You're up, Sir, hey hey, Patty,
what did you steal from the
team in terms of aggression
in that competitive mentality?
Excuse me and especially from
Kelvin tonight as he was attacking.
Yeah, massive. I think for Carrollton
where he does well is stays,
stays aggressive throughout the course of
the game on both ends of the floor as well,
but his ability to be able to get
into the paint, take contact,
take hits, and have abilities to still
finish so that that's huge for us,
especially when we have drivers.
Jim with his huge but you know for us.
To be competitive throughout for 48
minutes against very good Denver
team was was very satisfying for
us to know that we can you know,
string solid minutes together of of
good solid defense and then transfer
that onto the other other end as
well so you know it's it's one of
those things that we gotta remember
this feeling of how to play against.
You know,
solid opponents and try and string
games together like that.
OP said no defense, no wins.
You've mentioned that before.
Did you feel that the defense tightened up,
especially in the fourth quarter?
You guys only gave up 22?
Yeah, definitely.
I think from a a team team
defensive standpoint you know was.
Was a highlight for us tonight just
in terms of everyone you know,
trusting the game plan,
trusting the process in that sense,
and sticking with it.
Even though you know they make
tough shots or kind of awkward
plays at time that leads to,
you know we're a timely bucket,
but for us to continue trusting
the game plan,
trust in our team defense
concepts and staying with it.
You know it was one of those
nights where we had to scramble.
We have to rotate yet to
find guys at certain times.
We have to make plays.
We have to dig and get them out
of their comfort zone and I think
we've done a good job of that.
For for, you know,
the majority of the game,
but in particular at times when we
needed to get stops of the flexions,
we got them and it lead lead to
some some easy buckets as well.
Thanks Tom. Let's go to
Mark Medina USA TODAY.
A patio big clip.
That picture question
here what's jumped out to
you with what Pops approach has
been with managing the group.
Knowing there's you know,
handful of veterans and also young guys.
Yeah, it's it's obviously different to what
I think he's used to wear all used to,
and when I say we are,
I guess I mean that the organization,
but knowing you know just how many
young guys and new people that we have,
as well as the vets too.
It's, you know,
I think we're all adjusting to be able
to figure out how to move forward
and how to succeed in in doing so.
So it's definitely been a ninja.
An adjustment so it will pop.
I think you know when and how everyone
else is has taken it as well as been,
you know,
day by day and and game by game I guess.
But you know,
I guess the biggest thing for
Poppers is his patience that is
had for us to be professionals,
to be able to learn on the fly,
which has been the hardest
thing especially with you know,
a season like we're having up at the
moment with how you know the Titans schedule.
The games, not much practices and all that.
You know it's time that's really for us.
We gotta lock down in film sessions
in team meetings for us to,
you know, get these things down.
So I think his his patience that has been,
you know, a key thing for us to,
you know, get an an with an were daughter.
You know that's that's part of the NBA.
Is is us being professional and
being able to learn on the fly.
And you know,
we've got guys that have been
able to do that.
Thanks
Mark, let's go to Jeff MacDonald,
Express News Patty going back
to the defense for a second.
I know you guys have talked
for the last couple years
about needing to improve that,
but this is the first year.
It seems to actually be taken taking hold.
I think you guys were back in
the top 10 in that category.
What's been the difference?
Do you think defensively this
year between the last couple?
Oh, I think you can't write off the amount
of work that we've done in the past seasons,
you know, so it's not like you know,
we flip the switch or anything like that,
but I think you know we have to go through
those seasons where we had to figure it out.
You know, we went that that good.
I'm on the defensive end, so I think it.
It's credit to going through that process.
And now you know this is the
result of for us understanding.
But you know we we need to be a
good defensive team if we want to.
Win and if you wanna get anywhere,
so I think you know you can't
write off for all the work that
we've done in the past seasons.
But you know, it's practice, it's reps.
If it's being able to understand
and trust the game plan,
trust the process,
but I think for the most part we have
been a lot more connected defensively.
All five guys on the floor and
even guys that come into the game
more than we ever had before.
And that's a that's a real
positive thing that we we gotta,
we gotta continue.
Is there a personnel aspect to
it too? Because it also seems like
you guys have spent the last couple of
years kind of stockpiling these longer.
Angie's witchy kind of wing players,
that kind of you know this
thing where. Yeah it it's
that and it's also.
You know, being able to feed
off off different plays too.
Anne Anne, I don't necessarily
mean just reflections or steals.
You know, I think we all feel when
we have a good defensive possession.
Anan we we feed off.
We've got players I can feed off
that kind of energy and Ann and
look forward to string in another
couple of stops together as well.
So yeah, I mean it,
it could be to answer your question,
but you know, I,
I just think that the the group you know
he has a good focus on the defensive end.
And like I said it,
you gotta give credit to.
The work I would put in to get to
this point now where where we get it?
You know the guys get it what we
need to do on on that end before.
Alright,
thank you Sir. Thank you for
wrapping up with Jeff.
Tom was born from the Express News.
Farm. Hello. Alright buddy,
we're gonna let you off the hook.
I can't hear Tom so you have a good night.
Thank you, Sir. Try is he still there?
Alright, little man. But yeah,
Patty, along those lines Dijon
TE you guys starting to look
at him as a defensive closer.
Two straight games with
Big steals in crunch time.
Yeah, I mean that that has been his.
Constant throughout his time,
here in in San Antonio,
when and in the NBA his ability to be
able to junk things up on the defensive
end with his length and his athletic
ability and for that to lead to the
easy buckets down down the other end.
And obviously you've seen in the
last couple of games, timely ones.
But you know, there's a.
There's a sense of him and
other guys to Kelvin and Lonnie,
who would take that responsibility of being
able to set the tone on the defensive end.
And like I was referring to
before taking pride in that and
knowing that you know the rest of
the team feeds off that energy.
So yeah.
You ever you ever played with a guy who
screams as much and as loud as Kelvin?
Yeah, not really. But um,
I had to fire him up one time
after a timeout after he
scored because I was surprised
that he didn't make a noise.
But we've got some very
loud people on this team.
Just loves to make noise
for no particular reason,
but it's it's unique and it's it's.
I guess it's getting a part
of our identity as a group
which that you gotta love.
Thanks, Patty.
Hey buddy, buddy, thank you.
You're welcome, Jordan.