You guys were just scratching the surface as to what you could be as a team.

James has been and facilitator mode, you know, for much of these last few games.

But when he's aggressive, like he was in that fourth quarter, what does that?

What does that do for the rest of the group?

All it does a lot for us.

You know, We way we rely on, you know him, Thio make place for us and just be himself.

You know, whatever the game presents, uh, you gotta prepare for it.

And I think tonight he came with, um, that scoring, uh, effort late in the game.

And he also created stuff for us.

Um, you know, from his penetration.

So any given night could be anybody.

And tonight, James was great for us.

You had a couple of big threes yourself in the fourth quarter.

I have to ask something before then, though.

Why the shoes switch at halftime?

Uh uh.

Um I don't know.

I mean, I stubbed my toe.

I stubbed my toe in the first half and I was thinking that it would help if I switch shoes in the second half.

So, uh, I guess that's just my theory.

I don't know if it works or not, but, um, you know, I felt I felt better in the second half.

Shooting the basketball, though.

Thanks.

Ryan Lewis with the New York Post, it tends to fold.

How much did the their zone, I guess Throw throw you guys off early.

And, uh, how impressive, considering the last few games was the fourth quarter defense.

How encouraging was it that you guys defended that way down the stretch?

Yeah.

I mean, teams, they're gonna throw zone out of us because we got three guards that can penetrate and score at will from all three areas.

Eso teams going, you know, mix it up a little bit with us.

But tonight I felt like they played there, was in that zone all night.

They definitely, uh, you know, marked the game up and made it a physical game and was able to stay in the game until the late in the fourth.

And, you know, I think our defense is, you know, held tight The whole game, uh, was able once.

We was able to start making some shots there in the fourth he was able to pull away.

But our defense.

When is this game for sure?

Greg Logan with news day, Greg, you're muted.

All right.

Sorry.

Uh, just just wanted to ask when you and Kyrie were struggling a little bit tonight.

And eso how heartening was it to see James have the kind of game where he shows, You know, what he could do offensively and step up and take over in a big situation like that?

Yeah.

I mean, shots are gonna fall.

We're gonna have nights where we can't make baskets.

Um, and we got guys that can, like I said, create for each other.

Uh, so but, you know, our defense was ableto we're able to be locked in on defense, which kept our energy going on the offensive side of the bar.

We generated good shots, you know, regardless of missing or making, um, and whoever whoever has the ball in their hands late in the game, you know, we trust they're gonna make the right place.

So it might be James.

I mean, context game might be me next game.

I think that makes us like I said before, It makes its unpredictable Mallika Andrews with ESPN.

Kevin James said that for years he knew what his role was showing up to work every day in Houston.

And what he's enjoying now is the puzzle of trying to figure out where he fits in.

Now, um, what have you seen from him from from that perspective of him Kind of enjoying that process, Um, is, you know, it feels like he, uh he just transferred to a new school.

When you're trying to figure out the curriculum, you know, and you know it's gonna take some time to figure out you know who your teammates are with, You know, your rotations are in the game when to be aggressive when I'm score past, you know, as a score.

Um, in the focal point of your offense, Uh, sometimes it's the balance between scoring pass.

You gotta figure that out each night.

And, uh, I think tonight was a perfect balance for him, and we're gonna need more going forward.

And, you know, uh, you know myself missing, you know, open.

Looks like I did tonight for I think you know, when I'm knocking down shots and we all knocking down shots around each other uh, is going to spread the floor, open the floor for everybody.

So we just need, you know, guys did take the shots that's there for him and be aggressive to get to the rim.

Brian Mahoney with the Associated Press.

Kevin, with shooters you have and the range you guys can shoot from, how come you can't just kind of tear apart his own?

I mean, we missed shots tonight.

Um, I think we got a lot of wide open threes, but we just missed them.

You know, last game we knocked him in.

You know, that's just the name again.

You gotta give him credit for being physical, getting a contest.

That.

But I felt like we got so many great looks tonight.

We gotta, you know, 38 threes.

And I felt like we should probably should have another hit nine mawr, Tim.

Or, you know, uh, but longer.

Like I said, long as we generating good shots, we could live with it, but also coming back down the other end and getting stopped.

We did that tonight.

I like Schiffer with the athletic Evan.

You talked about the defense.

What do you think has been the biggest adjustment, you guys.

I mean that that end of the floor from the Cleveland Siri's thio these past two with Miami.

Well, guys, I'm making tough shots over, you know, bam tonight he made a couple, but not as many as he made the other night.

Um, Duncan Robinson, One for 10 from the three, you know, way living with that.

Um, You know, the other guys that get going o'lenic then get going.

Nothing.

Get going.

So, you know, when the bug you missed shots, you know, our defense definitely looks better.

We could play the same, you know, type of scheme and contest, the same shots that we could test it in Cleveland and first and last game.

Uh, but if they go in, it looks like bad defense.

You know what I'm saying?

But tonight they missed him.

So, you know, we gotta we gotta stay solid through it all.

Keep grinding.

I think tonight was a good, tough Christian Winfield with the New York Daily News.

Hey, Kevin, you know, I asked coach about Reggie, and he said, You know, he's a big fan of him, but he's struggling a little bit, obviously.

Just getting used to the N B A game late second round pick.

What have you seen from him early this season?

And how are you kind of try toe mentor or give him some advice early on?

This is all about where he's going out there and enjoying themselves, understanding what the situation is and what we need from him.

And I think each and every night he's learning more and more about the game, learning more and more about himself and what he needs to do individually on how to be a pro.

And I think he's one of those guys.

That's a sponge, you know?

Well, I know he's a sponge.

He's always asking questions.

He always wants to do well.

And as a rookie, I mean, playing on a team like this with high expectations every time you step out on the floor is gonna be some inconsistencies and some ups and downs.

But for the most part, I'm proud of how he comes in every single day and works and wants to be great at it.

So, uh, you know, we gotta be patient with rookies in this league.

Obviously, uh, Reggie is one of those big guys that you know is learning a lot on the fly, so you know he will get better.

Season goes on.

Tom Dowd with Brooklyn Nets Calm Kevin.

You know Jeff Green?

He's been shooting the ball great over the first month, you know, he's probably comes off the band.

She plays the four.

He plays the five.

How would you describe his impact and influence on this team over this first month?

Or is a versatile player?

And, you know, veteran has been leave for a while, So you know, he knows different situation has been in the finals before, so he understands that intensity need to play with.

And, you know, having a guy that can start where you come off the bench play a lot of minutes played little minutes.

I mean, he's just he's just a pro's pro, and you know, we're lucky.

Tohave.

Thanks so much, Kevin.

We appreciate it.

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