NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: HAWKS VS. BUCKS

June 23, 2021

Jrue Holiday

Milwaukee Bucks

Game 1: Postgame

Atlanta Hawks 116, Milwaukee Bucks 113

Q. Starting with Trae, no surprises with what he can do and what you thought he could do. How did you guys see him sort of affect the game early as his teammates were, I don't want to say slow getting involved but he carried their offense for the better part of three quarters.

JRUE HOLIDAY: I just think him getting to the paint and getting those floaters, and he had it going early. I think we just tried to make him score, no lobs over top which can be difficult because of how crafty he is. He had it going but we were still in a pretty good position.

Q. With perimeter shooting you can get hot and get in a rhythm and feel good about that. Can that happen with a floater? Do you think changing your defense on that should have happened earlier to not get him get going?

JRUE HOLIDAY: Maybe. Maybe. I still think at the end of the game we had our chances. There were a couple rebounds we needed to get, especially where they had two or three in a row and somebody got a layup or a three or something like that. So I mean, maybe. But I still feel like down the stretch we still had a chance to win.

Q. Is there something that you feel like you can do better against them?

JRUE HOLIDAY: Me, I think be more aggressive. Sometimes going against somebody like Trae who is a bit lighter, who initiates the contact and gets those calls, is hard to guard, you know what I mean. But I got six fouls. I got to play smarter. I think I can be more aggressive. I started to be more aggressive in the second half and trying to speed him up a little bit and maybe get him out of his comfort zone but I've got to do that from the beginning.

Q. When he gets his floater going, you mentioned a couple lobs, felt like they got a couple lobs I think in the third quarter. What is the discipline required there to contain him?

JRUE HOLIDAY: It is hard. It's just that, especially when he's making his floaters, especially as a big and me as a guard. It seems like everything is going to hell. But sometimes you've got to stick with the game plan. We were in a good position at the end of the game but I do feel like for me, I can be more aggressive for 48 minutes.

Q. I feel like we're 12 games into the postseason and you guys haven't shot the ball that well. Is there anything that's contributing to that? Do you have any theories on what it might be about?

JRUE HOLIDAY: No, man, it's a long season. It's a long season. And it's a different season. It's a weird year. I think for all of us to be clicking at the same time is going to take time and we know that this is ups and downs and a roller coaster, especially these last couple of years. I think we'll figure it out. We've done it before.

Q. You knew it was going to be a challenging series. What are your thoughts on what took place tonight?

JRUE HOLIDAY: I think they did a good job of executing the game plan. I think we did, too, for the most part. I felt like we need to rebound a lot better, down the stretch and that includes myself. I let Capela get in front of me and he got the layup. But for the most part it was two teams battling and trying to figure things out and it ended up being a good game.

Q. How tough is the matchup against Trae Young?

JRUE HOLIDAY: He's a great young player. Stepping over half court, he's a threat from anywhere on the floor. We have to find ways to be able to rush him, [make him] take contested shots and take advantage of them on defense.