Head Coach Jordan Ott Postgame Media Availability | Phoenix Suns | 12-5-25
Coach, you guys led by nine and then obviously that second quarter Durant really got it going, got into a flow ultimately. What changed though in that that second half to where you guys weren’t able to to close the gap? Yeah, probably started there in the second quarter. Um, you know, it’s just they put you in such tough positions playing in open floor. um their ability to get to the rim into the paint. Then every time it seemed to touch KD’s hands, he made the right play in the second quarter and into the third. So, um yeah, we weren’t able to get enough stops and take them away from the rim and then when you don’t shoot it very well, obviously that leads to longer rebounds and then they’re in transition and they’re elite downhill um players. So, got us in both both areas there. Um, you know, our we just weren’t able to make enough shots and then they were able to get out in transition. Coach, uh, I think it was six for 36 or something like that from three. Did you like the looks you guys got tonight? I think so. You know, they do they’re a good good defense, top five defense. Um, obviously we’ll take a look. We we shoot pullup threes. I know some of those were good looks, pull up threes that we just made the other night that didn’t happen to go in tonight. Um, but yeah, you question everything when you go five of 36. Um, ball movement, did we screen well enough? Um, did we play fast enough? I think all of that goes into it. But live it felt all right. It just when you keep looking down or looking up on the scoreboard and it that that number is not moving in the right direction, you definitely question it. So, I think we felt like some of that, too. I think the team felt that. We felt it obviously as coaches. So yeah, we’ll take a look. Curious when you look at the way, you know, talked about defending Kevin with a men, it just makes it a challenge because you can single block with Kevin, but then he’s got that option to get it to a man and vice versa. Maybe that challenge you guys felt tonight guarding them both. Yeah, they’re great cutting team and I thought they cut really well. Um, you know, when you when you add another body to to Kevin, he was able to find his cutters. They did a great job of moving without it. Thompson hurts his, you know, he hurts you in transition. He hurts you in transition getting downhill. Um, again, they had both things going on that end. So, yeah, we couldn’t find a way to stop him for sure. Lastly, Malow watch and I know know Fleming kind of showed in the G- League game and then you thought, okay, maybe give him a little more malatch in that same position and possibly where show in the GLeague game that it can lead to more minutes here. Yeah, it’s it’s a process, you know. It’s um it’s great to see those guys go play. They play well. Last game obviously really helped the Valley team. So, it’s a long runway that we’re not going to judge on one or two games. Um, we trusted the process of development and the plan we have for those guys. Um, as well as every other player on our team. So, um, it was good to see them get out there and play a little bit in the NBA. So, we’ll continue to evaluate. To what extent do you guys lean into Dylan Brooks offensively in terms of his aggression? Yeah, I mean we have to lean on him right now and um you know he he’s added a piece to his game, the ability to go off the dribble a little bit. We play pick and roll with him. Um yeah, we’re leaning on him a lot and you know he’s been able to adjust who’s out there with him, how aggressive to be, where to pick his spots. Um and then he’s obviously the ultimate competitor on the other end. So love love what he’s done. Um love what he’s brought to this team. Is there anything that you saw from that you give you that confidence to lead to just the beginning of the season. He’s he’s he’s an incredible worker. Um how hard he works, how hard he works on his game. Um and then when you play that hard defensively, you’re allowed to stay on the floor, which then allows you more opportunities to to be aggressive offensively. So, um, loved what we saw in the in the preseason, even in September before preseason. Loved, you know, he had a little stint there before he was injured and then came back and he’s he’s been really good for us um on both ends of the basketball floor. Coach, looking at Grayson, obviously coming off the illness and he was he was so hot before he got injured. What’s what’s got to happen to unlock him to get him back to the way he was shooting the ball early? Just play. Just reps to play. He’ll he’ll find his rhythm. Um it’s been interrupted for sure. We don’t practice a ton. Um but yeah, he’ll find his rhythm. We we love what he does. We love what he brings to it. You know, that gives us another ball handh gets in the paint. So that’s obviously attractive. And then his floor spacing tonight. He just couldn’t quite find it. But more reps, more games, he’ll find it again. Thanks, coach. Thank you. Thank you.
Head Coach Jordan Ott speaks to the media following the Phoenix Suns game against the Houston Rockets on December 5th, 2025.
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