NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: HAWKS VS. BUCKS

July 3, 2021

Mike Budenholzer

Milwaukee Bucks

Game 6: Pregame

Q. Do you feel like it's a better mix for this group, guys like Khris and Giannis, to have the energy guys on the bench? Do you feel like that matters?

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: This group is great. I tend to love every group I coach and they all have their strengths that make them special. I had not thought one bit about it.

But I certainly know and understand what P.J. and Bobby bring and kind of that energy and the voice and everything. But it's interesting how people affect people different ways. I'll take any of those guys every day of the week.

Q. How hard is it to defend the Hawks?

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: You know, it's tough. They have got a lot of weapons. [Lou] Williams has stepped in and played really well as kind of primary ball handler, but Bogdanovic, Capela and Collins as screeners. We just try and do everything we can to make the shots tough, contested. But you know, they are a handful. Hopefully maybe we can combat it, and you've got to keep scoring against these guys.

Q. Did Giannis go on the court today?

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: He did go on the court. I wasn't with him and didn't see it. So exactly what, I don't know, but I bet he did go on the court.

Q. Talk about the impact of Jrue Holiday this season.

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: Yeah, I mean, you know, I think his poise, his confidence, just the way Jrue Holiday just carries himself every day I think helps him more with everything, and I just think he's got a lot of confidence. He's earned everybody's respect and confidence from the first day in training camp. We see the benefit from it and his steadiness.

It's just the way he's built. Parents or coaches or whatever, you know, he's just got a great way about him, a great confidence, a great steadiness that I think helps with what you're asking.

Q. Is there any kind of a similarity you see to Tony Parker, a guy you were with for a long time in San Antonio?

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: Point guards are so different, and they are great talents. Yeah, that stands out to me, they are so talented. Yeah, I mean, they are both really good.

Q. Obviously, Bobby was great in Game 5 and you had a couple options -- to go bigger and with Pat Connaughton to go maybe smaller. What led you to decide to go that way and will you stick with it that way in Game 6?

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: I think when we think about what we need defensively against Atlanta, what we need offensively, and just kind of that combination, you know, what Bobby brings, certainly like you said, there's an option, we could go either way. It just felt like it made sense that Bobby was the guy to lean on and he certainly played well in Game 5. Now he needs to do it again tonight.

Q. This has been the goal for you guys for a year or two with Giannis to get to the NBA Finals. Here as you're a game away and he can't go, how does he manage that frustration and how do you help him manage that frustration?

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: He's so unique and interesting. He sets his mind on his next goal, which is to get ready to play. And the other thing, that he's always there for his teammates. I think preparing and getting himself on that track to returning to play puts him in a good place; and I think finding a way to be there and be a great teammate, talk and coach, a voice in the locker room, a voice in the timeout, he's there for these guys, even though he can't physically play.

So I think those two things just put his mind where it's used to being, which is what's the next goal and how can I be there for my teammates.

Q. Same kind of question, about you. You took this job years ago, and getting to the NBA Finals is something you were thinking about. What's today like for you? How are you feeling?

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: Just like the team. Stay in their routine; stay in my routine. Did a little walk-through this morning. Just did the stuff to get ready for the game. You know, I think hopefully there's been a steadiness for the whole group from whenever it was, two or three years ago. It's just that day-to-day process and just kind of live with that, bank on that, and not any different today.

Q. Is today the first day that Giannis did any on-court work since the injury?

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: Yes.

Q. I know you're keeping the routine, but can you sense any excitement on having to focus on keeping a routine for this group?

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: No, as long as Bobby and P.J. are yelling or something like that; it's a good group. There's a good mix, and you know, I know this, when you're in it, you're playing, the games come, and certainly we understand where we are. But it's a good group. It's a mature group. It's a focused group. That's what you need to get ready to play.