Mhm coming out aggressive and making them feel us.

A lot of teams come out very comfortable against us, and then that's kind of feel the rest of the game is that we're playing catch up in.

It's just not a way to play as a competitors, just always down.

And then we have the talent to come back and you know she's not a way to play way.

Wanna dominate on both ends of the floor, especially defensive end to make them uncomfortable that way, we put ourselves in a better position.

So just starting off the game better.

I don't think we've talked to you since the finger injury.

What is it like managing out there?

How much you know, pain and discomfort.

Are you having to push through?

I'm in.

It sucks, man.

Just, you know, shooting very well in the season.

Wanna continue?

So you just have different hiccups that happened, especially on my shooting hand.

Uh, you know, it's uncomfortable, but at the same time, I don't wanna make excuses.

I'm out there put myself out there to do a lot of treatment on it.

And, you know, we're down a few players, Obviously a swell.

So you just wanna go out there and compete on worry about the pain later, but, you know, doing the best I can.

Brian Lewis with the New York Post Hey, Carrie, are you noting, um, I don't know a common thread.

I mean, a lot of the games that you guys kind of come outing, spot a big lead Or maybe don't have the quite a defensive intensity that you're looking for.

A lot of them are against the quote.

Lesser teams may be losing team team without a great record.

Are you noting that commonality?

And how concerning is that mindset waas?

Well, I think you guys noted enough for all of us, so I don't think I need to know that it is pretty.

It's pretty glaring when you know, game the game, and especially when the records are, you know, being used as kind of a reason on why we're not going out there and playing hard.

I don't I don't accept that, and I don't think our team accepts it.

Asshole.

You know.

Obviously, we don't want that to be on, You know, kind of what teams think about us.

And we're seeing it day in and day out where guys teams are coming in and punching us in the mouth early, and we're playing catch up.

And it happens to be against the the guys with the least that's records in.

We got a call it for what it is.

So we gotta fix that, you know?

And that takes a maturity that takes accountability.

And that takes, uh, you know, realization of what we need to do.

Moving forward Well, every day, every day, guys.

Mallika Andrews with ESPN a Kyrie.

Steve said that his message was that this comes down to pride.

And who do you guys want to be?

Is a team.

So I guess is this who you want to be?

Is a team?

And if not, then what is it that you're working towards?

Well, look, I think you can answer the first question yourself.

I don't think that we go out every single day of our lives and sacrifice the time in order to be average at anything, you know.

I know you don't wake up.

I don't know.

One here on this call wakes up to the average at anything that they do on.

We look very average, you know, and we have the talent that the eye test presents that we should be dominating way.

Have the experience in terms of some of our guys that have been through certain things, circumstances to be able to battle through.

And we're dealing with a lot of the reality that we're putting this together on the fly like we we are.

The team that the MBA put the most games on were the team that gets someone taken out during Cove it during the games where the team that has to deal with the refs were the team that is literally battling against so many odds that at this point, it's not even a reason to continue to comment on.

They are what they are and as a warrior that I am and that the energy that I have alongside my teammates, we just have to turn that corner and we haven't done it yet, But we will and I'm telling you the league's gonna be on notice whenever, so just gotta take it day by day.

Thank you.

Bruce Beck with NBC New York A.

Kyrie.

What is the challenge of trying to be consistent as a team when there's so many things going on around you?

Covert protocols, injuries left and right?

There's a lot.

There's a lot happening there.

I don't want Oh, the lead.

You I don't wanna lead you as the guy who's asking the question, but I just want your perspective.

I mean, my perspective is just continue to do the things that we can control.

And Steve is right.

It takes pride.

It takes effort.

You know, it takes a will night tonight to get up for the guys that you're playing way.

All know when we play against the best, you're going to see a great game because it's easy to get up for those things.

But the consistency of a lot of the great teams that are going on the Win championships is they do it on the road.

They do it at home, they do it against the good teams and they do it against the average team.

So until we can develop that goal oriented mindset that we want to continue to be great every single night, and it's a collection of individuals doing as a team.

Then it will be great.

So then we'll just look like great guys that are look good on paper and still haven't figured out yet.

But I'm confident and I'm patient.

And like I said, I don't take any day for granted Having this group and being able develop for a long time.

Alex Schiffer with the athletic they carry in the second half, you guys had multiple chances, toe.

You got rid of the lead and you got that on one possession or so and then you just couldn't couldn't get over that hump.

I guess.

Just what do you think held you guys back from from making that one final leap?

When you guys run those runs well, usually when we're going against the teams that were down against Excuse me when we're down on were down in the hole.

Guys get comfortable, start making shots that they don't normally make.

You watch them and they're not making like a lot of the guys did not have 10 plus points against any other team, you know.

But they are the Detroit Pistons, the same Detroit Pistons that took the Lakers that double o.

T the other night.

You know, we have to give respect to them in terms of what they're capable of doing, But I always come on here and I'll tell you guys, teams start doing the craziest things against us, and that's just the tail of the rest of the season on.

We just got to be able to combat that.

It is what it is.

You know, guys gonna have career nights and try to score everything against us and do everything because everyone's watching.

You know, no one wants to see us be on that level, and I think that we have to develop that.

We are that team that has to battle through it.

So welcome about it.

Last question.

Christian.

When field with the New York Daily News Okay, carry in your experience is defensive intensity and energy is that stuff.

Is the tone for that set by any one person?

Or is that something that you guys have to come to collectively and figure out how to establish team?

And it's all about our team effort It I could speak until I'm going to chase, you know, somebody could yell out all the play calls, but it is really just the effort.

Onda.

We've learned that since everybody on this ball come on, we've been in grade fourth grade teaching defensive techniques and now we're in the NBA and we got to continue with that development in order to be on the big stage way.

Have to do it.

We have to commit on that.

We have to commit on the end of we have to, so we will.

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