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NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: CELTICS VS CAVALIERS

May 25, 2017

Avery Bradley

Boston, Massachusetts: Postgame

Cavaliers - 135, Celtics - 102.

Q. Avery, just what kind of feeling are you left with at the end of the season. Is it one that you felt the team was inspired and could go considering Isaiah was hurt, or are you disappointed? What's your feeling?
AVERY BRADLEY: We're definitely disappointed. I feel like if we weren't, there would be a problem. We all feel like we put ourselves in a great position to go further in the season, especially the last game. We were in a good place to be able to win a second game in a row, but it's been unfortunate for us. The injuries, and not only that, but us not being able to finish games the way we wanted to. We've been playing against a very good team, all credit to those guys, but we feel like we should be here and we feel like we should be a championship-contending team.

The great thing about this is the experience. We were able to go to the Eastern Conference Finals, learn a lot about being in this position, and I feel like it's going to help us for next year.

Q. Avery, how would you say that you've grown as an individual on the court this season, and what did you learn about yourself in the series?
AVERY BRADLEY: I learned a lot. As a player, the coaches, the players, my teammates, they pushed me the entire year to be the best player I can be. It's all credit to those guys. They brought the best out of me. Every single practice, every single time we watched film, as far as holding me accountable. Those guys just wanted me to be the best player I could be.

I feel like them pushing me every single day and Brad pushing me every day made me the player I am. I'm going to use this time during the summer to continue to grow as a player so I can come back next year and help our team in any way I can.

Q. You guys really were competitive on the road but were blown out at home. What do you think was the difference in the way you guys elevated your level?
AVERY BRADLEY: I think we've always responded to the doubt, people not believing in us. It was just unfortunate today. We got a bad start, and we couldn't get the lead. We had some great stretches where we were playing good basketball, but the start of the game was so bad, I felt like it was hard for us to come back. Even when we scored six or seven points in a row, I mean, we were still down by 20 points.

Like I said, we can learn from all the mistakes that we made this year, get better as individuals over the summertime and be ready for next year.

Q. Obviously a feeling of disappointment had to have been felt in that locker room, but there must have been some feeling of accomplishment of what you guys have been able to do. When you look at the season as a whole, what was just the environment in the locker room when you guys kind of talked to each other and in a few moments relived what you guys were able to accomplish this season?
AVERY BRADLEY: After the game, obviously, we were all disappointed in the way we ended the season, especially with the losses at home. But like you said, we were able to take a lot of positives away. Out of all the teams in the NBA, we're one of the three teams left at this time of the year, and that was one of our goals. Obviously our main goal was to make it to the championship and win it. But for us to be in the Eastern Conference Finals after the first year of this team really being together, adding additions like Al Horford and Gerald Green, I can go down the list of guys that we needed to learn to play with, and for us to talk about where we wanted to be and actually make it, it's a big-time accomplishment.

But this leaves a certain taste in our mouth, getting here and not getting to the championship. Cleveland just outplayed us in this series; credit to those guys. But we'll be a better team next year, and we will make sure that we put ourselves in a great position to make the Eastern Conference Finals and give ourselves a better chance at making the championship.

Q. Avery, you know every summer that there's turnover in any roster. Considering the way that you guys have developed as a group, is that going to be a little bit extra difficult this year?
AVERY BRADLEY: Yeah, it could be. I mean, it's out of our control as players. The organization is going to do whatever is best for the Celtics, which I totally respect, and I know my teammates do as well. But we can't worry about that. We had a great year together. If guys are here, if guys aren't, we all wish the best for each other. But I do feel like this is a special group. We all gave our heart every single night, played as hard as we could. I respect all my teammates, and I really appreciated playing with all the guys I had a chance to play with this year. A special group.

Q. Avery, you were here with the previous group, with Paul Pierce and with Kevin Garnett, and obviously when you were knocked out of the Eastern Conference Finals back then, it was the end of that group. Do you feel like now obviously disappointed being knocked out of these Eastern Conference Finals, this group is just getting started on the road to what it really wants to accomplish?
AVERY BRADLEY: I do. Like I said, this is our first year together -- adding Al Horford, who's a very good player -- and I feel like you only get better the more you play with each other. The sky's the limit for this team if we're able to keep together core guys and add some new pieces. I feel like Danny Ainge and our entire organization do a great job of putting the right guys together to help us be a contender for a championship.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports

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