Suggs dissects the team's fourth-quarter struggles, foul trouble, and missed opportunities. He emphasizes the need for poise during opponent runs and discusses rebounding's critical role.
On the reasons the team came up short tonight:
"I think there's a lot of reasons. I think in that fourth quarter we slowed down. We got into early foul problems and so then they go 10 for 11 from the free throw line in that fourth quarter alone and just our ability to get out and play with pace the way we had been through those three quarters. I think that's what slowed us down and they were able to throw some different defenses out there, but then our ability to get downhill, attack the basket, finish around the rim and missed some early easy ones."
On the difference in defense fueling offense from the first quarter to the final three:
"They came out and they went on multiple runs. And I think those were the things that we've got to continue to talk about and communicate and show that basketball is a game of runs that you got to keep the same poise, same demeanor when teams do go on runs, but how do you stop those? And I think that's a big key for us as we continue to move forward."
On rebounding creeping up tonight:
"Long shots, long rebounds, the threes that they take throughout a game. So just again, it's all back to the fundamentals, finding a body, hitting guys, and then pursuing it before you're getting out on the offensive end. You got to make sure you finish the possession out. A lot of those dagger threes that came were because of the offensive rebounding."
On Jalen Suggs' injury and frustration:
"It's beyond frustrating. He fights his tail to get back with us and then hopefully it's not bad and just we obviously we'll evaluate him when we get back to Orlando. But I just really think for him to keep fighting and stepping out there on the court with these guys is what we're going to continue to need from him."
On getting back home for one game and the importance of the Kia Center crowd:
"Our fans are the best and I think us getting back home in front of them is going to be huge. Our schedule's been back and forth and in and out. We're out for a second. We're in for a second, then we're out back again. But again, our biggest goal right now is just to find a way to shake this one off, learn from it, and find a way to take care of Indiana on Sunday."
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