Orlando Magic 121, Washington Wizards 94
BRIAN KEEFE: I thought our guys played with the right intense and force. We didn't obviously have that in the Memphis game. We came out and I thought we played the right way and tried to establish the game like we talked pregame.
But we obviously saw the struggles; we didn't offensive rebound. We didn't keep them off the offensive boards and they ended up getting 20 more shots than us with the turnovers and the offensive boards.
Tough to win in games like that but we tried to do the right thing in that first half. Cut it to five, and then obviously the game changed in the third quarter. Credit to them but we have to be better on the boards.
Q. I know you have to watch the film, but was it a matter of positioning?
BRIAN KEEFE: Here is the positive: We are making them miss. We are making opponents miss. We are doing the first part. Part of defense is you have to finish possessions.
So part of that system mentality, gang mentality, multiple people hitting bodies. We just didn't get it done tonight. That's an area I can't we have to get better at.
Q. Is part of that you're facing a pretty tall team with a lot of size?
BRIAN KEEFE: It could be but you know me. I'm never going to use that as a crutch or an excuse. Like to me, the ball is in the air and that's a part of the competitive part of the game, who wants it and who is going to go get it. They did a better job than us tonight.
Q. How would evaluate Alex's performance tonight and what would you hope to see?
BRIAN KEEFE: I think Alex is growing and learning every game. We're seeing things that he's never seen before. So I thought he did a pretty good job early protecting the rim. Some pick-and-roll stuff that our team didn't do a great job of but I thought Alex came out and established a good presence at the rim early. We have to keep helping him when he goes to shot block and help him on the boards.
Q. Kyshawn had an efficient shooting night. What did you see from him?
BRIAN KEEFE: Kyshawn George, plays within himself and reads the game. I thought we found him in the first half, got some easy threes from him. But that's what he's here for, make shots.
Q. Now that you have a few games that you've seen from the guys, how do you balance trying to get as much continuity out of certain lineups versus trying to find new ways to win or new combinations?
BRIAN KEEFE: Yeah, we changed some of the rotations on who was playing with who. I think that helped us a little bit in the game. Jordan came out early and came back, and I think that helped. We are still experimenting and finding what combinations fit. As guys are coming in and out of the lineups, we'll obviously have other guys back at some point.
But I think we are learning combinations still. That's early in the season. I think most coaches are going through it at this time of the year.
Q. How was it taking Jordan out and being put back in? What helped?
BRIAN KEEFE: Just wanted to give a different look. Let him handle the wall with the second unit. Get in there Jonas is a great screen setter. Him and Corey have good connections from last year, and we wanted to take a look at that and obviously helped us get back in the game.
Q. You end this road trip with your first group matchup against Atlanta. What do you hope to see heading into next week prior to NBA Cup play?
BRIAN KEEFE: I want us to focus daily building the right habits. Played one good half tonight. Didn't play a great second half. Can we extend those minutes and play better for longer. But we've got a couple games where we get to the Cup game.
Q. Do you have an update on --
BRIAN KEEFE: No update. He's being evaluated right now.
Q. Bilal, what do you see from his play?
BRIAN KEEFE: Just his attacking mindset offensively and defensively. You know, this is what we want him to play, super physical defensively and then attacking the rim.
Q. Did he seem more aggressive tonight than he did against Memphis? It seems like to me at least, he looked aggressive like he did in that Gold Medal game in the Olympics.
BRIAN KEEFE: Yeah, I think we're seeing this is something he's getting more consistent with. You know, our whole team, let's be honest, did not play that way against Memphis. But he set the tone early, attack the rim, blocking shots, getting his hands on balls. That's what we need from Bilal. He was great tonight.
Q. Did you like the ball movement as well tonight, 20 assists on 33 made field goals, seemed like the message was sent versus how it kind of got stagnant against Memphis?
BRIAN KEEFE: I think we tried to play the right way. I think we played to the crowds a little bit; that led to some of the turnovers. Some of the turnovers were in transition, so they were trying to make the right play. That's something we have to keep growing as a team is how do we attack the defendants. Sometimes we got a little stagnant but for the most part it was okay.
Q. The right play turnovers, are those ones that you can live with because their an attempt?
BRIAN KEEFE: They're an attempt to do the right thing, kick ahead in transition or getting out and trying to make a play and it's a little bit crowded. For the most part, our guys try to make the right pass most of the time.
Q. Corey had a tough game. Is there anything you're noticing with his mechanics or anything like that?
BRIAN KEEFE: This is sometimes what shooters do. This is part of the deal when you're guys like him much sometimes they have those games. Sometimes you have a couple little games like that. But this guy is a professional, prepares like nobody else in this league. He'll be there for us.
Q. Is it a confidence thing with him?
BRIAN KEEFE: No, no.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports