NBA IN-SEASON TOURNAMENT

December 7, 2023

Adrian Griffin

Milwaukee Bucks

Semifinal Postgame

Pacers 128, Bucks 119

Q. Couple turnovers for you guys late. You guys have been so good at taking care of the ball in the clutch. What did you see on the pass from Chris to Dame, and then Dame on that pocket pass?

ADRIAN GRIFFIN: Yeah, we got to execute better down the stretch. I've got to do a better job of getting them into some certain sets down, you know, late game. But we put ourselves in a position, you know, the first half was rocky. We made some good adjustments, but we've got to close out in the fourth quarter, which we've done very well. We just couldn't pull it off tonight.

Q. They had eight second-chance points in the first half. They finished with 23. Seems like it was an emphasis for them late. What did you see there that they were able to sneak in for a lot of those second-chance putbacks?

ADRIAN GRIFFIN: Yeah, listen, you give up 15 O-boards with 23 second-chance points, it's going to be tough to beat anybody, I think that's what the game was. We've got to do better. We've got to try and find a body. You know, they are crashing and I thought we did a good job in the second half taking the threes out and I think that was critical. But we've got to limit them to one shot. You know, you cut that in half and it's probably a different outcome.

Q. You mentioned the adjustments, after halftime, you played a ton of zone. Can you talk about your decision to go there and how that helped you get back in it in the second?

ADRIAN GRIFFIN: Well, you know, just kind of help us keep the ball front of us. You know, Haliburton, he's -- you know, he's exceptional in pick-and-rolls, so we were just trying to switch up our coverages a little bit. I thought, you know, the zone got us back in, and I think if we would have rebounded a little bit better, probably a different outcome. They are a good team, very well-coached team. They played with exceptional energy, and this is also an opportunity for us to learn and grow from, and we'll be better. You know, we'll be better.

Q. We in the media have said that this is sort of a measuring stick for a lot of the teams that are here. A, do you view it that way, and B, does it highlight some of the things that maybe you've been concerned about coming into the tournament?

ADRIAN GRIFFIN: No, I think the tournament is good as far as, you know, you're playing in a high-stakes game. You know, media, the excitement around it, it's been great, and I think we handled it well. Not the outcome that we wanted but you could learn from these -- from these games and what we need to do to get better, and that's what it's about. Take the good, make our corrections, and then get ready for the next game.

Q. We've talked about the transition defense throughout this season. Obviously, the Pacers like to get up and down. Just what were the points of emphasis to the team today on trying to get back on defense?

ADRIAN GRIFFIN: There's just no way around it. Just got to sprint back on a range of shots, and you've got to make great decisions, you're either crashing o-boards or you've got to sprint. I thought a couple times we let them get behind us, even off made baskets, and I think one off a free throw if I'm not mistaken. Those, you've got to take those off the board. You can't give this team those type of points. You've got to make them earn it. And I thought, you know, for the most part in the second half, we started to make them earn it a little bit more, but you can't allow them to get those easy ones in transition.

Q. You know, playing in the BIG EAST, playing in the NCAA Tournament, talk about the fan engagement that you witnessed from not only the player standpoint, but just, you know, you as a coach, seeing this new In-Season Tournament by the NBA, how does that make you guys feel?

ADRIAN GRIFFIN: I think obviously I said, it's not the outcome that we wanted but you know, we made it to Vegas, and we got to experience this. I think it's going to do wonders for our team, you know, you always win -- you always learn in wins and you learn in losses and there's things because we feel like, you know, we could have executed a little bit better, especially down the stretch, but again, we watch film, we learn from it, I learn from it, and then you just keep moving forward.

Q. What are your overall impressions with the In-Season Tournament? What did you like about it? What did you not like about it?

ADRIAN GRIFFIN: No, I like it. It gave us a goal to, you know, pursue, and we wanted to hold that trophy up. We wanted to make it to Vegas. Any time there's an opportunity to compete, especially in this environment, we definitely wanted to be a part of it. So, there's a lot of good in the In-Season Tournament. I thought it was fantastic. You know, and again, we fell short but we definitely are going to learn from this experience. But it was good for our young guys out there to get to see what, you know, high-stakes basketball is about. The fans were great; the electricity in the building.

Q. On the quick turnaround from playing in Milwaukee Tuesday to Las Vegas tonight.

ADRIAN GRIFFIN: It is what it is. We've got to play the games. You know, it's no excuses. I think our team is ready. Again, we just fell short but this is the NBA, the schedule is always going to be the schedule, the travel is the travel, and then you know, when they throw the ball up, we've just got to be ready.