Hawks 130, Wizards 126
Q. Tyus, it was a franchise record, 53 threes. What's your take on that? Wes talked about finding a balance between letting it fly and understanding when it's not going in, and he thought they were good shots.
TYUS JONES: Yeah, I think we made a couple early, and I don't think necessarily we took a lot of bad ones, but to Wes's point, I think it's finding that balance of, okay, can we get this same shot maybe a little later in the shot clock if we pass up on it now, see if we can get a better look, get into an action, and if there's nothing there, can we still get that same shot.
I think trying to get to that a little bit more, but at the same time, we were being aggressive. We were driving and kicking, found a lot of catch-and-shoot three opportunities, and I think those are all shots that everybody on this team that was shooting them is confident in.
I don't think anybody was missing threes that they didn't feel confident in or that the next guy wasn't confident in, as well. So yeah, I think it's just, yeah, finding that balance. But we make a few more of those open ones, and it's a different kind of narrative.
You've got to live with it, maybe, again, figure out can we pass up on some of those early shot clock ones and get to it a little bit later in the shot clock if we can't get something better, and kind of just go from there.
Q. What was it like trying to defend Trae Young tonight without fouling him?
TYUS JONES: Yeah, it's tough. He's an All-Star, great player, very crafty. There's ball screen after ball screen, which wears on the defense. They have also different looks, different ways of getting him downhill, different actions. He comes off -- sometimes he's coming off flares, they're in pistol action. So they do a great job of kind of mixing it up for him.
But yeah, he can score the ball at all three levels. He draws fouls really well. He's a tough cover, man, honestly.
But then that's just scoring the ball. He's also a dynamic play maker, facilitator. They've got Capela rolling for lobs. They've got shooting around him.
It's not an easy night defensively, especially when they've got guys making shots, when they've got players around him, as well. It's a tough cover, just try to make it -- show bodies, try to get deflections, try to make him take tougher ones, and yeah.
Q. This was Corey's fourth straight game with at least 13 points. What have you seen from him lately that's allowed him to get going, and how has he been looking to you lately?
TYUS JONES: He's been looking great. Getting downhill, scoring the ball in the paint, I think that's kind of been the difference. He's more comfortable doing that right now, and he works on that. Everyone knows he can shoot. That's part of the reason why him being able to get downhill is open because guys are trying to be there on the catch or running him off the line, and he's making them pay for that.
Having that balance is only going to help him, again, get more open looks because if you're able to get downhill and score, teams got to guard that, as well. They're not just going to continue to run you off the line when you're making them pay for it by scoring in the paint, driving, making plays.
It's been good for us. We need that. We need that scoring spark off the bench. He puts the work in. Again, he's been working on it, focused on it. He's watching him. He's working on different moves, different counters when he does get run off the line.
I don't expect it to change, but we also expect him to continue to knock down outside shots, as well.
Q. Do you think that aspect of his game, the driving, the off-the-dribble plays is still a little underrated?
TYUS JONES: I do. I do, just because he's obviously known for shooting. He's a known shooter, three-point specialist. But again, we're seeing the consistency now of him getting downhill, finishing. He's got a couple dunks, things like that.
It's definitely underrated just because of how good of an outside shooter he is. Kind of is what it is. We give him a tough time about it. But we'll take it.
Again, we're going to need him to continue to keep that up.
Q. You shot 53 percent from three this month, in December. Do you feel like you're shooting the best you have from deep in your career right now?
TYUS JONES: Yes and no. Yes and no. I feel like I'm in a pretty good rhythm right now shooting the ball, continuing to be more familiar with the system, and just building off of that. I know I probably sound repetitive continuing to say that, but that's just the honest truth. Just week in, week out, the more games I'm getting under my belt, the more I'm becoming familiar with the system, knowing where my spots are, more familiar with the guys. It's still in the grand scheme of things early chemistry-wise, so we're still continuing to build and grow in that aspect.
Yeah, just getting more familiar. We're in the thick of it now, so your game legs are under you now. You're in a good rhythm. Just trying to build off of that.
Then you've got nights like tonight where I'm 3 for 7 from three but I felt like all four misses, I've got to make those. That's just the standard I hold myself to. Still feel like there's room for improvement, and plan on continuing to get better.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports