Wizards 126, Pistons 117
Q. Undermanned, short rotation, and yet these young guys, I guess, surprised this Pistons team, and it started really from the jump. What did you like about the way they came out and threw that first punch with force and physicality?
BRIAN KEEFE: Yeah, I think we weren't happy with how we played our last game and responded great. Came out with defensive force, our ball movement, and that just continued throughout the whole game. The second unit came in and I think we had over 60 points off the bench tonight. It was a full team effort. Every guy contributed tonight really well.
Q. What did you think of the way -- I know you just mentioned Sharife was a big part of what you guys did off the bench, as was Will. What did you like about the way Sharife was able to find his spots and really seamlessly fit into what you guys were doing?
BRIAN KEEFE: He attacked, got into the paint, obviously scored the ball well tonight, but he was getting in crevices, kicking the ball out to people. I thought him and Will Riley were terrific in the second half putting pressure on the defense.
Q. Tristan's first game back after missing the last eight, and in true Tristan form immediately impacts the game. What did you think of the way he was able to impact so quickly?
BRIAN KEEFE: Not surprising. I've seen him do this before. It's almost like getting an offense off the bench. His play making, his shooting, you saw a little bit of everything. He got the block, too. It's nice to have him back in the rotation.
Q. Are you able to discuss the transaction?
BRIAN KEEFE: I am now, yes.
Q. The complexion of the team has changed. Can you speak to the way that things have transpired just getting Trae and now adding a player like Anthony Davis and just your team looking completely different from October when you started?
BRIAN KEEFE: Yeah, for sure, the one thing -- I just finished the game. We're just thrilled to have him. Obviously this is a Hall-of-Fame player, top 75 all time, to add him to our roster, it's obviously exciting. We're looking forward to integrating him. I think it's a really great step for our organization that we're all excited about.
Q. Is it excitement that you go from maybe developmental to -- I know it takes a lot before you can really assess what players fit in and how they fit in, but just the general tone of it is we're out of development and we're trying to take a major step forward now?
BRIAN KEEFE: I think it just enhances our team. I think that's the word we used with Trae. I think he does the same thing, enhances our roster. Our roster is still going to be young. I think it just enhances the strengths of our guys and puts them in better positions to be successful. I think that's the most exciting part for all of us.
Q. What did you like about the way you guys were not only able to crash the offensive rebounds but as well, too, turning them over and capitalizing off of the turnovers?
BRIAN KEEFE: Yeah, that's always our calling card is when we can play defense and cause disruptions and get out in transition, that's always going to be -- I thought we did that early, and I thought Alex was really good on the boards, protecting the rim early. Those things, it's always the standard what we want to play to. It's always about the process, and the process was right today.
Q. How can a guy like AD affect Sarr and his development just because he's been where that player is before and can alleviate some of the pressure, can be a veteran calming force but also can show him out there physically?
BRIAN KEEFE: I think just different combinations, you can play with them obviously together. The strengths of them, they can both complement each other. I can get into the basketball more and more, but I think it's just the -- it just gives us more guys who are ready to contribute to adding -- taking pressure off some of our guys. I think it just enhances our team because of his ability to defend, his ability to score in the paint, and I think we can play with them both really well and they'll work well off each other. I think that's the biggest thing for us is we look at this as another steppingstone in where we are in our organization.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports