NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: HAWKS VS. BUCKS

June 27, 2021

Mike Budenholzer

Milwaukee Bucks

Game 3: Postgame

Milwaukee Bucks 113, Atlanta Hawks 102

Q. We've seen Khris hit clutch shots before, but to catch fire like that, what's your thought process as that's happening?

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: Yeah, just being around him a lot, he starts to see it go in, he starts to feel good, he gets in a rhythm, he can score different ways. He and Giannis in a two-man game, it's a tough choice. So huge fourth quarter. I think he had 20 in the fourth quarter and yeah, just glad he's on our side.

Q. What does it mean to you when P.J. has a wide-open corner three and instead find’s Khris for one more?

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: Yeah, that's great, I think P.J.'s IQ, P.J.'s awareness, I thought P.J. on the boards was huge. He got offensive rebound, couple of them, defensive rebound, the physicality he brings to our group. But yeah, that extra pass to Khris when he's rolling and to feel that and see it, you know, those are important.

Q. Just for you, the way that Giannis was going early in the game and then just often throughout, what did you think of the physicality and presence he brought tonight?

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: Yeah, good. Like you said, I think he got some good stuff going early. I thought the big fadeaway in the middle late was a big basket, his screen setting, playing in transition. So he's going have to fill his cup back up and get ready to go again.

Q. How much of tonight was weathering storms in obviously 7-0, down 15, and then even early fourth when Young was out, they make a run.

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: Yeah, credit to Atlanta. They came out well. They executed. They ran in transition. They got behind us in transition. So we did not have a good start.

Then a couple different stretches weren't our best but credit to the players in the fourth quarter, 17-point defensive quarter, just to find a way to win, on the road it's not easy, and it's not supposed to be easy. So the guys just found a way tonight.

Q. The start that you had on the road in a game like this could be overwhelming, was there something said in the huddle to try to calm things down a little bit?

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: I remember one time Giannis said, just do it stop by stop. I think Giannis's leadership in the time-outs, Giannis saying when you go to your defense, that's what you're talking about in your time-outs when you're not playing well, you know, we think that's where it starts. So I think Giannis and Khris and those guys just getting stops, trying to wear them down. So I think it's just good. That’s our identity. We want to be good defensively and play off of that.

Q. You've had Khris for three years, but seems like he's more comfortable in these situations, maybe a little more mature than a couple years ago. Have you noticed that?

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: Yeah, I mean, I think he's in a good place. I think our whole group, you know, sometimes you have to go through some things. I didn't understand everything you said but he's in a good place now, and I think between Jrue and Khris and Giannis and then whoever else is on the court with them, just finding good spots, there's a lot of confidence in the group.

Q. Following up on that, to have had Khris pick up three, four fouls, and then have that fire come in the fourth quarter specifically, where sometimes that's been the time where things get overwhelming, what kind of growth does that show?

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: Yeah, I mean, the foul trouble and then sometimes that can get you off your game. Just both teams are constantly complaining and frustrated. And Khris isn't any different but then to compose himself, deal with his own personal foul trouble, deal with whatever's going on in the game, compose himself and score 20 in the fourth quarter just speaks to his character, to his growth, and he's a hell of a player.

Q. How did you manage to settle in defensively?

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: Yeah, I think that just the rotation and the subbing got to a place, I think Tucker came back in the game and he brings a great physicality, brings a great defensive mindset. You know, we were able to get a couple rebounds and I think found a couple threes in transition, and the game just flipped right there. I think we were up 96-95.

But I think more just natural subs, but I thought Tucker was huge in the fourth quarter, just huge on the boards. But Khris, Giannis, Khris is switching on to Trae Young, Tucker is switching on to Trae Young, Giannis, all these guys are having to take their turns and they have to battle the big guys on the boards. I think taking care of the boards was a big thing, a big carry over from Game 1. Just a lot of little things add up to good defense.

Q. When you first got here, I remember the first three years of you and Khris, you said like, feels like he just rolls out of bed and he can do it. Do you think there's an edge or tenacity has flipped in the third year?

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: I think it's a credit to Khris, the work, the time he puts in. But I think he's constantly growing as a player, just evolving, finishing. Some of the left-hand finishes tonight, impressive. I think having Jrue as a point guard and getting him into places, and obviously Giannis and he have a combination of feeling and play well together.

But I think Khris has just grown as a player.

Q. Khris is one of those guys that doesn't point to himself and create a lot of attention. He was a second-round pick and a lot of NBA fans probably don't even know where he went to college. Why do you think he's been able to go so far under the radar for his entire career when he can be capable of doing what he did tonight?

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: Yeah, it's hard to sometimes understand who catches people's attention and so on and so forth. But he's a winner, from the day I've been around him, he's done nothing but win. He does all the little things. He's quiet but his voice is loud in our locker room. His voice is loud in our time-outs. So I think he's just one of those guys that's very smooth and just has a way of playing and can score in ways that I think kind of sneak up on people.

But he went to Texas A&M where my oldest son is a senior, also, so go Aggies.

Q. Did he rise to the level of superstar? I know you're biased but would you characterize him as a superstar in this league?

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: I'm not big on labeling and phrases and terms and all that stuff. He's just a hell of a player. There's lots of great players in this league, and we know what Khris can do for us and how we can win with him. That's what's most important.

Q. How is Giannis's calf?

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: I think the calf is in a good place. He's going to have to stay on top of it. He's going to have to get I think extra time with the sports performance group. All of these guys, Jrue, 42; Khris, 42, 43 minutes; Giannis 40 or whatever he's at. In this series, recovery and taking your body in between every other day for the whole series. So Giannis and his calf, everybody and their whole bodies, we have to put in time between now and tip for Game 4.