NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: HAWKS VS. BUCKS

July 3, 2021

P.J. Tucker

Milwaukee Bucks

Game 6 Postgame

Milwaukee Bucks 118, Atlanta Hawks 107

Q. P.J., what's it like to be here?

P.J. TUCKER: It's unreal. From the moments I had -- to start the season out, to be exactly where I see myself in Milwaukee. We chose each other, it was organic. I’ve seen this, and for it to actually happen -- it's not done, but to actually be here -- I haven't processed it yet.

Q. The bench guys, Pat, Jeff, big threes, your offensive rebounds, what did it mean that that group was able to do that?

P.J. TUCKER: We needed everybody. I think that's the best part about it. We needed something from everybody. Our bench was amazing all series, all playoffs, everybody on our team gave something. Giannis goes out, Bobby has been great, everybody came in and fought hard the entire series. It just shows our team. It just shows the guts of our team.

Q. After Game 4, obviously, a tough loss and you came in and said we're not going out like this, basically, was your message. How do you come back after that game?

P.J. TUCKER: It's just adjustments. Playing in that game, I could tell, everybody could, we all knew and we talked about it so much on the plane and once we got back, probably make adjustments. To go out and execute and do things we wanted to do; Game 4 was so bad, we were terrible, energy. Kind of thought we were just going to win the game. And you play all these Conference Finals, it's not going to happen. I love how we rallied and the guys got together and we came out and fought, especially with our young guys.

Q. Can you comprehend that you're going to an NBA Finals?

P.J. TUCKER: Like, I've got the hat on and everything, it's like (shaking head) no.

Q. I was asking the other guys about their journey on the team and you're more of a late comer. You've gone through the roller coaster of good teams, bad teams, good situations, bad situations. To be here now, what does it all mean to you, that whole journey to be here now?

P.J. TUCKER: I definitely can't process now. That's something when you get done playing you look at. But right now when you're living in the moment. Like we're already talking about it in the locker room. Like the mind has already switched to that. Shows our team and really how everybody is. Everybody is so locked in and so focused. There's no celebration. You know, that's just how these guys are. I love that.

Q. Some teams when they go to the NBA Finals, there's champagne. None of that tonight?

P.J. TUCKER: No. Nope. We ain't did nothing yet.

Q. [Inaudible]

P.J. TUCKER: It doesn't matter who we've gotten all playoffs -- it's funny, because like right to the end of the season, it was like, we could win games and try to get positioning.

And we were just like, no, we ain't doing none of that. We win the games we win. We ain't dodging nobody. Whoever is on the list, that's who we're playing. And that's how it's been the entire time. I guess a lot stories like that, but it hasn't mattered all season and it don't matter now.

Q. How do you assess the quick turnaround that you guys have and the Suns have been chilling for a couple days? Is there a drawback or benefit to that?

P.J. TUCKER: I don't know. We'll see I guess. You never know. We had a long wait after the Miami series, and we didn't enjoy that. So that could be good for some teams, not good for other teams. You never know until you start. But whatever the schedule is, it is, we can't change it, so we'll be ready to roll no matter what.

Q. What are your early thoughts on the Suns?

P.J. TUCKER: It's actually kind of crazy because I was with them for so long, and it was my first time back. I was just there -- they built a great team, all-around team, they play together, [Chris] Paul, the guards, bigs, they have a great team. It's going to be a great challenge for us. I think Atlanta prepared us for that, with all the guards they have. Honestly I think it's a great opportunity and I think it's going to be a real good Finals.

Q. Coming in when you did, you had not played for Bud at all, curious in this short window, how have you seen him and his staff work, basically, with the injuries and matchups?

P.J. TUCKER: Just adjusted. He's done more adjusting this year than he's ever done before, schemes and some of the things that we're doing, he's getting a little more adventurous and I think the personnel, that gives him a freedom to do that a lot more and that's one of the reasons we've been so successful. Yeah, it's been good.