NBA x NBL - Post Game Press Conference - New Orleans Pelicans v Melbourne United

NBA x NBL – Post Game Press Conference – New Orleans Pelicans v Melbourne United

[Applause] Yeah, certainly proud of the group on a on a night where you had an opportunity to create history and um you know, we didn’t come out with the win tonight, but um I think we did ourselves as a club and as a league. Um you know, pretty proud of the performance that we put out there. you know, closed out the game without kind of some point guards and gave some other people some opportunities to to do some things, but um yeah, good good highlights. We’ll sit down and watch some reviews tomorrow of a lot of the good things that we did. the way we competed physically um needed to make some shots in the fourth quarter but um sat down and guarded after quarter time and you know Dash was a a big part of that and the way you know he his effort and his commitment to to guard the ball tonight and stay in front of people I thought was outstanding. Dash, what was it like playing against your your brother’s old team and when you play against NBA talent? What does that tell you about your game and where that is currently? Yeah, I mean that’s the ultimate goal to try and get to the NBA in the you know hopefully the next couple years and um to be able to have this opportunity to play against the Pelicans. Um you know them coming out to Australia is awesome for you know not only me but the whole of Australia as well. So um you know it’s just a great experience and I get to you know see what they’re like and showcase you know my talents as well. Dean Dean, what did you think of Dash out there? I look at Jeremiah’s three of 15 turnovers. Dash probably played a big part in that. What did you make of Ash’s game? Yeah, I think there, you know, every game so far this year, we we believe there’s just been um really really good growth and I thought there was massive growth again tonight. Um, you know, I thought his position off the basketball way better tonight and how he could assist um the basketball coming downhill, stab at it, get back. Um, you know, but yeah, mostly highlight in my mind when I’m thinking about his game is um really navigating screens, whether it’s under, over, get back in front, um strong body to make him make tough shots over and I thought, yeah, that was that’s the part that stands out for me. What what sort of pushed you hardest tonight, what was the toughest thing on the NBA court and all the things you’re pretty happy with? Um I think obviously um how big the court is, you know, the three-point line’s a little further back and balls a little different and all that, but um you know, it’s obviously good to you know, change the scenario and all that and you know, I thought just me being aggressive and um you know, helping the team out on the defensive end and um I thought that’s what you know, I did pretty good. What’s it like playing in a 48 from watching it very well. Yeah, it really did. Um, yeah, probably even more so with the timeouts as they’re, you know, a lot longer as well. Um, yeah, there was some technical things about just coaching NBA games again about when you can sub people and and do different things. But um yeah, when you the goal tonight was to not have anyone play 40 minutes and you know, we stretched Milt a little bit at the end there um to to have a shot at winning. I think we were four or six points and it’s we were going to take him out and it was just like no, let’s have a crack at at winning this thing and I thought we had enough good open looks to to to really challenge that as well. I had chat with the high performance when you started to get us into a victory mate. Yeah, I think you know we wanted to manage Milt. We still had a couple of timeouts and he was the only one. Um, you know, a few other guys had some niggles, so we we didn’t put him back in the game. Um, thought we managed everyone pretty well. Are you concerned about Shay at all or was that just managed as well? Yeah, we’ll see. He didn’t I was told not to have him come back into the game to shut him down. So, um, yeah, we’ll have a look at him tomorrow and see where he’s at. Do you know what he did to himself? Not really. like a hand or a wrist thing at the end. Yeah, a little bit of a thumb there. What would you say to basketball fans who maybe watching your team for the first time and saw Dash and Milton Doyle and some of these guys do their thing and maybe they might become members or come to games and otherwise wouldn’t have they wouldn’t have watched the game if the Pelicans were here. What would you say to those basketball fans in Melbourne? Yeah, I’m sure there’s a lot of people that come to see Zion and come to see the Pelicans, but yeah, hopefully um we got some fans tonight to say um you know, the quality of player that we’ve got in this league and the and the performance that these guys put out on the floor is is worthy of paying money to to to come and see him. And then um you know, for Dash, it’s like we’re not sure how many games you you get to see him for. you know, um the the level that he continues to get better at and um you know, we wish him the best if if he’s good enough to get drafted at the end of this year. Um yeah, Jesse Edwards really wanted to to show, you know, Milton Tyson, all these other guys, you know, the opportunity to to play um against an NBA team is where their dream is is still to get to. So, I thought they were all solid tonight. Against the Pelicans, what are your takeways from the games and things that stood out to you tonight? Um I think just you know how how big they are. They’re a lot more athletic and um can get in the rim you know a little easier than you know a lot of players around here. So um just coming up against that you know physicality and athleticism is you know a big change but um yeah know it’s it’s good to see. How do you feel about that back door that got on you? You got that? H uh yeah, no, I should have been there. Um you know, I just let him get that gap on me and you know, was first play of the game and you know, I was pretty mad at myself about that, but um you know, we came back after that. Did you have a big chat about that with that? Is that what you spoke about? Yeah, he Yeah, I’m not going to tell you our conversation, but yeah, there was something I thought he should have done better. It was something that he thought that the guy did, whether legally or illegally, but um yeah, we move on. You’re going to get dunked on against NBA teams. How close were you to playing Chris tonight? Were you maybe looking for like a four or five second window at the end of a quarter? Maybe. Yeah, it was it was potential to say that was um but yeah, you know, he took it took another little knock at practice in a different spot the other day and so it was just like no, let’s let’s be smart and just, you know, not risk anything tonight with him. What did you think of Delane’s performance against? I mean, he looked so strong and started really imposing himself, I guess, from the get go. Yeah, you know, Zion, it was it was cool to see Zion and just the way um the force that he comes downhill with and I thought for a good portion of it, we created a really tough crowd for him to to try and go through and um but he’s, you know, athletic enough to go through. You still create uh separation or contact and get to the foul line. Um but yeah, you know, Finn’s an elite defender and he he should be recognized in our league as as as that and being a contender um you know, for defensive player of the year, some of the things that he’s doing right now. So um yeah, I thought he stood up really well. Dean Trey Murphy praised your ball movement tonight was really impressive. What are you most pleased about with the way your team ran their offense against defensive look and how will that kind of help you moving forward in the season? Yeah, there’s a lot of switching. So, you got to continue to um you know, slip out of different things, set screens here. You know, you got to continue to do different things to let the basketball move. But, um yeah, there still the way that they play defense, they still require you to play um enough one-on-one to to attack. And I think we still we’re trying to get one more action in there and not get to isolation so much. Um but we talked about before the game to say we’ve played three games in preseason games. It’s their first game of the year. Our advantage versus them is our team play. Um and for you know a portion of it there um you know the ball moved without getting stuck and um created good shots. Dash uh for you obviously this year there’s a lot of just talk expectations about what’s coming next. How do you stay focused on just each day? You know what I mean? And uh just block all the noise. Obviously, you have your brother to lean on, your dad, things like that, but uh practically what does that look like for you on a day-to-day basis? Um trying to stay focused on your personal game, your development. Yeah, I mean, as you said, it’s is day by day, you know, step by step. Um I’m not looking too far ahead. Um just focusing on what’s next and that’s, you know, the Sydney game and um we’re trying to get the win there. So, um yeah, as I said, I’m not I’m not trying to look too far ahead and, you know, those things come with it and yeah, just next step. Dean, I know it was a close game, but were you able to sit back and relish the sort of moment in Australian basketball history? Not really. Um, I’ll reflect a little bit later on and you know, I picked up my phone and it was it was cool to get some messages from old coaches and and you know, talking about that to say that’s a it’s a really good night for Australian basketball and basketball in Victoria. And um you know, I’m glad we were able to really compete at a good level. And um you know, hopefully we’ve done enough to say to the NBA, hey, it’s worthy of of bringing more teams back to Australia for these games. And I think that was a responsibility that I felt tonight um for the NBL and for Australian basketball to to do a really good job on home soil and and and get other people to get an opportunity to play an NBA team. Would you like to have more opportunities to play games here at Ro? Oh, without a doubt. You know, there’s, you know, we talk about the continual growth of our game, but um, you know, it was a long time ago in 90 or 91 or something that I got to play Tigers versus Magic and this thing packed out like it was tonight. And, um, you know, the opportunity for, you know, for me is to say I’d love to see Throwdown um, you know, in this venue if if it could possibly happen. Um, you know, it’s an elite stadium and um, yeah, I’d love to see it happen. bit more on the casual note. What was the pregame ritual like? What was the pregame music play? I mean just know the usual a lot of lot of gunner, a lot of little baby. Um know just that that rap music is you know what I like. So just get my my head space right and um you know keep me as prepared as I can for the game. What was your playlist? All right, I think we’ll wrap the Thanks everyone.

– #basketball #nbl #pressconference –

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NBA x NBL – Post Game Press Conference – New Orleans Pelicans v Melbourne United

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