NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: HAWKS VS. BUCKS

June 25, 2021

Trae Young

Atlanta Hawks

Game 2: Postgame

Bucks 125, Hawks 91

Q. Just how killer were turnovers for you guys tonight, and is that one of the biggest things that got you out of sorts in the first half?

TRAE YOUNG: Yeah, that's all on me. I've got to do better at taking care of the ball and just doing a better job of just at least getting us a shot and not turning it over so much. I've got to do better and I will do better next game. Definitely a big reason.

Q. What's the mindset of the team now, getting to go back home? Obviously you've been 1-1 in every series so far.

TRAE YOUNG: Yeah, it's exciting to be able to go back home. We wanted to steal one on the road; we did that. So now to go home, play in front of our fans in the Eastern Conference Finals, it's going to be loud, it's going to be a lot of people there, it's going to be fun. I'm looking forward to just going out there, having fun and playing in front of all our Atlanta fans.

Q. What do you feel like Milwaukee did differently tonight defending you?

TRAE YOUNG: They didn't do anything too much different. They just played more aggressive. It was just more aggressive, and Scott (Foster) and them allowed more to go tonight. Just got to be better and be able to respond a lot better.

Q. Did it feel like one of those nights where it just wasn't the team's night and it was just going to be one of those nights for you guys?

TRAE YOUNG: For sure, for sure, especially as the game continued. We knew how desperate they needed this one. As the game went on, it felt like they were hitting everything and we just couldn't get a shot to drop.

It was just one of those nights, and sometimes it happens like that. It sucks it happened tonight, but we've got to be able to bounce back.

Q. Nate talked a little bit about how it felt like Milwaukee showed you guys that there was another level. As you kind of turn this game to Game 3, what did you feel like you could do differently maybe in the way that you attack and whether it was the aggressiveness or --

TRAE YOUNG: Yeah, it's really just that. They were just more aggressive. They didn't really change up too much of their defensive scheme. They were more in on their rollers, so the perimeter was more open, and I've just got to make better reads. I mean, I take complete responsibility for what happened tonight. Taking care of the ball is something I've got to be better at, and I will be better at it.

It's really just they just upped their physicality tonight, and we've got to do the same.

Q. It did look like they were a lot more aggressive with you but you only drew one foul tonight, which is the fewest you've drawn all season. What was it that they were doing to keep away from fouling you while playing you aggressively?

TRAE YOUNG: A lot of it is more about how the refs are going to call it that night. If they're going to let them be aggressive, they're going to let them be aggressive. If they're not -- I mean, they're going to call it the way it's supposed to be, then it would be different. But sometimes it's called that way, and when they're aggressive and they don't call it, nights like tonight happen.

Q. How soon into the game did you figure out they were going to be more aggressive than they were the other night? When did you get the sense they were --

TRAE YOUNG: I don't know. I mean, at the beginning of the game they were just -- it was just like that. I don't know how to really answer that question. It was kind of how the game went, how the flow of the first quarter, first half went. It kind of happened like that.

Q. How good was it to see Cam get some minutes under the circumstances out there? Obviously the first time he's played in forever.

TRAE YOUNG: Yeah, to be honest that was the only positive thing tonight. Getting to see Cam back and getting to see him on the court was awesome, and he played great. He was aggressive. So that was probably one of if our only bright spot tonight.

Q. It's pretty rare for you to be sitting on the bench for the whole fourth quarter watching the game. What's going through your mind during that period? Are you trying to forget what happened? Are you thinking about the next game, just try to relax? What's going through your mind?

TRAE YOUNG: There's a lot of things. I'm just trying to figure out how it got to that point, what I can do better for the next game and just already thinking about getting back home to Atlanta and playing in front of everybody, just going out and having fun. I'm really just excited that we get to go home and bring a Conference Finals energy type atmosphere back to the ATL.

Q. What's the difference in the physicality that you've adjusted to in this series compared to the previous ones against the Knicks and the Sixers?

TRAE YOUNG: I mean, every series has been physical. The Knicks and the Sixers are two of the top three defenses in the league. The Sixers had three All-Defensive players on their team. I've seen physicality from defenders all Playoffs, and it's nothing new. I've just got to be able to respond and be better next game.

Q. After a game like this, what is the morale in the locker room, especially the fact that Nate keeps saying that you all stole one, so you pretty much accomplished what you wanted. What is the morale after a game like this?

TRAE YOUNG: Just understanding we get to go home where we've got a chance to bounce back. All we hope for is a chance to bounce back, and we get one. We've just got to be ready.

Q. When you have a game like this one, what goes through your heads to kind of erase this and act like it didn't happen?

TRAE YOUNG: Yeah, you can't erase it. You've got to learn from it. Every game, every loss is a learning experience. It's an opportunity for you to learn. Tonight I can learn a lot. I can learn how to be better at taking care of the ball. I know if we get a shot up, we've got some guys who can make shots. So I've just got to do a better job of taking care of the ball the next game.

Q. Obviously this was probably the worst game your team had in this Playoffs. How do you turn the page and look forward? What do you focus on from now on until Sunday?

TRAE YOUNG: Really just got to watch film. As soon as you get on the plane, as soon as you get back, really just watch film, see what we could have got better at and make the right adjustments. Just be ready for Sunday.

Q. Despite the loss, how would you describe your team's collective effort throughout these two games against the Bucks, and how would you also describe the mentality that you guys have to step up and get ready in this case for Game 3?

TRAE YOUNG: Yeah, we've been playing hard. We've got guys that are banged up. Bogey is out there banged up playing his heart out, playing hard. Shots just ain't going in for him right now.

We've got to find a way to dig deep and keep fighting. We've been fighting all series, these first two games, and tonight just wasn't our night. Sometimes it's like that. We've got to figure out a way to bounce back, and we will.