New York Knicks 120, Washington Wizards 99
Q. How did the Knicks hold you to no baskets for that seven-minute stretch in the fourth?
DENI AVDIJA: I don't know. I can't really remember. I just remember a lot of -- well, I can't mention the reason why but -- I don't want to get fined.
Obviously we tried to play aggressive. Didn't go our way. We missed a couple of open shots, a couple of open baskets but the effort was there. I think that's the most important key because at the end of the day, the percentages did balance out. We've just got to keep shooting open shoots, keep moving the ball and I really believe that we can be way better than what we are showing right now.
But we've got to stick to the progress. We've got to figure it out. As much as it's hard right now, I think it's going to be fine.
Q. How would you describe the game defensively for you guys?
DENI AVDIJA: Like I said, the effort was there and I think every player, I think since the second half started, I think we were locked in. We were helping each other. We were rotating. We were scrambling around. I tried to pick up Brunson full court, do whatever I can. I think they struggled at a certain point and we got back and then it was just like a couple of plays we missed and they were back on the lead.
But I liked our game defensively today.
Q. What triggered everyone being so locked in in the second half defensively? Was it something that was said in the locker room? Was it just --
DENI AVDIJA: I think we got smart enough players, and I think we just, I don't know, it was something about it that was just there. I think it's contagious. I don't know who started it but like I mean, when everybody sees me present full court and being like really tight on Brunson, everybody is like picking up because it's really contagious.
Q. When the crowd was starting to cheer for the opposing team, is it something that you're blocking out of your mind or is it motivating you more?
DENI AVDIJA: It just gets me -- it gets me angry sometimes, honestly. Like playing in your city and like having the whole stadium cheering, "Let's go Knicks" and those people buying tickets, just one single ticket it cheer the Knicks, that's not something that you'll see in Europe, especially when I play.
A lot of those fans cheering, "Let's go Knicks," sometimes I'll stare them down. I'll be angry. But I'll keep it inside. It's just like something cultural that gets me a little like, this city needs to chant, like "Let's go D.C." That's how it needs to be. I'm wishing there and I think everybody will and I think one day it will be. So I'm positive.
Q. Can you talk about the process, how is that being reiterated time and time again to not -- when a losing streak happens to you guys?
DENI AVDIJA: Listen, bad periods, bad times, they don't last forever. Eventually, you get out of it. We're patient and we'll do whatever it takes to figure it out, and nobody is feeling sorry for us. Nobody care about us right now struggling. Nobody care, honestly, like outside.
We've got to be better. We've got to figure it out. We've got to be in the gym. We've got to work out and understand what our roles or and really play hard, because we are not as talented as some NBA teams, so we've got to give something.
It's a long season. So I'm not stressing right now. Yeah, obviously we want to be in a different place but honestly we're patient and we trust in the process.
Q. How do you have to adjust mentally and physically when you go from picking up full court on Brunson like you said, and sometimes when Brunson is off the court, you were guarding Julius Randle, players that are polar opposite in terms of style. How do you adjust both physically and mentally knowing you have to guard those two contrasting styles?
DENI AVDIJA: My mental mind always stays the same when I play defense. I just compete. I think when I have different players, I feel like it's just more like scouting. Like I know the players, I know what their tendencies are.
When you think about it, they are pretty similar. Like Randall is a little bigger but like both using a lot of fake, sweep-throughs, pivots in the paint. They are pretty similar players. But definitely like scouting and knowing my job, and just competing, I mean, I'm defending, it's more the heart than anything.
Q. You obviously worked on your shot a lot this off-season. But is it gratifying that it is translate to go games now?
DENI AVDIJA: Knot knock-on-wood, yeah, I think so. I think I'm just shooting more confident. And I stopped like counting. I'm shooting to shoot, not to -- I'm shooting to make, not to shoot.
So I feel like I made a little adjustment mentally, too. But I worked on it this summer, so you know.
Q. End of the first half when you got that dunk, the Knicks -- holding the ball out, what did you think?
DENI AVDIJA: I think they were just confused honestly on defense. I don't think they were -- there was something about it, but that's it.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports