Media Availability: Brian Keefe, Deni Avdija, and Tyus Jones | 02/14/24

Media Availability: Brian Keefe, Deni Avdija, and Tyus Jones | 02/14/24

That he was part of a group that was super resilient we got down 20 and he helped led the charge to get us back in the game and we didn’t hang our heads and we continued to fight we got the lead back and then made it a tough

Fourth quarter game so just being part of that group the whole team that led us back from you know being down pretty big num what did you see yeah we struggled in the first half I thought you know 68 what was it I think 68 or 69 right um ball was getting

In the paint too easy we weren’t protecting the drive I thought in the third quarter that’s how we got the lead we started being a little more tight um a little more connected as a group um but they were putting pressure on our Rim the whole night but I liked our

Fight in the second half taking the shot the right shots what the offense gave him obviously we put the ball in his hands and he was attacking but then when he was open from three um he let it go so like just he read the game well and we put him in

Positions to take advantage of his quickness and his athleticism to the rim but then when the ball was kicked to him he shot when he was open and it was really a team effort tonight I think that was uh maybe a franchise record for threes we set tonight so we we really

Shared the ball 35 assists um so we’re seeing some growth what what we’re doing offensively um a couple coming out of timeouts where we didn’t get exactly where we wanted but we did struggle with turnovers in the first half um thought we did a little better in the second be

But some of those caught us it was late um we’ll start learn learning and growing as a group fourth quarter execution was good but it can be better yeah I think that’s something we talked about uh pregame we talked about that um Denny’s rebounding triggers his offense

So it’s for us if we’re a defense first group and when we rebound and specifically when he rebounds he has the ability to a push that can lead for shots for himself but also can really lead for shots from others so that’s a big part of our attack he’s shown that

He’s capable of doing that and we’re going to continue to ask him to do that what changed right before half time for you guys tonight Jordan pool Bank three um no it was just like I feel what we like picked it up a little bit uh especially defensively uh we shared the

Ball offens L shot good shots we were down 20 I think um and then we cut the lead we came to halftime uh pretty close game and then from there we just had a momentum we saw we were capable of like competing and keeping this game alive

And that’s what we did until the last moment Denny does it feel like something’s changed for you since early February you obviously had games tonight but you’ve been playing well since like like six um I don’t know if something really changed I feel like I’m just more

Confident I think I’m more confident um I’m working hard I’m patient um you know it’s been it’s been a long four years for me like ups and downs I’m sure I’m still going to have some Downs like every other basketball player uh but seeing my growth and um my

Teammates been like been here with me like with all this process it’s been great they’re pushing me they’re looking for me and uh without them honestly like without their push like honestly I couldn’t be in in the in that of a good stretch like I’m like I am where does the INE

Come sticking with it I feel like um I know my spots now I’m confident on my shot I worked I worked hard this summer um I’m in a good mood you know obviously the franchise believed in me they sign me for another four year so that was big time for me

Too and um yeah I’m just playing free I’m just playing to compete I’m playing to win like I’m not really overthinking too much I think a lot of my offense comes from like me competing on defense and making stops and and and and get getting the rebounds and that’s how that’s how I

Get in the game that’s my bread and butter and uh it’s always going to be there regardless of the offense and I feel like that’s what gets me going a lot of games it’s like like getting through the defense knowing the Personnel like be there for my teammates

And like making big plays for for the team to be able to compete what does what does it feel like to have a night like the night you had tonight I know you want to win that’s more important I get it but to be locked in the way

You it’s uh it’s a little emotional like I think it’s uh I never thought that like coming to the league seeing all those numbers those big players score those those points like being able to um being able to be that hot and like like all the hard work like the the

Times that I was like down or I didn’t have good games and I was down myself a lot of times and I sticked with it um I kept I kept working hard I I kept being patient like I went through a lot and for me it’s it’s only to start I

Feel like I’m still getting better I’m still going to be smarter especially especially in crunch time I’m still not satisfied with how I’m how I’m playing in crunch time I still think I can take better shots and and move the ball better but honestly like hard work imp patience do do pay off

So do you tell yourself you’re only 22 or have you turned 23 yeah I beg you pardon so you’re you’re still young as heck you know 23 years old is very very young in this game it’s Young life but in this game you grow up fast like I

Feel like four years in the league really matures you um but yeah I’m still young and that’s why I’m so excited it’s like I still have a lot to grow still have a lot to work on I’m not stopping here like yeah I had a great game tonight but there’s a

Still a long season and I’m hopefully have a long career and uh hopefully it’s only to start you the energy um the energy is is different um right now for us in a in a great positive way um we’re we’re together more than we have been all year um everyone’s you know continue

To be on the same page um so we’re just building we’re moving in the right direction um we still got a ways to go but um I think the resiliency is something that you can take away from it as okay they are more together the energy is right um and they’re heading

The right direction see that 11an mention stops yeah got stops um was able to get on transition um and just just make make the defense pay they were uh you know kind of cross matched a little bit in transition so we were able to get some good looks um Kick ahads

Were there um sharing the ball you know we were sharing the ball extremely well tonight so but it started with the stops um we weren’t able to get too many stops early on in the first half um led to us being down big but we stuck with it kept

Fighting um so yeah that kind of changed the game for us right there right before Hal time time and we needed that stuck with it stuck with it big time Big Time um he’s been playing playing his tail off the last I don’t even know how long now but he’s

He’s been hoping um getting you know the game I think it’s slowing down for him um he’s starting to see his spots starting to understand kind of what defenses are doing a little bit more um I know we’re we you know changed up a little bit of what we’re you know trying

To do offensively when Brian took over but at the same time he’s handled that well I he’s playing extremely with a lot of confidence shooting his shots with confidence no hesitation making his moves making some reads great passes like the game just slowing down for him

And that’s what we that’s what we need out of him um so looking forward to continue to see him grow for a young player like how could this recent games spring if it did that all yeah it’s great it’s great and it’s it’s big for his confidence um you know there’s

Nothing better than you know you know there’s nothing no way to get better than experience so to get out there you know live reps playing and see you know seeing it payoff and seeing at work um that’s huge for your confidence level um and we’re going to continue to put him

In positions to uh you know try to succeed to to create to play make um and he’s going to continue to get better

Interim Head Coach Brian Keefe, Deni Avdija, and Tyus Jones spoke to the media following Wednesday night’s matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans.

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