Washington Wizards Media Conference

Sunday, December 8, 2024

Washington, DC, USA

Bilal Coulibaly

Media Conference


Q. Bilal, Coach Keefe was telling us about how they really overloaded on JP tonight. How did that affect the rest of the offense?

BILAL COULIBALY: We were actually like ready for that because the first game, that's what happened. They were top blocking him, and we had to figure out a way to play without him. That's a big work, but, yeah, try to play around. It's been tough the first minutes.

But the main thing was the transition defense. We were not getting back, and I feel like that's the main thing, yeah.

Q. What do you think was a common thread for the turnovers tonight?

BILAL COULIBALY: They were really, really active, flying around, blowing up every play, and that's how you're supposed to play. So credit to them, they did a pretty good job with it.

Q. After the big three you hit in the first half, the cameras caught you, you were very happy. What did it mean to have a night like tonight and kind of bust out of the slump you've been in?

BILAL COULIBALY: I needed that. It's been a few games. It's been tough for me to shoot the ball. Yeah, so that one like going in, I was like yeah.

I knew it was going in because as soon as I like shot the ball, it felt really good. Yeah, it felt really good to hit that one. I hope I keep going that way.

Q. BK has talked a lot about how even when you're not scoring, the other parts of your game -- rebounding, defense, passing -- remain consistent. For you to have those performances, like the one against Denver last night, and then to add in that scoring tonight, what does it do for your goal of becoming a two-way force?

BILAL COULIBALY: Oh, yeah, like I said, sometimes it's going to be tough to play offensively. Defensively it's just a mindset. If you want to play good defense, you're going to play good defense, that's how I think.

For me, I want to be a good two-way player, like I said, like I've been saying. Yeah, when it's rough offensively, I got to play good defense. It's just mental.

Q. First double digit game since late November. Can you talk about what's clicking for you offensively?

BILAL COULIBALY: Teammates were just finding me. After pick-and-rolls, I made some good reads. I felt like the lane was open sometimes. So, yeah, I just took advantage, and that's how I got here.

Q. You had a really big block today. Can you talk about your blocked shot today?

BILAL COULIBALY: Yeah, that's what I do, like I said. Defensively, it's just a mindset. Every time I see somebody go up, I try to contest the shot. If I can block, it's better. Yeah, I'll do it.

Q. Branching off of that question, Brian Keefe has also said your defense has gotten better over the last week or so. Do you think that being so strong defensively has helped you to get back in form offensively? Are they in sync like that?

BILAL COULIBALY: Yeah, definitely, that's how I think. Even when I play good games defensively -- defense is first. When I play good defense, I definitely play good offense. Sometimes it doesn't work, but that's how I think, so it can make me feel good.

Q. How do you build off of this and stay consistent after breaking out of a slump? How do you play well offensively in your next game?

BILAL COULIBALY: I'll keep working like I've been doing. Just keep working, keep listening to the coaches, and keep playing good defense.

Q. And just in a general sense, what do you like about Bub Carrington's game so far, playing with him in the NBA?

BILAL COULIBALY: Like I said, he's a competitor. That's what I need. He's been finding teammates. He's been fighting all around, having crazy rebounds where I'm like, okay, he can get up like that. But he really be fighting, and that's what we need.

Q. There was a stretch in the second quarter where you guys kept running that same action with you on the left wing and running the pick-and-roll with JV. How nice was that to get in that rhythm and go back to the same thing again and again and get positive results every time?

BILAL COULIBALY: Yeah, I was feeling really good because they were trying to change the defense every time, but it wasn't working. It felt really good. That's how I got my confidence back, I'd say. So it felt really, really good.

Q. How have you felt the coverages teams are playing against you change from the beginning of the season until now?

BILAL COULIBALY: Yeah, it's been changing a lot. Beginning sometimes the five were on me. After that it changes, they were going over, now under, they were icing. So, yeah, they're really trying to find a way to limit my offensive game.

I've got to go through it. That's how it is.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
151173-1-1182 2024-12-09 03:34:00 GMT

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