NBA FINALS: BUCKS VS. SUNS

July 19, 2021

Mikal Bridges

Phoenix Suns

Practice Day

Q. You talked the other night after the last game about what was at stake and how your backs are against the wall and stuff. How do you think the team's responded so far in the last couple days just from what you've been able to see from the travel day, and is there any kind of change in mindset or anything like that?

MIKAL BRIDGES: Everybody's ready. Everybody's ready to play. You know, we just -- you know, we're ready to win. We're ready to play. Down 3-2. You know, it's win-or-go-home. So, we've got to win, and we're all ready, our whole mentality, we're locked in and ready to go.

Q. The last game here, it wasn't like it was a lopsided game. You all were in control much of the way, or ahead much of the way. Can you take any measure of confidence in Game 4, that experience in Milwaukee knowing that you had not won any games here but you've had some success in terms of game control and stuff?

MIKAL BRIDGES: Yeah, we know that we can't be up and lose. We've got to learn from it and just got to come out and be better, play the whole 48 minutes. Last time we were here, we didn’t play the whole 48 and that's why they won. They are obviously a really good team. So, they made -- they played harder than us, so we've just got to go out and there be most hungriest team out there.

Q. This team hasn’t lost four consecutive games all season, nor have you guys faced elimination through the playoffs. Booker said postgame that you needed to embrace the situation. In your own words, what does that truly mean and what does it take to fully embrace a challenge such as this one?

MIKAL BRIDGES: Yeah, we have to. Like you said, we've never been in this position, and you know, you've got to embrace it. You've got to feel good about it and take pride, and being down like this, making it feel great by winning two games in a row. You know, it's going to feel good having our backs against the wall, since we haven't this whole playoffs. So, it's good. I know that's what he meant by embracing it, and that's what we're going to do, and that's the vibe around everybody, and we're all ready.

Q. Needing more ball movement seemed to be a point of emphasis postgame after Game 5. How big an impact is it when everyone is touching the ball on offense and on the flipside keeping the Bucks defense moving and working?

MIKAL BRIDGES: Yeah, that's what got us here. That's what Phoenix Suns basketball is all about and for us to have a chance to win, that's what we're going to need. But we know that and we know what we have to do to win.

Q. You've carried a lot of defensive responsibility in this series. How have you felt you've done on that end of the floor with the matchups assigned to you?

MIKAL BRIDGES: I always can do better. You know, obviously not the best but try to make it tough. But definitely can do better.