Teoh, get Teoh, I think defensively.

39 point quarter, I think.

And it just fuels our offense and, you know, to come out and start game two with that kind of ah effort on both ends of the court what you're looking for, I think Hiccup for us in the third quarter, we got to be better.

Um, but, you know, I think we righted the ship and able to ah, you know, finish the game.

So, um, you know, we just got to keep working, keep thinking about getting better, but Tim Reynolds with the A p collaborate on this start a little bit.

The building's obviously very electric, as it's been for you guys all year.

When Yana starts the game with a dunk, a block and another dunk on like the 1st 45 seconds, can you script a better way to get your team and this building going?

No, you know, I mean, was it Bill Walsh?

It started scripting plays in the NFL, you know?

I mean, that's, you know, to script.

Those 1st 3 possessions and the block shot to me is the one that stands out.

You know, I think when Johannes is active, active and, you know, protecting the paint, protecting the ram.

And, um, you know, you play so hard, he just you know, he's He lays it all on the line all the time.

And, um, you know, I just It was it was a great star for us, and I think everybody fed off a honest and how he started the game.

Nico obviously had a good start.

Um, you know, its's how you want to come into a game to How you want to start a game, too.

I came people with the pick and roll.

Bud Asan tonight obviously had a strong performance during the second quarter when the game was still in the balance.

He really sort of took over.

What?

What did you say from From s on tonight?

Yeah.

I mean, he was fabulous, you know, I was you know, I think clearly his best game of the air.

And I'm in a big moment for your son to step up.

He's such a pro.

You know, um, we've been together for a few years now.

It's just, and I have so much confidence and faith and trust in him, and, you know, he's tough shots and everything he does defensively, just and the whole bench.

You know, you look, you look at George and Malcolm and just the production we're getting from our bench.

You know, I think Pat does a lot of things that, you know, help us win, too.

So I think the band's continues to be a real strength for us in your son.

Just, you know, was off the charts tonight.

Carnotaurs were seen journal times.

Eric has seemed to be struggling in these 1st 2 games.

Tell me what you say to him to help him get his confidence back.

I think Eric is confident, you know, he's just got to keep shooting, keep playing, Um, the things he does for us defensively.

I think he had seven assists and I, uh, and I think there's so much more to the sport than just, you know, scoring and or making shots and course every time he shoots that I wanted to go in.

But there's so many things that Eric Bledsoe is doing for us.

That's positive.

That's helping us.

You know, we're winning.

Were up 20 in the in the user cars finals.

Blood's a huge part of that.

So he's confident he's ready to go, and, um, you know, well, just tell him, Keep shooting, keep playing, keep doing what he's been doing.

Eric named athletic, but they cut it down to 13.

There, you guys get the time out, get a stop, and then I think it goes.

Malcolm Bucket, Malcolm to George Malcolm to George.

Just how big were those two for you guys specifically off the bench?

Yeah, that little stretch.

You know, I think we've had a couple spurts, you know, including game one late, where, you know, we're able to get a stop and then were able to get out and play quick in transition.

And, you know, tonight it was George.

That was kind of the recipient of it.

You know, Malcolm got the dunk the other night when it was close in the fourth quarter.

But those those stops and quick scores on the other end, Um, you know those those air What we're looking for them or those we can get.

It's It's hard to score on anybody in the playoffs in the half court.

So if we can get out and run and get those easy ones, but that stretch, um, you know, we weren't great in the third quarter, so, you know, be opportunity for us to look at us that we can get better.

But that stretch in transition was really good.

Gabe salts proof dot com Sort of just stuff tailing off that game one.

Toronto really contained George holding them scoreless 13 off the bench night.

Just between these two games, What did you see As the biggest difference for him.

You know, George was aggressive tonight.

I think, you know, he got a couple layups.

You know, it's always good when you get a couple laps, just like the other night, broke out a few laps and got some put backs and things like that.

It just builds your confidence.

But Georgia played at such a high level for 45 straight games.

I mean, he was, you know, just a He was so important and so good in the Boston series, I think he just you know, he didn't have his best game in Game one but And I think his mentality coming into Game two tonight was great.

And, you know, I think it's carried over to the court.

Um, you know, he was very good along with the other guys.

Ben Steel, Market Journal Sentinel.

But you guys forced the Raptors into a lot of long twos.

Contested jump shots tonight.

What were you guys doing better defensively in this game?

Um, you know, I you know, we talked a little bit about, you know, I thought we got better in game one towards the end, the fourth quarter, our defense got better.

And I think some of that carried over into the first half.

There is, You know, you get a little bit of a rhythm.

Um, our people are guards, you know, on the ball, taking individual pride, doing what we need them to do.

And then the activity from the bigs.

We've been talking a lot about just all that kind of working in concert.

Um, you know, just making every shot they take tough, whether it's a 3 to 2 in the paint, no matter where it is we want I'm taking tough shots.

Cody Grant, W O Z, and radio.

It seemed like Nico finally find a rhythm offensively, especially in that first half.

But a lot of times defense goes on notice, getting his hands in the passing lanes, guarding smaller guards like Danny Green.

Just how big is he defensively for you guys?

Yeah, it's been great, you know, I think you know, it's been a theme now for, you know, a few games are coming off the last Sirisanont to this.

When I think Niko's I don't know what the right word is.

I think he's just taking a lot of pride and showing that he Congar different positions and garden.

You know, wings and shooters and chase guys.

And you know, he's doing little things in transition, getting back, showing crowds, finding shooters, just really.

He's just got, like, an edge to him that I think's been good for our team, and we need him to continue to do that.

Craig Man second wtmj.

But can you put into words just given your experience?

How challenging is it for a guy to come back into a playoff situation like Malcolm has have it physically, mentally from a conditioning standpoint, and really just fit right back into where he left off.

Yeah, it's, you know, I feel fortunate to have been around a lot of good teams, and I can't think of a guy that's, you know, emerged in a you know, the second round in a game, I think 44 and five and now into one and two that's come back and almost picked up right where he left off.

You know, he was.

He was so good for us all year, 90 50 40 and does so many things.

And I think, you know, certainly, from my perspective what he's been able to do.

I just thought, you know, if we could just get him back going and he could, you know, I just he's exceeded all of our expectations and he's done it all year.

So any such a pro?

And I guess we should Ah, that's what we expect from Malcolm.

Coach Vince go well from yellow sports right here.

When you look up and down this roster, so many guys that can dribble, pass and shoot is that kind of what you envision when you're looking at the rotation and how difficult is that for the teams to game plan and guard against.

Yeah.

I mean, you know, we we want guys that are basketball players that have high IQ's that can do, you know, like you said, Terrible pass shoot, you know, can make reads, make decisions And, um, you know, we try and develop them, we try and empower them.

We try and play away where they all feel like they can contribute and do things.

And, um, you know, hopefully that's paying off for us, and guys appreciate it.

And I think they grow and develop here and, you know, you honest and Chris and bled that they do a great job of empowering their teammates, trusting their teammates and let their teammates play.

Um, it's it's what they've done all year, and we needed to continue Coach Peter Bukowski, Dime magazine.

You said after Game one you weren't gonna change the way that you played in the playoffs.

You wanted the guys to keep shooting to keep playing the way that you want them to play in the playoffs, though usually we see rotation shorten, we see more isolation basketball, and you haven't done that.

Does a game like tonight give you confidence that that approach is the right approach and can work in these big game.

I mean, you know, we're gonna lose some games, and we're gonna keep doing what we what we've been doing all year.

It's like you can't just base it on.

Um, you know the results.

Obviously, tonight was a huge positive.

The guys have learned a way to play.

They believe in it, We believe in it.

And, you know, the more positive results you get, Sure it reinforces it.

It just, um you know, lets them know that nothing's gonna change.

And I think, uh, we'll just continue that going into Game three.

Win or lose, you know, going into Game four.

It's It's ah, everybody's built their habits, everybody to some degrees who they are now.