NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: HAWKS VS. BUCKS

June 29, 2021

Jrue Holiday

Milwaukee Bucks

Game 4: Postgame

Atlanta Hawks 110, Milwaukee Bucks 88

Q. Seemed like the biggest frustration aside from having your teammate hurt was also the way you guys started the game and the energy and focus. Was that the general mood to a degree, that you didn't come out the way you needed to or wanted to?

JRUE HOLIDAY: Yeah, it's a little disappointing. They came in with desperation, the desperation that they didn't want to go down 3-1. And we didn't have that same fight at the beginning of the game. We tried to get it back but when you start off that hot two games in a row, it's hard to really just find that energy and momentum and come back in the game. Every game, we've got to come out like it's our last game.

Q. Obviously you lose a player of that caliber to the kind of injury -- you get a bucket and they go on a 15-0 run, what did you see there? Is it as simple as saying that turn affected things?

JRUE HOLIDAY: I don't know, I felt like they had it going. They were controlling the whole game from the beginning. That's something that we have to be better at, especially at the beginning of the game.

Q. Just what did you see in that moment? Did you know immediately that Giannis was seriously hurt or what did you see from your perspective?

JRUE HOLIDAY: I think just based off of how he was grabbing his leg, it seemed like it was pretty bad. So from there, you are concerned and you don't want to see anybody, especially a teammate get hurt, but you kind of have to shift to somebody has to step up. Multiple people have to step up.

Q. For you, how do you feel like you win these two games? What is it that you're focused on; if we do these things, we can still win two games and get to the Finals?

JRUE HOLIDAY: I think one is playing desperate from the beginning of the game to the end of the game. Another thing is rebounding. They were on the boards tonight. They did a great job. I think those are two probably pretty big things that we have to control. Things that we can control, too.

Q. When that happens emotionally, what goes through your mind as an athlete, a teammate, trying to balance going out there and playing and still have concern for your teammate? Is it hard to get yourself back into a game after all of that?

JRUE HOLIDAY: No. I think we've been around the game long enough to know that guys are going to get hurt. You pray that it's not serious, and again, you never want to see somebody hurt. But I think it kind of comes with the mentality that for that second when he's down and he walks off the court and he kind of gives that you wink, like somebody else has to turn it up and start it up. I think that's kind of what that is. Just giving us that energy and for each other, giving ourselves that energy, the guys who are playing to step up and try to do what we can to win the game.

Q. Did he say anything to you guys in the locker room after you guys got back in there?

JRUE HOLIDAY: (Shakes head no.)

Q. Bud said that Giannis addressed the group after the game, what was it like to see him, whether it's walking or get on the bus or like --

JRUE HOLIDAY: No, just that he was good. It was really just positive. But I wouldn't say it was anything like, I guess like he wasn't going to play or not playing or something like that.

Q. Having some experience, to try and get ready for the game, is there something to lean on or experience, you can win without him?

JRUE HOLIDAY: I mean, for sure. Guys get a chance to step up. Guys get a chance to make big plays and on the biggest stage. I feel like us playing without him has given us some rhythm and just knowing what it's like, making some adjustment that will be made. But at the end of the day, we'd rather play with him.