Wizards 113, Raptors 95
Q. The numbers suggest the defense was really good tonight. What was working for you guys?
COREY KISPERT: Yeah, we were playing too much on our heels in Montreal against them, and we wanted to apply the pressure and kind of give them a taste of their own medicine and the way that they play defense.
Yeah, we were aggressive. We were into the ball all night, caused 22 turnovers, and if you can do that against an NBA team you have a pretty good shot to win. We were just more aggressive, more chaotic and more physical.
Q. Speaking of turnovers, it was an issue last game and it was kind of an issue early in this game but you guys were able to limit them in the second half. What changed?
COREY KISPERT: Yeah, we were playing too much in crowds. Big emphasis this year is sharing the ball, and I'm guilty of this for sure in the first half and a little bit in the second half, as well, trying to force the issue, get downhill, and you're playing against three guys and the kick-outs are open, and we have to be more eager to kick the ball out and share it and know that it's going to keep coming around. When we do that, it makes the game a lot simpler, and you kind of give energy to other guys.
Yeah, we've just got to keep emphasizing sharing the ball, moving it, and we have enough talent and enough shooting on this team to make good things happen.
Q. What are some takeaways that you can move into the next game for you guys?
COREY KISPERT: Yeah, like I said, sharing the ball. We shared it great. Assist numbers, 23. But again, played physical defense, as well. The most important thing, I think, is that we're learning how to win close games. This was an opportunity to do that. Close teams out in the fourth quarter. We had a ton of games, clutch games in the second half of last season and we ended up dropping a lot of them. So if we can get early exposure to playing in tight games and closing teams out in the fourth, it's going to really help us moving forward in the regular season.
Q. Coach Keefe called Kyshawn a good processor. He's been impressed with how he takes his shots within the flow of the offense. What has stood out to you about his approach?
COREY KISPERT: Yeah, that's exactly right. He just doesn't seem like he ever gets rattled. The moment is not too big for him. He takes the right shots. He does the right thing. If he does it, he's trying to. That's really good to see out of a guy like him. He picks stuff up really quick. He wants to learn. He absorbs advice and applies it right away. It's really impressive. It's hard to do when you've got a lot of things going on and a lot of moving pieces around you, especially at this level, and he's making it look really easy.
Q. How fun is it moving into this leadership position now being one of the old heads instead of a young guy?
COREY KISPERT: Yeah, old head. I mean, four years and you're an old head, it's pretty crazy. But it's good, man. It's fun to kind of know what I wish people would have told me or learned from or copied other people's leadership styles with me when I was young, and I try to give my guys -- give the guys on this team my best and help them grow and develop. We're all about development here personally and professionally, and if I can help these guys just get a little bit better each day using my voice and being a leader, I see a lot of value in that.
Q. I saw you had a few driving kicks, especially in the first two games. How do you think you fit into sort of the multiple initiator approach that you guys are trying to have?
COREY KISPERT: Yeah, I think I fit in great. Maybe not bringing the ball up the floor as much or we have a lot of guys who are handling the ball and bringing it up, but totally comfortable with playing in the flow and breaking the three-point line and making plays happen from there. It's going to be a pillar of our offense once we get teams scrambling. We need a lot of guys who can make plays and make the right read. I fully expect to be one of them. As a guy who draws a lot of attention from beyond the arc, the gravity and the close-outs that teams have on me makes it really easy to set guys up the next play and the play after that.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports