just took what the defense gave me, Sam shots just made, you know, Mason, that that really changed, but I just I made some shots. That's that's, I mean, obviously, I
think it's a game changer, but just being being aggressive and therefore I think that that group that started the fourth quarter did a really good job of pushing the lead up and do what we're supposed to do.
Jamie just mentioned the fourth quarter, just the fourth quarter specifically alone, already went into or whether it was just like you said this Johnson was
too serious, too serious up and, and put them on her heels. I mean, it's pretty simple. I think just being aggressive sand who was out there defensively and traditionally get to the basket and take the best shot available. I know if we didn't turn the basketball over and rebound the basketball defensively, we had a good chance. And we do that enough, before
getting too serious to be tied back to Miami, besides helping Joel be back, what gave you confidence, you guys be able to pull that off. And
we're getting more confident, you know, as the series goes on, you know, I mean, like those first two games, it was it was a blur. But obviously having Joe and having our, our full team, you know, we kind of know what to expect, we know where to execute on both ends of the ball. You know, it just makes the job a lot easier. You know, think about we're still a fairly new team, you know, I mean, we're down to two months. And so you know, when we finally catch a rhythm, and finally find something that works, you know, Joe goes off for a couple games. So we're finally settling into the series, and we've had some great things that have worked tonight and that we can, you know, capitalize off.
That started the fourth when you're able to get
that accomplished. That's that was the game right there. That was a game, you know, we Joe did a really good job of just you know, giving, especially to the entire third quarter. In the fourth quarter, we started out with the possession. And we had, we have three minutes to build that lead up to as many as we can and try to get up to double digits, and we did a good job with that. So credits our defense and our pace
for you to watch. While you get your rest just how much is not a relief, but just how gratifying was that for you to see. Okay, these guys hold it down. While I was.
I mean, it's great. Like you said, you know, started off on defense, and then offensively, you know, being aggressive with pace, getting in a bullish certainly helped us a lot. You know, that's what we need. You know, I saw we need from everybody that stepped on steps on the floor. We need to be aggressive and do the best
job. Well, now the series has decided to just pick up with the witness, guys, then this weekend, that three series, a new series is this, if I'm confident about this team now, with this next two or three.
I mean, the way we play is the reason why, you know, we try the series, but I don't think we've played our best basketball tonight, we have way too many turnovers. I think 1616 So, you know, we missed a bunch of wide open shots. You know, we had a couple possessions, offensively that didn't go away, and then defensively at times, especially at the end of that third quarter we want, you know, together so we got a lot of, you know, we got a lot of adjustments and a lot of room to grow. So we got a lot from it. So, but we are far from you know, playing our best basketball. So that's the encouraging thing for
you guys. Do you? Is that a sign of optimism going forward that you haven't had a complete game yet in the series? That it it's, it's to to going back down there?
Yeah. I mean, you know, I'm not fully happy every single day. You know, getting better hopefully by the time we get to Miami, I'm a little better. And I'm able to be as dominant as I was, you know, before and you know, as a team. You know, like you said, we've we finding you know, what works and what doesn't, so we just need to be, you know, focus about you know, everything we do offensively and defensively.
I've always said Jimmy is your guy just the way he's playing these last two games where you're kind of doing maybe slowed down a little bit just going into the next game?
How's on me I got to do the second half I was uh, you know, I stopped defensively as I was in the first match game I'm definitely gonna be better you know we we make it too easy for you look at the way that God me or they call James You know, it's hard for me to catch up while they're making shot all cash and ball and you know, when he's dropping off, you know, dropping, having the ball at the top, you know, you see a bunch of bodies so Yeah, we got to do a better job of you know, showing the crowd. So he doesn't get it as easy as been able to, we'll be about it, I'll be about it.
How big is the Jimmy's can when he's done the night have a guy like James like to kind of settle everything down next time down the board. It's the only you guys it's never been a controller.
I mean, that's, that's the reason why shoot, you know, we asked him reason why we bought him. He knows since he's gotten here. He's been adjusting, you know, based on what we need from them, why there's playmaking, and tonight, you know, just going and getting the bucket, especially based on you know, the weight guarding everybody else and making tough shots. He's been doing that this whole career, and that's why he's here. So he's only two, two, we got a lot of work to do. But I'm excited about, you know, while we can accomplish
James touched on this a little bit ago, that just I know, it can be hard to maybe to combat the like emotions of another series and stuff as well down to nothing.
What was the key besides getting this guy back
to staying? The course mentally?
Okay, he laughs I mean, that was the key is MVP of the league. Like, I mean, credits are our guys, we had the right mindset going into ball game, you know, I mean, like, we just, it's difficult, you know, without Joe, you know, to win if you don't make shots, and we didn't make shots, the first few games you know, if we make shots, it's probably a different you know, different ballgame. But just given we still had that confidence going into game three, knowing that we can beat these guys. And you know, obviously bringing Joe back was was the X Factor, but we just our confidence level remain high and we just kept that same slider going into game three and then going into game four as well. So you know, we got to put a full game together. Game five and we're thinking about it now but we got to put a full game together both ends of the ball to be able to go out there and get a win couple more.
Just watch James go off like he does tonight. Just what is that? Is that like just when that starts starts happening?
Oh, man, it's fun. Yeah, Top Top Shop baking after you know, you know, after each one is just fun. You know, I'm just on the court just in mind just having fun. You know, he's where the reason why you know, we won this game, you know, takeover in a fort was huge for us, you know, making the right place attacking one. You know, you had to watch your ad. And then so we just like I said, we've got a long way to go. He's only to two. So we like to say we got to put you know full game together. Last game because that's that's a big one.