NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: HAWKS VS. BUCKS

July 1, 2021

Mike Budenholzer

Milwaukee Bucks

Game 5: Postgame

Milwaukee Bucks 123, Atlanta Hawks 112

Q. With Brook tonight, was it important to have that offensive presence in the paint?

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: Yeah, I think that was a great opportunity for him to I think just get the ball a little bit more, try and use him a little bit more and he came through big time. You know there were a couple where he just made plays, but he did it in a lot of different ways. He did it in pick-and-roll. He did it on the offensive glass. Got to the free throw line. Just an overall really, really impressive effort. He's such a great teammate. He always wants to be there and he wants to deliver for his team and he stepped up big tonight.

Q. Is that one of those when you don't have Giannis, one of the best at the rim scorers in basketball, that the other 7-footer just has more space and a chance to get to good-looking spots, doesn't have to move around as much?

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: I think it's we have to figure out a way to give ourselves a chance and Brook getting to the paint, really he's done it really his whole career. Credit to him. I thought Bobby was great. Both those guys played well together. You know, Khris and Jrue, I think set the table the way they came out to start the first quarter. We've got to get ready to do it again now.

Q. Felt like Jrue was making an effort to get Brook more involved offensively. What did you think of their connection tonight?

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: Both were good. I think Jrue, he's a great point guard. I think seeing and understanding and getting Brook more involved, getting Bobby more involved and at the same time himself being aggressive; I thought he set the tone with his baskets early, and his aggressiveness and we've got to be ready to have that same kind of edge and that same mentality going into next game.

Q. How about Khris setting the tone in that fourth quarter?

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: We gave Jrue a break to start the fourth quarter. Khris and Brook and Bobby a little bit were playing a two-man game. I thought the start of the quarter, to be able to give Jrue a little bit of a break, Khris was able to handle that responsibility.

They are smart players. It's a credit to those guys to figure it out. I think it gives us a physicality and defensive ability to guard them. Both teams scored at a high rate, scored a lot of points, so hopefully we can get better defensively and still play and score when we need to or at a high rate offensively.

Q. Why do you think Milwaukee fans go absolutely insane for Bobby Portis the way they do?

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: He just plays with great passion. I think his passion is infectious. His teammates love him. The fans love him. He brings that passion for the game, for life. He's fun to be around. I think the crowd can feel that. His teammates can feel that. Coaches can feel it. He's a worker, too. So I think it's a little bit of everything, but passion to me is the thing he brings to the game.

Q. It before the start of the series, once you knew you were going to play the Hawks or at any point in the series, did it cross your mind where there was a point where Bogdanovic would be on your side?

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: No.

Q. I know there's joy in winning at this point, but a player like Bobby and watching him do it and the loudness, that infectious word you used, is there a different type of joy watching him enjoy doing this?

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: Just when guys work hard you like for them to be rewarded. Just like Brook, they want to be there for their team. That kind of selflessness, and when you see it manifest on the court -- but we have to bottle that up and get ready to go on the road and play, find a way to handle that, Bobby, the whole group, we've got to be ready to go.

Q. You dug yourselves a deep hole in Games 3 and 4, but this game you were up 20. How can you prioritize getting off to a faster start?

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: Yeah, I mean, Jrue and Khris came out and I think kind of put their stamp on the game early. I just like their aggressiveness early. I like that we're able to get some stops. But you can't just push a button or say a magic word or something like that. We've got a good group, good players. They played well tonight. You know, they understand what we've got to do going forward.

Q. You said it’s difficult to keep Giannis away from the gym and his teammates. What did you notice about his involvement with his teammates and maybe the coaching staff tonight?

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: I mean, you know, just notice the communication, trying to find a way to help the team any way he can, even when he's not able to dress and play. I saw a guy that was locked in and trying to talk to his teammates and be there with them. That's what we need from everybody.

Q. Bobby didn't play in three of the games in the last series against Brooklyn. What does it say about his readiness that he's able to produce so much and he stays so ready even while he has so much inactive time?

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: Yeah, it's a great credit to him, the maturity. There's a mental toughness that when you're not playing and you want to get out there and help your team and stay ready and understand every series is a little bit different. His energy, and whether he's playing or in the game, not playing or he's in the game plan, he's still got great energy. He's there for us.