Mosley details crucial defensive shifts and offensive strategies needed to counter opponents' strengths and secure a Game 4 victory.
On the mindset for Game 4 and areas to clean up:
"Rebounding is a big portion of it. They got a lot of easy transition baskets off of our shot selection and some of our quality shots. We need to do those things without fouling and work on keeping them out of the paint as best as possible."
On Wendell Carter Jr.’s defense against Cade Cunningham:
"He’s done a strong job, particularly with his patience and understanding Cade's tendencies. It’s not just what Wendell has done on him; he’s got to make sure we see a crowd behind him. Cade is such a great player that he finds gaps, seams, and angles. Being able to make the lane look crowded is so important when our guys are isolated against him."
On Cade Cunningham’s fourth-quarter run in Game 3:
"I think the angles of the pick-and-roll happened and there was a little more switching. They spread us out a little further. Our ability to be in those gaps earlier is key. Sometimes it’s about not even giving into the switch depending on who is guarding him. It’s got to be a tighter paint because he’s a great player who finds a way to get downhill in fourth quarters."
On how regular-season experience prepared them for the playoffs:
"The regular season helps you because you can always revert back and understand what you did in a certain scenario—end-of-game situations, what play we are running to get the right shot, or how to get the ball inbounds. Those things have played a part in the communication that has been huge with our guys in huddles and after free throws."
On Desmond Bane’s shooting performance carrying over:
"You hope it does. He puts the work in and the guys trust him, but we have to find the open gaps and spaces on the floor for him. A lot of those opportunities come off of stops and being able to get out and run. When there are cross-matches on the floor, we have to make sure we’re finding him."
On defending the paint:
"In Game 2, they had 54 points in the paint, which wasn't what we wanted. We recognize our ability to work on containing the basketball and showing a crowd early. We have to prevent them from getting all the way downhill with speed and space. They’re going to combat that with different sets, so we have to be ready to counter."
On setting the tone with physicality:
"That’s always going to be an important piece for this series. We talked about how physical and aggressive it’s going to be. When you come out the right way, that sets the tone right away from the start of the game."
On potential adjustments for Game 4:
"I don't think there will be significant adjustments; it's minor things here and there—tweaks to rotations or lineups. We know what punches they’re going to throw and they know ours. It’s a matter of how you execute and counter. It’s a game of runs; can you make them and stop them at the right time?"
On the intensity of the back half of the series:
"It comes down to the little things. It’s the one free throw line box-out you don't get, or that one turnover in the second quarter that changes the game. It’s the ability to take care of the ball and make the on-time, on-target pass. The playoffs are about minor details and the mundane things that change the game."
On cleaning up baseline inbounding errors:
"They do a great job of staying back and trying to get a steal after the ball goes through the net. Those are possessions within a game that matter. We can't be in a rush; we have to understand exactly how this team plays and be ready for the press break. Those were two or three possessions we can't get back."
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