Despite a tough Game 5 loss, Black sees resilience and energy from Paolo Banchero's big night, focusing on bringing that home for a Game 6 win.
On the difference between Detroit and Orlando in Game 5:
"I think we came out with the right intentions, but they were beating us to a lot of loose balls and rebounds. We put them on the free-throw line a lot to start the game and gave them a cushion. We played a pretty good game from there, but we gave them too much early."
On the impact of early foul trouble:
"It’s a physical series with two teams playing hard—grabbing, holding, and reaching. Being in foul trouble caused us to have to be solid, and we didn’t do a good job of that today. We put them on the line and gave up offensive rebounds; we didn’t really do anything well on the defensive end."
On the team's resilience and momentum for Game 6:
"It’s a positive step responding to adversity and responding to runs. Paolo did a really good job keeping us in the game hitting some tough shots. We have to take that energy and the rhythm that we caught, go home with it, and win."
On Paolo Banchero’s 45-point performance:
"His ability to make tough shots is up there with everybody in the league. We trust him in those situations. Tonight showed why we trust him and why we’re going to rock with him until we can’t."
On where Detroit’s desperation showed up most:
"I think on the offensive glass. We started off the game giving up back-to-back free-throw box rebounds. We could have been more locked in on the small details knowing they were going to come out desperate because it was 3-1. We have to come out just as desperate back at home."
On his individual performance and filling the void with Franz Wagner out:
"I was playing to my strengths and being a bit more aggressive. Obviously, not having Franz out there was a bit of an opportunity, so I was trying to step into that, fill the void, and get some rhythm going. But obviously, I would have wanted the win instead."
On the team's improved shooting from beyond the arc:
"It was just about making the right plays. They help a lot on drives and pack the paint, so the kickouts are there. We’ve seen that since the first couple of games. There were still a couple of times today we didn't make the right read, but once we clean that up, we’re getting good looks that give us a chance to get rebounds and extra possessions."
On the 'choppy' flow of the game:
"It was definitely a choppy game. It was physical, which is how the series has been and how it’s going to be. It slowed the game down a little, but we have to do a good job adjusting to how the game is being officiated and recognize that early in the next game."
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