Pistons 115, Wizards 95
Q. Tristan, congrats on the big night. I haven't got to ask you this in the last few weeks, but since getting that extension of yours, have you felt anything has been, I don't know, more relaxing or the game is becoming easier since then, more security?
TRISTAN VUCEVIC: Yeah, definitely. You know, for next two years it gives me more confidence and it does show on the court. Obviously feel better, more relaxed, not rushing. It's definitely helped me a lot.
Q. Did you feel like you were rushing before when you were in and out of G-League?
TRISTAN VUCEVIC: A little bit, yeah. You just don't know when you're going to have your opportunity sometimes. You go out there and then you don't know how long you're going to be out there, so you're trying to do a lot in a short period of time.
Sometimes you just lose focus of what you actually got to do, but since signing I don't think I've had that issue.
Q. You talked about focus, and usually you get more burn the last few Marches. This is your third season. This is usually how it's gone. End of season you get a bit more reps. How do you want this March to be different than the last couple?
TRISTAN VUCEVIC: Just the same: Improving, getting better every day, not relaxing. Just little details. Getting ready for the jump season and for next season. Looking at the little details I can do better and then help -- having this last month helping my confidence, I have more confidence going into the summer to work harder.
Q. What do you think (indiscernible) can learn from a guy like Jalen Duren?
TRISTAN VUCEVIC: The physicality. Uses elbows. Very good and they don't call fouls on that. He does it in a very good way.
Rebounds very good. Very physical. He's not super skilled but definitely knows how to get to the basket and get his points.
Q. And how do you stay even keeled when you guys lost a few games in a row?
TRISTAN VUCEVIC: Say what?
Q. How do you stay even keeled when you guys lost a few games in a row?
TRISTAN VUCEVIC: Just go out there, play your game. We try to do the best we can.
Q. So I just wanted to say that I saw during that game obviously a rough first quarter. Then the second quarter I saw the team exploded. They turned a 21-point deficit down to single digits; six points if I remember correctly. What do you think was the problem with the team in terms of chemistry and focus when they were having the turnovers, what do you think motivated the team? What do you think was the biggest part of the team's success during the hot streaks?
TRISTAN VUCEVIC: I think we started hitting our shots. I think the first quarter we were missing a lot of open shots. Second quarter we were moving the ball. Even the first quarter moving the ball; just shots weren't hitting. Second quarter we started hitting our shots; started to play with more energy.
You know, it's not good to be down 20 points in the second quarter. You got three quarters to play. I think we locked in as a group and then we played the right way, did the correct reads, and that turned into a good stretch.
Q. Continuing on the hot streak, you were on fire today.
TRISTAN VUCEVIC: Thank you.
Q. So with that being said, when you did come out of the game, you and AD were sharing smiles and having a great conversation. Of course we don't know exactly what that was about, but what is it like having AD on the bench coming off a hot streak and what could you say the conversation was like? Any advice he may have shared with you?
TRISTAN VUCEVIC: I think I told him that they can't guard me, something like that. They were commenting about it after the game. But it's great having one of the best bigs who plays the game of basketball, having him in the locker room, present around you is incredible.
My first NBA start was against him and this was three seasons ago. But two more players got injured. I just came from Europe and we had a walk-through, and then I had the TV and had my name and it said AD. I was like, damn. I was playing in Serbia like two weeks ago; now I got to guard AD.
So it's incredible to have him, man. Hopefully this summer we can get in the gym and I can learn a lot from him.
Q. Despite the loss, there seemed like between fouls or during timeouts there was a rise in the bench and just kind of you guys as players giving each other encouragement or looking out for one another. Could you just talk about what is something that can be said about this team at this point during the season that maybe was questionable at first about the team's chemistry as guys have come and gone?
TRISTAN VUCEVIC: Yeah, it just shows the character of everybody in the locker room. Despite if we win on lose we hold each other accountable and try to help each other. Don't matter if it's the rookie or the vet. We all be giving each other advice.
And, yeah, like when we're down we all just in the huddle talking, like seeing where we can improve in the game and stuff like that. So you can just see we're all very close to each other.
We hang out a lot off the court and I think that definitely helped for the all court.
Q. What happened in the scuffle that you had there?
TRISTAN VUCEVIC: Yeah, it was just a cheap shot by Reed. Obviously a big reason why is you're just pushing like that when I go for a rebound, and then I'm just not going to sit there and not react. I think it's a human reaction. Just somebody does that, you're going to go and talk to them.
So that's all I can say. Can't say much about it.
Q. Unrelated question, how did you get in the nickname Tricky?
TRISTAN VUCEVIC: When I was like 12, 13 I went to a camp and some people started calling me Tricky. Then I went back to Greece and then in school somebody called me Tricky. That just stuck with me. People didn't know each other and they just -- it was pretty random. In the same week I got called Tricky. Just stuck with me, Tricky.
Q. Were these English language camps?
TRISTAN VUCEVIC: No.
Q. So --
TRISTAN VUCEVIC: No, both Serbian, which is fine.
Q. Okay. How was it --
TRISTAN VUCEVIC: Just happened to be.
Q. As you guys try to build a good defense, what can you learn from games where you play against really good defenses like you did tonight? You're going to see the Thunder pretty soon. What are some common traits you guys can try to emulate?
TRISTAN VUCEVIC: Something that's common is all five players are going to play physical. I think if all five players play physical, then they call us fouls because it's so physical.
And talking. Talking is probably the most important. Just communicating between each other. Just being physical, all five players.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports