Q. I asked Caruso what he has learned about Shai from playing with him. He said he has so much energy. What is he like off the court?
LU DORT: Yeah, he's right. Whenever Shai is somewhere, you'll know he's there. He's a jokester, jokes around a lot, laughs a lot. Feel like whenever he gets on the court, that's when he's switched up to being a serious guy. But off the court, he's just a cool dude.
Q. Can you please describe your role in the NBA Finals, defending possibly the best defensive guy. How tough is it going to be for you tomorrow being here playing here in Indiana?
LU DORT: I know my role is not easy. That's something I'm always willing to do for my team. Like I said, it's not just me. It's the whole team guarding their best players.
Always go out there and try to compete. I know it's going to be a tough environment, but we'll be ready.
Q. When did you start to realize how effective you could be defending screens particularly?
LU DORT: I would say I noticed that my rookie year, honestly. I noticed everything about my defense my rookie year. Then I just got better at watching film and knowing the guys I was going against. Since that, it's just been more experience. I played more games, then I just got used to some of the screens I've been seeing. I just got better from that.
Q. This is an unusually good team for a young team in terms of communication on defense. Why do you think you guys were able to skip a couple steps and be good communicating?
LU DORT: I don't know. It's just the relation that we have as a team. We communicate. We just got better at that. Start with the coaching staff as well. But just how close we are as a team, I feel that definitely helps.
Q. Do you expect Tyrese to be more aggressive in Game 3 after what happened in Game 2?
LU DORT: Maybe. I mean, I don't know. My approach will be the same. Our approach will be the same. I don't know what's their plan.
Q. In your experience, why is it important to establish a physical identity to start games?
LU DORT: It kind of sets a tone. We've been doing that all year. It's our style of play, honestly. I don't think we're doing that just to start the game; it's just how we play as a team.
Honestly, that's how we played all year. It kind of sets a tone at the same time.
Q. You mentioned you started watching film. How did you learn to know what to look for?
LU DORT: Coaching staff, honestly. I mean, I've been watching with our assistant coach David Akinyooye. He's been really good on the details and some of the stuff I have to look for.
After that, like I said, experience watching film, seeing some other guys do it at the same time and all that just helped me become the defender I am today.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports