Wizards 112, Pacers 105
Q. Given the guys who didn't play tonight, some of the guys who got fewer minutes in the second half, in general how do you feel like you answer when you rise as a priority defender, when you become one of the more important defenders out there? How do you answer that kind of call?
BILAL COULIBALY: I'm just always ready for it. Whenever anybody tells me you've got to go at this guy, you've got to go at this guy, every night I've got a different matchup. Sometimes I can guard a point guard, sometimes it's like a power forward. I've just got to lock in and do my job. That's what I do. Yeah, always ready.
Q. Over this last third of the season, what are you trying to improve the most to finish strong?
BILAL COULIBALY: Just play hard, do whatever I can do out there, do our best, and yeah, just get wins.
Q. Does anything about having some of your teammates sitting, you getting more on-ball reps, does that change your focus at all?
BILAL COULIBALY: Not really. I've always been focused, and I just get the ball more so I can create more for me and for my teammates, and I like it, so I just do whatever I got to do.
Q. You've had some quality veterans come through since your time here, most recently Khris Middleton, CJ McCollum and now Anthony Davis. What are some things you've been able to glean from the veterans that have come here, and how helpful is it to have those guys around?
BILAL COULIBALY: It's great. We're already talking about the Playoffs, how different it will be. We were talking about it with Trae and AD this morning. They're just talking to us a lot about all that stuff. We've never been there so we don't know what it looks like, but we can't wait, and we're really excited, so it's great.
Q. Coach Keefe was saying tomorrow night when you play the Pacers again, carrying the defense from tonight forward, for you, what do you think needs to occur to be able to get another win tomorrow night?
BILAL COULIBALY: Yeah, definitely come out and play defense like we did. Being in the right spot, being really active, get steals, and yeah, just run out in transition, get easy baskets. That's what we did. I think we did a good job tonight, and we can do even better. Yeah, we can be better tomorrow.
Q. Five assists tonight; how comfortable are you with the next evolution in your play making?
BILAL COULIBALY: Yeah, I've always been comfortable with my play making. I played a lot of point guard when I was younger, so I get my feelings back. Yeah, it ain't nothing new for me.
Q. Those dunks tonight, you had that put-back dunk. What did you see when that play was transpiring?
BILAL COULIBALY: I saw Tristan with a floater and I saw it was a little long, so I was like, I might get a chance, and I got one. Yeah, I'm happy with it.
Q. You had another one and then you guys went into that time-out, so you went over to the bench and I saw AD come up to you. Do you remember what he said?
BILAL COULIBALY: I don't know, he was going crazy out there. That's what I do, man. It was fun. Yeah, it was exciting.
Q. How does it feel to have this young core of a team and you're out there making the explosive plays?
BILAL COULIBALY: I love it. Everybody is hyped. Yeah, I love it, too. It gets me going, and it's great.
Q. Can we put you in the dunk contest?
BILAL COULIBALY: Not yet. Probably later in my career.
Q. You had a left-handed pass that had a lot of speed on it. I think it was a play to Sharife where he was cutting --
BILAL COULIBALY: Oh, I think it was right-handed.
Q. I have heard you over the years, you've played a lot with the ball in your hands over your whole lifetime, but since you got into the league, how have you improved as a play maker?
BILAL COULIBALY: A lot. Like she said, I've played with a lot of different guys. It's a new team almost this year, so you've got to learn your teammates, where they like to get the ball and all that, and that's something I've been doing since I'm young. Yeah, I'm totally comfortable with it, and I feel like each and every game I get better on that. I'm learning my teammates. They're learning about me, too. Yeah, I get better every day.
Q. You guys erupted when Anthony Gill hit that third.
BILAL COULIBALY: Yeah. Yeah, we were excited. Yeah, he did a great job tonight, was really active on the boards and all that. So yeah, really happy for him.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports