Washington Wizards Media Conference

Monday, January 15, 2024

Washington, DC, USA

Tyus Jones

Media Conference


Pistons 129, Wizards 117

Q. Tyus, what do you think was the biggest difference in tonight's game?

TYUS JONES: I mean, we weren't taking them out of what they were trying to get to. Burks had eight threes, 8 for 12. Probably 11 out of those 12 were mainly uncontested good looks for him.

Just not playing with any fight, O-boards. Just not making them work for anything, making them work on the offensive end.

Eight turnovers as a team, 30 assists. We were able to score, but that's not where the game is won. The game is won on the defensive side of the ball, and we didn't put our best foot forward tonight in that area.

Q. It seemed like the best stretch for the team was early in that second quarter. Turned a seven-point deficit into a seven-point lead in about a six- or seven-minute stretch. A lot of shots were going home, but Landry mentioned a lot of that was built on the defensive side of things and with the little details. As a vet in the league, how do you encourage the focus to be on the little things throughout the whole duration of the game?

TYUS JONES: Yeah, you just keep trying to vocalize it, keep talking about it. Even for me, like free throws, stop ball, time-outs, you've got to just keep touching on it, keep, again, vocalizing, just saying it, talking to somebody, talking to the guy next to you. Just continue to speak on it so it's in the back of everybody's minds.

Yeah, we just can't let up, can't have lulls in the game where they go on runs and we're just gifting them points, things like that.

Q. Speaking of that same stretch, Patrick Baldwin, Jr., had probably his best game as a Wizard. What have you seen from him, and what was it like to see that outburst from him for a little bit?

TYUS JONES: Yeah, he made shots tonight. Kind of figuring out where his spots are a little bit within the offense. He's playing some 5, so I think that's a little different for him. So figuring out when to pop, when to roll, mixing that in. They cross-matched a little bit with him.

It's different. It's all figuring it out for him. Just trying to get more comfortable. He hasn't played in how many games, so just getting his game legs underneath him a little bit each and every night. He made shots tonight, and that was good to see, especially it'll be good for his confidence and just try to hopefully build on that moving forward.

Q. With the news of the trade, what are you excited about getting in here with Marvin and Isaiah, and do you also have any history with Marvin with your Duke ties?

TYUS JONES: Yeah, just know him obviously through the brotherhood. So I'm excited to share the court with him. Looking to play some two-man game, throw a couple lobs, pocket passes to him, things like that. Isaiah, as well, can shoot the ball, can space the floor, plays hard, scrappy defender.

Yeah, I'm excited to have those guys in the locker room. Looking forward to getting them acclimated, and they're excited to be here.

We're looking forward to it. It'll be good.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
140446-1-1002 2024-01-15 23:32:00 GMT

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