But in the third quarter, you guys look like you're a little off kilter and the game was slipping away.

And Luke all the time out, you came out.

You had a couple of nice aggressive drives and found tyreese for the three point shots to get you back in the game.

Uh, in that moment, what was it that was going on with you guys?

And and how big is it that you entire research starting to develop that chemistry?

I mean, it's always gonna be a game of runs, you know that?

XYZ That's what basketball is.

Um, but just coming out, they played.

They played a lot of zone in the second half, and it was I just thought, getting I mean, getting the gaps and try to create something for someone else.

And we all know how how good Tyreese is and he makes big shots for us.

So I mean, that's all it is.

It's a very simple game, Marshall.

Here's right.

Hey, dear.

And I don't know if you've heard about the plans toe possibly bring back the All Star game this weekend.

Eyes.

Does that surprise you at all because of Kobe.

19 and all the conditions you guys, we're dealing with traveling and everything.

And, uh, is that something you've thought about personally for yourself?

There's your plays.

Improved.

Your team's plays improved.

I mean, if I'd be brutally honest, I think it's stupid.

Um, you know, if we have to wear mask and do all of this for a regular game, then what's the point of bringing All Star game back?

But obviously, um, money makes the world go around, so it is what it is.

But, I mean, I'm not really worried about it.

I'm voted.

So be it.

If I'm not come on.

Would you play it?

You know, you're fine.

If you if you, uh if you're supposed to be a minute and you're not, you're not hurting.

You decide not to play that za hefty.

Fine.

So hell, yeah.

I would play in it.

Hold on.

I'm for saying that Said Jason, Home?

Yeah.

A couple of guys talk in the last few days about how important those practice days work for you guys to get after each other.

Fine, tune some things.

Just can you speak to the environment and those practices.

Just how competitive were you guys?

And just how much Looking back do you realize how much you needed that Teoh transfer.

See where you guys are now?

I mean, it gets extremely competitive in every drill.

You know, you're trying to win.

You're trying to win everything that you're doing way.

Have a board of every individual player And how many games, uh, drills that they win.

So now everybody always wants to win.

So, you know, everybody brings in that intensity and you feel it when we start competing.

And I think that definitely helped us.

Uh, that kind of started making guys play with an edge.

Um and I mean, we've we've kind of we've been riding that wave since then on.

Now we have two days off.

We have two days in between this game and the next game.

So obviously one of those one of those days, we'll we'll be in there competing with each other and making each other better.

And we just get ready for Denver that way.

Thank you.

This this might be kind of related to that question, but is that kind of where the fight has kind of come from Luke was talking about how you guys were kind of playing in survival mode tonight.

And in my mind, I think it seems like that that fight has been with you for this at least better part of a little over a week.

Now, I mean, is that kind of where it kind of goes back to that practice?

Oh, yeah, for sure.

Um, like I said, Like I said before, this is a game of runs.

You know that.

I mean, every team in this league, they're gonna you're gonna get a good shot.

And, um, you know, this is this is a team that's had the chance to go to the finals last few years and obviously there on the back to back.

But you know that, you know, there's there's always gonna be fight there, and they're gonna go on runs because they're good players, that every team has good players.

I mean, everybody's professionals in this league, so being able to withstand a run, and sometimes, you know, you don't want to call that time out, but I think we have one time out for a majority of the fourth quarter.

Um, but we were able to come out and and hit back.

You know, you don't want to be able.

You don't wanna be one of those teams that you know give up a late fourth quarter run and now you lay down in the game's over, you know, to the double digit lead in the fourth.

But we have to keep coming, and we were able to persevere through that.

Now.

George, Eddie Aaron.

Everybody's talking about the fourth quarter success that you've had over the last three games, but there is a moment at the very end of this game, a huge block by Rashawn Homes on.

I think it was Jalen Brown who's going for a donkey to tie the game or bring it to within one.

Can you talk about moments like that?

Not just from Rashawn, but from the team.

Those winning plays that I know you and the team have talked a lot about how important they are to games like this, and sometimes they're overlooked.

Oh, yeah, I mean, those are things that we that every team needs.

Every team needs guys that can that can make plays like that and obviously it's sometimes it's a rebound or box out.

I'm gonna block out just little things like that and enrich being able, rich, being our rim protector.

He's come up big for us multiple times, you know, not in just this game, but in the last few games.

Uh, he's been there big time for us.

Blocking layups.

Um, you know, later, Later in the fourth quarter.

E mean, that's that's That's very that swings the momentum.

Not just not just stopping to them from getting two points.

It it gives us, you know, a lot more energy lifts the team up, especially in those crucial moments.

Jason Anderson?

Yeah.

Hey, dear.

No.

Nice win tonight.

Um, you and you and Tatum or both guys who were, you know, near the top of that 2017 draft.

Um, I think both of you would go higher if if the draft was held over again today.

Well, what's it like, um, competing against him.

And and, you know, you guys have both had enough success.

Toe signed new contracts and kind of secure your future a little bit.

Um, just just what is that?

You know, level of competition, like with you and him.

I mean, that's my guy, Uh, someone I've known, I think I know Jason since 5th, 5th grade.

Um, so obviously it's, you know, it's huge that we're able to grow up together and, you know, get to the position that we are.

And we've always been competing.

We've always been playing against each other, and obviously, um, you know, we're friends off the court, but once we once we step in between those lines, you know, we were going at each other.

So, um, I mean, I'm grateful that we're both in this position, but it's been a It's been great being able to compete against him.

And, you know, however many years that were in the NBA, um, it'll be fun matchups panting, Hey, dear, this stretch that you're on right now, it's It's clearly the best stretch of your career.

Do you feel when you're on the court that you've taken that next leap?

And is there just some extra motivation that you're finding in each of these games?

Um, I mean, I'm just going out playing basketball and being aggressive.

I think I've been these four quarters.

I'm just I was trying to make a play for my team uh, trying to make a big shot.

That's pretty much all that is I don't think too much of it.

Um, I said I don't really have much of an answer for you.

Besides, I'm just out there playing basketball.

And, um, when I felt my team needs me, you know, I'm trying to be able to make those big those big place.

I would just take a couple more decent Jones.

Yeah, the Aaron, I think Tyreese talked about what?

The coach is challenging you guys and practices showing you the defensive numbers and how bad you guys had been.

Stretch and the coaches holding you accountable.

But also you guys as a team holding each other accountable, accountable.

How is the accountability from those those sessions translated into the games?

And how do you feel that accountability is is different?

Yeah.

I mean, I think as the season is going on, guys were getting on each other more.

Everybody is, you know, you're realizing that is not personal.

Um, you know, if you mess up something, you know, I might tell you something, but I'm telling it to the whole team as well, because we don't wanna be a We don't wanna be that team that constantly makes the same mistakes.

Um, you know, you're not gonna be good that way.

You're not gonna win games if you're constantly making the same mistake.

Um, but it's it's it's picked up.

It's picked up a lot in the last 2 to 3 weeks.

Um, the accountability everybody's holding each other accountable.

You know, if if a guy messes up, they know what it waas Um, so that's I mean, that that helps with if you know how you messed up and then you know not to do it again.

So those practices definitely helped us.

But these things last few games.

I think just everybody being able to hold each other accountable is definitely a way that that we've been winning.

That's I mean, that's why our defense is definitely picked up, and we know we can score the ball.

So, um, for us to be able to win games, especially in this league, you have to be able to buckle down and get stops when you need them.

Jason Anderson.

I think Luke mentioned in one of those practices that he kind of swallowed the whistle a little bit Thio kind of increased the physicality, Um has that continued?

And do you feel like that was a factor and raising the teams level of play?

Yeah, definitely.

I mean way have to be physical, but being physical without fouling, and I mean, that's comes with practice.

But it also just comes with the mentality of being able to come out there and for you want to hit first and be that team that initiates at all the contact and being physical cause.

Then, you know, wrestle.

Russell kind of swallowed their whistle as well.

Um, so it's something that you have to be able to play through.

You have to be ableto be physical without filing, keep them off the free throw line.

And, um, that makes for a good team inward.

Shamkhani a fox.

I was just asking, curious about your outlook with Tyreese.

I mean, obviously gets the rookie of the month honors, and I know he's talking about when he came here, he wanted to get rookie of the year, but now he's kind of shifted that focus toe getting the king's back to the playoffs.

You wasn't that long ago when you were a rookie.

What is a moment like that?

Kind of mean for a guy like him?

Oh, it's huge.

I mean, I I didn't get over here the month so but he's been big for us.

Um, you know, the more he's out there, you know, the more he's really understanding the game.

And he already had a high dollars of the game.

So I mean, he he helps us in a variety of ways.

Even if he's not making shots.

I mean, he's able to play make for us.

He he gets his hand, He deflects.

He gets a lot of deflections.

He's able to rebound the ball.

Um, I mean, even if he's not making shots, he's kind of like he's kind of a guy like buddy, like, just because he's not making shots, you know, they're not going to just leave him.

Um, but he does.

He does so many things.

Well, um, e think had his career high tonight.

Um, he made some big threes in the 3rd and 4th quarter, so I mean, he does.

Like I said, he's a great player, and he's continued to get better game by game, even if even if he doesn't outscore himself the next game he's done.

He's done something better.

You know, it's not always about putting the ball in the basket.

All right?

Actually.

Well, Matt, George last.

I'm sorry if Fox really quick, We've seen a consistent closing line up with yourself.

Tyreese, buddy HB and rash on your obviously number one on the scouting report.

But how have those for helped you help things make things easier for you to go on these successful pushes that you have in that fourth quarter?

Um, I mean, the floor is extremely spaced.

Obviously we have a group like that.

Um, you know, Buddy Harrison tyreese.

Uh, I'm seeing the ball well myself and enriches.

Who's the man in the middle?

It's the floor is extremely space offensively, I think you know, it gives me a lot of room to operate, um, outlet passes or everywhere.

And then you have a guy like Tyreese who can also make place for us.