How would you look at tonight?

From a defensive standpoint, you feel like it was a step.

You feel like you made a statement?

How would you categorize this performance defensively?

So we, uh we just got after, you know, we're all on the same page.

Uh, you know, from the beginning of the game, that first five and then even, you know, the guys that came off the bench, I knew the game plan executed the game plan.

And, you know, our results showed first half they missed shots and we made them miss shots.

We contested every shot, rebounded the ball at a high level.

That's what's gonna say.

That's what we need every single night in order to give ourselves a chance to win.

Um, second half, you know, they made some shots, you know, But, you know, once we're already up 30 um, you know, that's what we kind of expected.

So but you gotta have that mentality Every single game t come in defensively with the mindset they want to shut.

God shut teams out because offensively, you know, it's easy for us.

How big will that be?

Speaking.

Bringing it every night finding that consistency.

You guys were welcomed.

Kevin Bag finally ended this weekend.

How big will consistency be is you Get ready to play on the road for West Coast trip.

Huge force.

And hopefully tonight before going on this road.

West Coast trip going on the road.

This is a great start for us, you know?

So you gotta build this moment.

Um, defensively, like I said, is offensively, you know, it's pretty much easy.

We got shot makers.

We got shot creators, eso.

But defensively, we can tie and like we did today, um, then, you know, we could We could start winning, winning some games consecutively.

Brian Lewis with the New York Post.

Hey, James, this is two fold.

I mean, what was apparently, I guess, Jeff talk to you guys after after the last game.

I mean, what kind of message did he deliver in terms of this kind of defensive intensity?

And I guess the second part is, how many games do you think it'll take before you guys can realize and say All right?

Either This was a one off, and we just kind of had our pride stung.

And it was a one off reaction or we really turned a corner in terms of our France.

Of all, um, Jeff basically said that we gotta, you know, basically have pride and guard.

Um, the way we've been losing teams that we've been losing too is unacceptable.

Especially, especially the goal we're trying we're trying to reach.

And so, like I said, this this is and we've shown signs of no pretty good defense.

We just have to be more consist.

Um, we can't make excuses of who was in line who is not in the lineup.

You know, we're not We just have to whoever is ready to go, Whoever you know, on that floor, whatever defensive scheme we have, you have to be ready to go.

And whoever checks in the game, you gotta be on that same type time.

That's what we have to have.

So, like I said, I can't speak on the past.

Tonight we did a really good job.

Now we just have to have some carry over to be consistent.

Greg Logan with News Day, James Joe Harris talked about the importance of communication on defense to then uh, tonight it just seemed to me that guys stayed in front of their just did a better, more committed job of staying in front of their man.

The whole time was it just did everybody just sort of take it personally tonight?

That is one of them.

But, you know, we all know this league is very, very difficult, you know?

So communication has to be a key.

And, uh, you know, our big especially the did an unbelievable job of communicating, you know, when that pick and roll we know how important.

Uh, you know that that that Brogden and and Sabonis pick and roll is And our communication was unbelievable.

And it showed eso you know, one the 11 on one.

Defensively.

Obviously, we have to be pretty solid to be great, but our pick and roll defense was great tonight, and we have to have communication from all all five guys on the mention.

I mean, on on the floor.

And they have to be on the same page.

And like I said, Well, you gotta have carry over and consistent communication.

Consistent effort, um and know we're trying to accomplish defensively.

Who regarding Mallika Andrews with ESPN, James yesterday.

DeAndre said he was kind of disappointed in the way he played.

What did you observe from him as the difference tonight?

Um, just energy, you know, his energy.

Defensive intensity, I think for D.

J.

Um, no, our team is great when he you know, he's talking, communicating to us.

He's defend like he did tonight.

He's rebounding the basketball, blocking shots and just doing all the intangible things.

Um, that we needed him do every single night on DSO tonight was, you know, DeAndre Jordan.

He was great.

But we have to continue to talk amongst each other on what we need defensively.

Positioning Who regarding, um, that takes effort that takes, you know, sometimes.

And sometimes you get uncomfortable.

Sometimes you have to go through times like this where it's difficult, where is maybe a little bit frustrating.

Uh, you know, because at the end result, it makes it that much greater.

So, uh, you know, like we talked about DeAndre was great tonight.

Now, for our team, you have to be, um, you know that same way every single night.

Bruce Beck with NBC, New York.

James, you've talked about energy, effort and intensity.

Is that what you demand of your teammates.

And is that what you demand of yourself?

Yeah, because, you know, if we don't have that, we don't have a chance to winning.

Uh, more often than not when we could bring that possession by possession, quarter by quarter of game by the game.

Um, you know, I don't really like talking about offense because we can score with the best of them, you know?

But defensively, we have to have some kind of, like consistency and some kind of no togetherness.

Andi.

No.

Like I said, we've shown great signs of it, and then we just so signs were we just don't you know, we're not on the same page is like individuals out there.

Um and so that's my job.

I gotta do a better job of just communicating, maybe watching more film making, you know, communicate mawr on where guys should be just just using my voice a little bit.

Mawr.

Um no.

So So guys can be there in their spots.

And defense is not just a woman woman.

Nothing.

You gotta be five guys locked in on the same page and making sure you accomplished one and accomplish the same thing.

And know your personnel.

So a Z, one of the leaders of this team, I gotta do a better job of communicating.

And I will be last question.

Matt Brooks with Nets daily.

Hey, James, As you mentioned, you guys were, you know, from the beginning, kind of coming out with a lot of fire on defense.

The communication was there, so I just had a question about that communication.

Is that something Where one or two guys air leading that communication, Everybody follows.

Or is it something where you guys just all come out and the communication is just there?

From the get go is a group communication is there as a group?

No, Uh, we got a lot of shot guys on this team, but we got to get our comfort zone.

We've got to be more vocal.

You know, we gotta we gotta talk because it helps your teammate helps your defense of positioning.

Um, you know, you're guarding in the offensive teams, like while these guys were talking and that puts a little, you know, doubting their and their offensive skill as well.

So, um, you know, we just got to get on our comfort zone tonight.

I mean, you know, you know throughout the course of the season and over exaggerate our communication.

I think if we do that, we'll have better positioning for, you know, each other, and then we could rebound the basketball.

And then that's what we get on transition.

Aan den.

Everybody scores.

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