76ers 122, Wizards 103
Q. Obviously you were missing some key guys, but what was missing on the offensive end for you?
BRIAN KEEFE: We didn't seem to click with our ball movement as much as we had. Obviously didn't shoot the ball as well. But I think our ball movement, we got a little sticky. Give them credit; they were pretty physical with us tonight, but it really was the defensive end. We didn't rebound well and then we fouled a lot in the second half, especially the fourth quarter.
Q. What have you made of the way Justin has played lately and overall his improvement on the offensive end?
BRIAN KEEFE: He plays a really efficient game, cutter, offensive rebounder, obviously three-point shots, great shooter on that end, transition player. So he has a good knack for playing an efficient game, and then the defensive rebounding and offensive rebounding has been terrific.
Q. Better record than last year and a lot of progression from this young corps. How proud are you of how this team has progressed?
BRIAN KEEFE: We have progressed. We have played better the last -- since really the post-All-Star break and even since February 1st. We've seen progress with the group.
This young group is improving before our eyes, week to week, month to month. But we still have a long way to go and we know that. Still got two more games to go, so we're not there yet. Let's keep getting better.
Q. Tristan, career high tonight with 24. What did you think about his performance and his shot selection?
BRIAN KEEFE: Tristan is just an efficient offensive player. He's been that way since he's been here. Obviously there's the three-point shooting, but he's got great touch around the rim, floaters, got a little bit of variety, everything. Good night for him from the floor.
Q. Scored 24, but Tristan was also minus 24 in about 24 minutes. What were you seeing with his defense tonight?
BRIAN KEEFE: It was just a combination. It wasn't just him. If you look at some other guys, they probably had the same when he was out there, too, so it was really the fouling and the offense rebounds, especially late in the game.
Q. The offensive rebounding a lot has been a pretty pervasive issue throughout the year. How much of that is a function of playing young guys and how much of it is stuff that you guys need to clean up schematically?
BRIAN KEEFE: It's stuff we've got to get better at and has nothing to do with being young.
Q. What has to get better?
BRIAN KEEFE: Sometimes it's just a desire to get the ball. We have some times where we allow penetration that leads to breakdowns, and that leads to offensive rebounds, but sometimes it's who wants it more, and I think we're inconsistent when we've shown games where we've been elite. We had stretches where we were actually first in the league for stretches this year, but then we're just inconsistent. It's an area we've got to get better at.
Q. What are the steps to get that consistency in that area and in other ones?
BRIAN KEEFE: We'll address that another time.
Q. What do you want to see Coulibaly work on the most this off-season?
BRIAN KEEFE: We've still got two games to go, so I'm not focused on the off-season yet.
Q. Can you speak on Alex Sarr's growth defensively these last couple games, especially almost reaching his milestone for the 100 blocks?
BRIAN KEEFE: Obviously we've seen that all year. He's done that all year for us, protecting the rim, changing shots, altering shots and then blocking shots. He's a versatile defender who's going to get better and better but is still not where he wants to be, where we want him to be, but you can see what he can do with his versatility. Obviously had three yesterday, had one tonight, one was called back on a challenge, but that's an area that we love about him, that he brings that versatility to our defense. Not just on the protecting the rim, he can also guard on the perimeter also.
Q. Do you believe that he is or should be the frontrunner for Rookie of the Year?
BRIAN KEEFE: Well, I'm biased for that. That's all I'll say on that. But I think he's gotten better, and I think that's the most important thing for us is that from where he started to where he is now, he's a significantly improved player, and that's a credit to him. I'd stack him against anybody in the league in his class.
Q. How do you think Kyshawn has been since coming back from?
BRIAN KEEFE: He's been great. He does what he does, contributing all over the floor, passing, defense, the shooting. He just makes good simple basketball plays. Just such a solid player. It's nice to have him back.
Q. What did you see with AJ's shot selection tonight?
BRIAN KEEFE: Shots he usually takes, felt good about them. Just didn't have a night where they went in as much, but they were good shots.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports