

You saw the job, Duncan Robinson and get this loose.

Maybe he got a few late, but he didn't get his loose.

Um, so I think we we followed the game plan.

Just feel out process, You know, like with obviously yourself, Kyrie James.

Other guys all get involved.

Just the second game where you guys have all been together What?

From your perspective, What does this feel out process like, is you build trust?

Trust is already there.

I think.

I think just the familiarity may already with with each other is there already We play with each other and know each other's games for the last decade.

Um, you know, it's just a matter of you know, what plays we're gonna run in certain times with lineups we're gonna have out there.

I think you know both the coaches and the players.

A fine tune and everything.

We're gonna have spurts where, you know, we play inconsistent just because, you know, we're trying things, but for the most part, our minds and hearts in the right place.

We out there and, uh, we're trying to take care of business every possession.

Reus Beckwith, NBC, New York, Kevin Before the game, Steve said that he wanted to see five men show intelligence and passion.

Do you think you saw that tonight?

For sure, out there is half the battle, you know, and I feel like a lot of guys most of guys on this team.

Well, everybody on this team knows how to play the right way, you know, knows different schemes that played in different philosophies.

Different philosophies on both ends of the floor.

Uh, and it's about executing.

I think tonight we, uh we did a good job, were up 20 points.

We were up 16 14 going into the fourth quarter and, uh, you know, so we were in good shape, But we gotta we gotta put together four quarters and great basketball.

Brian Lewis with The New York Post.

Hey, Kevin, following upon you talked about coaches trying things and fine tuning.

Um, after the last game, the sentiment was a We don't need Thio tinker that much with scheme.

It's more just guys have toe individually defend better.

Um, after this game, I'm curious where there were there changes in terms of ah, team Or was this just you guys played better on defensively individually?

Yeah.

I mean, definitely a defense look better when team in the shots.

You know, you got to give credit to the Cleveland team who knocked down shots on this and dinner fourth quarter tonight.

They made shots sometimes over a hand, you know, So you got to live with some of those things and, you know, sort of the MBA guys are pros.

Uh, you know.

So we we put ourselves in position to get stops, you know, by contesting back in the mid range, taking Duncan Robinson off the three Kelly Olynyk off the three.

Uh, you know.

So we we went through this stuff that we were supposed to go through and film, and we're not there executed.

Uh, you know, So we for the most part we did.

We were supposed to do Greg Logan with News Day.

Kevin, this was only the second full game for you guys together.

You know, you, Kyrie and James.

Uh, even though James didn't get his usual, uh, amount of shots, I do You find it almost shocking that you guys can play this well together.

So so quickly, You know, to the point where you guys combined to score every point in the fourth quarter.

No, I don't know.

It's not a surprise to me.

I mean, we're veterans in this league has been through every situation so far.

Eso we're not a handle.

That and but for the most part, is getting our teammates involved early on, Joe got going, uh, Jeff got going, you know, I think that's what we we try to do to start the games.

And if we in the fourth quarter game, we got to go out there and be special, would be who we are make plays and, uh, you know, But our whole team put us in position, Uh, Thio go out there and and executed for Mallika Andrews with ESPN.

Kevin scoring 20 points in all 13 games you've played in this season is the longest streak you've had like that in your career.

Is there something about the looks you're getting your teammates, that that's lending itself to that sort of production?

Eso like I'm getting more opportunities as a Z each game goes on and culture putting in different sets.

Um, he's, you know, everybody plays with the past here, and, you know, so guys gonna get looks all game, especially if you play a lot of minutes.

You want me to finish those shots and I feel like I left a few shots on the table tonight that I wanted to make.

But for the most part, I think I'm, you know, trying to be smart and efficient with my movements out there, and I think I could definitely get better, but I'm moving in the right direction.

Christian Winfield with The New York Daily News Hey, Kevin, I wanna ask you about two moments in this game.

The first happened in the four in the second quarter.

Excuse me.

I think TLC has the ball in the corner with bam on them.

You're clapping for the ball and he takes bam to the to the hoop.

Hits Joe Harris in the corner with the skip pass.

Now you kind of give him a high five on the way back.

What does it tell you when you can call for the ball?

And you could still trust a guy like TLC or anybody else in the roster to make a play without needing you?

Thio kind of make it for him.

Yeah.

I mean, when I see a guy in the corner maybe trapped in and you know somebody sports in the base and using that sideline as a defender, I'll try to give them an outlet.

But TLC made a great play driving base and kick into our shooter, um, in the corner, but I was just letting them know that I was there as an outlet for me if you needed it.

Last question.

Tom Dowd with Brooklyn nets dot com Hey, Kevin Carberry had 18 in the fourth tonight.

I think he had 12 out of 16 for you guys.

Attack one point.

What did you see from him during that stretch when he kind of held off Miami e saying how special in and talented and hardworking carriers?

And he works on all of those shots every day, and he comes in with that mentality that, you know, especially late in the game.

You don't have to knock those down force.

Uh, so he's a all world player.

He's a great teammate.

But when the ball's in his hands late in the game, uh, our team just so unpredictable because you could make the past.

He's been scoring their range score from the three point area, get to the basket and got weapons around him.

Uh, it makes it tough to guard, so we don't need that from going forward.

And, you know, he was phenomenal.

Fork.

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