Pistons 124, Wizards 104
Q. Malcolm, just general thoughts, how did you feel in your first game back?
MALCOLM BROGDON: I felt good, man. I've been working. I've been conditioning hard. I've dropped a little bit of weight. My wind felt good. But a few games will be about rhythm and I'll be good.
Q. You didn't have a preseason, you had limited practice time, obviously rehabbing. How tough was it to come back and see NBA action after the last couple months you've had?
MALCOLM BROGDON: It actually wasn't tough on me wind-wise, conditioning-wise. I felt good. This is year nine. I've been injured before. I've come back. So I really know how to condition myself and get ready.
Q. I asked you a couple weeks ago, but how nice was it to rehab along Saddiq and what was the dynamic like the last couple months?
MALCOLM BROGDON: We definitely build a bond, a strong rapport. He's working, man. He's actually progressing fast. So we're going to -- I think we're going to have to slow him down because he's doing really well. But no, Saddiq, he's competitive, he's smart. That's one thing about Saddiq. He can be reserved, he can be quiet to a lot of people, but me and him are very open and we talk a lot, and he really knows the game and loves to hoop. He's going to help this team a lot when he comes back.
Q. You talked about wanting to get your rhythm in the next couple of games. How did you feel you jelled with the rest of the team today?
MALCOLM BROGDON: I thought it was solid. I'm a guy even when I'm back at full speed I'm never going to force shots. Especially when I'm coming back for the first game, I'm going to keep my shots at a minimum and feel the game out and try to just make plays to win the game, not worry about stats, none of that.
That's what I did today. Of course I'm going to make shots going forward. I was just glad to be back out there.
Q. Were there any guys you felt some early chemistry with?
MALCOLM BROGDON: Of course JV and Corey. Those are guys that move the ball, that make good decisions, that are high IQ. Then I think Kuz, as well. I thought our group out there was doing well together, made a little bit of a run in the fourth. There's going to be some chemistry that definitely picks up between me and all the guys.
I'm excited to get there.
Q. On a team that's now lost eight straight and is kind of going through a tough stretch in what's a difficult year, how do you keep morale up as one of the veterans on the team and what experience have you learned about how to do that?
MALCOLM BROGDON: I think a lot of it is showing up to work, working hard every day, being an example, coming in with a positive attitude every day. I think a lot of guys, it's not really the rah-rah, the talking and all that. I think it's how you show up, if you show up with a good spirit, because that's what a lot of young guys and other vets are looking at me for really is how am I going to show up. Even though we're losing, even though we're not playing great basketball right now, all it takes is one win to get us out of this, and that's why I'm appreciative of the guys. All it takes is one; let's go out here and play hard every night.
Q. Having watched from afar and with your understanding of the game, what are some of the areas that you can help contribute to early on to just help the team?
MALCOLM BROGDON: I think just keeping us organized, man. I tend to be a steadying presence for a lot of the teams I'm on, for really every team I'm on. I think I understand the game. I think I know how to play on both ends of the floor. I think I bring a physicality. So I think those are the main things I think this team can rely on me for.
Q. What was it like having that sort of delayed start to joining a new team and being able to evaluate them from the bench before actually taking the court?
MALCOLM BROGDON: Yeah, it's a double-edged sword when you're out to start the season. It's frustrating because I feel like I had a great rhythm through training camp and coming into the season, but at the same time, you do get to evaluate. You do get to see where the voids are in our team and on both sides of the ball. You get to see who's in rhythm, who's not touching the ball a lot, who gets frustrated easily. You observe everything.
I got to see a lot, so I'm going to use that as I get started.
Q. In terms of trying to build chemistry without a ton of time practicing with your new teammates, can you replicate that in any other way or can you pick up on things just by watching them?
MALCOLM BROGDON: I think you pick up on things by watching them, and at this point all it is is about playing with them and getting time on the floor and getting reps. That's what I can do now, and I'm going to take advantage of it.
Q. You talked about that observation process. What's one thing you felt like you learned about this team in the last nine games?
MALCOLM BROGDON: This team is capable. We have stretches of really good basketball. BK showed us a stat where we're last in defense in the league, and yeah, it's embarrassing. That's what it is, but at the same time, he also showed us for half of our games we're 13th, so we're middle of the pack. So we're solid defensively for half of our games. So we're capable. We're able to do it. It's just about being consistent. The great teams are consistent. The young teams are inconsistent, so we're a young team, but we need to be more consistent, and I think we can do that.
Q. How much 3-on-3, 4-on-4 with coaches, with player development staff were you able to get heading into tonight?
MALCOLM BROGDON: I probably got maybe three days, four days max, 3-on-3, 5-on-5, that type of thing. Enough. Enough. I got enough of it.
Now it's about going out there and producing.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports