Head Coach Jordan Ott Postgame Media Availability | 11-18-25 | Phoenix Suns

Hey coach, just starting off, what did you think about the way that the team was able to come out and respond the way that they did? Yeah, great overall response. Um really in that third quarter really changed the game. Um started with our defensive pressure right off the bat. Right off the bat in the third quarter right away. Um just came out with an intent and focus to really put the you know put the gas on. Um yeah, great start to that third. Great overall third. Looking at Ryan Dunn, he had a new careerhigh, five steals. What did you just see from his energy and and hustle tonight? I think he had one there on that that stretch, too, and a great pass to Dylan. Uh I mean, Ryan’s like that every night, you know, it’s uh he just got his hands on more more of the basketballs tonight. But his point of attack defense, his athleticism, his never quit attitude on the ball. Um yeah, super helpful in in games like this, especially with downhill drivers like they have. So, um, yeah, he he had a great night. Got rewarded with him when the balls actually get to him. You know, sometimes those steals, I don’t know who really gets the steals, but he’s always active, always up there. Coach, I meant to ask you this in the first half, but since he played, I’ll ask you now. Um, Jamari obviously bringing him in and and CJ waving him. What led to bringing Jamari in and then partnering with CJ? Just the ball handling piece. Um, love CJ. Love love love having him around. He was great with our group. Got a great career ahead of him. Um, yeah, just the the extra ball handling helps with Grayson out and Jaylen. Um, just felt at times we need some of that. Colin was cramping in the last game. So, um, yeah, that that’s really the only reason. The the obviously Rashier, you you you mentioned the last game about the rotation needing to do something and you gave Rasher a shot in that first half. what what maybe led to you going with him and how you feel like he played just this dayto-day like uh growth, you know, we can see it, you know, we we value those state ready groups. We value the the practice runs. Um we value the what those guys players do, what the coaches do that playing in them. Um it’s incredibly valuable to our our development and our overall program. And he had a great day the other day. Um then his G-League, you know, getting some experience there. They’re incredibly athletic. Um this is a downhill number one in drives. Um then threw him in a spot where, you know, we we wanted to help him. Book was out there, Dylan was out there, Mark was out there there at the end of the second quarter to to really just get it get a taste. And um it’s tough. He was guarding the basketball in the bonus. You know, we were in the penalty, them in the bonus, and he’s up there on an island. So good experience. uh you know and he I’m sure he’ll get a shot soon enough because of how well he played. And then Shaden obviously had 20 in the first half. I thought defensively second had a little better denial not letting him get it wherever he wanted. What do you feel like the guy did defensively with him? He he’s so fast. Um he just tries to go right through your chest. U so a lot of times that that’s the fiveman and Mark’s ability to protect the rim. Um, even right off the very first play of the half, we were were pressuring to get downhill. I think it was Denny at that time, but Mark’s presence in the paint, you can really feel him at times. Um, I think our guys just kind of got the flow and they they figured out like they know when Shaden has it, he’s going to try to put his head down, get to the rim. Denny, the same thing. And I think our guys just felt that overall as as the game progressed, especially in that third quarter as we started to get a lead. Once the ball got in their hands, we we had good shifts and then our fives protecting the rim. You obviously when you have blow a lead like the last game, then you’re up 20 something in the second half. What’s the conversation like? Is it, hey, remember the last game or is it, hey, just keep doing what you’re doing. Yeah. No one’s forgetting what happened 48 hours ago. I think it was a good response by that group early in the fourth quarter to put them away. And again, I’m going to continue to go back to the schedule of what we have in the NBA. again, another trip. We fly in, we fly back home. Uh, who knows what time we get home tonight. So, any of those minutes that we can save is incredibly valuable for not only tonight, but then going forward, we’re heading now into a three and four. So, um, great job by those guys putting it away. Lastly, um, you got great play from the bench tonight. Multiple guys, also Colin, Nick gave you some minutes, good one. Just how big are those minutes for them? When you’re mentioning the schedule, you’re mentioning what’s ahead. You’re mentioning what you dealt with. To have the bench play to where Dylan doesn’t play the fourth quarter and Deon doesn’t play the fourth quarter. Yeah, it’s I think that’s happened multiple games now where where u that bench unit has really helped us in spurts. I thought Nick’s spurt in the first quarter was great. Um Colin had a had a great game. um even Isaiah’s minutes like you said, Shears and then also settled us down at time. I guess especially against these pressure teams, we can throw him out there and we can we can run offense through him. Um and then defensively, we just have to find a way to rebound and we we did that in the second half. Good. Safe travel. Appreciate it, coach. Three.

Head Coach Jordan Ott speaks to the media following the Phoenix Suns win over the Portland Trail Blazers on November 18th, 2025.

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