Suggs and Wagner reveal the defensive intensity and offensive synergy that ignited their playoff upset, proving they've found their championship formula.
"There's nothing you can do to go back and change what happened. At the end of the day, we're here in the playoffs and we have a chance to go and do what we've set out to do since October. Like I said, you can't get too caught up in what happened in the regular season and the frustrations. You got to just come together, realize that we're fully healthy right now, and we feel like we're clicking as a group. We found something against Charlotte with our defense and our energy and our communication, and we know that if we just reciprocate that, we give ourselves a chance every night no matter who we playing. Definitely just a new season and new energy."
On the danger of having all five starters in double figures:
"Everybody just being aggressive. I think it started with me and Jaylen early on and then Franz, Dez got going, Trish hit a big shot, AB, Wendell was consistent the whole night. With the starters setting the tone with aggressiveness on offense, guys just following along. Guys feed off each other's energy. I think us as a team, having that communication throughout the game, it allows us to trust the hot hand or trust whatever we see out there—whoever has the advantage in terms of the offense. It was good to see everybody get an opportunity and get going at the right time. Ultimately we got the win, so we just want to try to keep that up."
On setting the tone early as a primary scorer:
"I think I can just be a calming presence for the team with the offense and obviously playing defense too. Offensively, just getting the ball where it needs to go. Scoring one-on-one—that slows the game down. When the ball goes through the net we're able to set up our defense. I feel like that's one of my strengths: when the game's slowing down or when defenses are trying to be more physical, that's when I'm able to still get to what I want to get to and score the ball. Just knowing coming into a road environment, I knew I had to be ready to play from the jump."
On the alley-oop assist to Wendell Carter Jr. in the third quarter:
"It was a post up on the side and I was taking my time. They flooded the floor where the big comes over to my side of the lane. Wendell kind of started—he was actually out of bounds I think—and I kind of just had my eye on him and he crept into the short corner and pointed it up in the sky. That was my cue to throw it and I just wanted to give him a good accurate pass. I feel like I'm able to deliver the ball wherever I see fit. I give credit to him though, because I wouldn't have thrown it if he didn't point up to the sky for the lob. He kind of saw it and we both made eye contact and executed the play. That just is what I'm talking about when I'm talking about the communication and the execution piece—when we come in on the road, that's what has to be clicking."
On whether out-physicalizing the Pistons gives the team confidence to steal the series:
"It's just a good win for us as a team getting it on the road against a great team, a one seed. But at the end of the day we got to come back Wednesday and reciprocate it. They're not going to lay down. If anything, they're going to turn it up. So, we got to be ready for that. It's just one game at a time mentality. That's what it's got to be. It's first to four, so just one game at a time."
SUGGS AND Wagner
Jalen Suggs: On winning on the road and the team's growth:
"It means a ton. Me and Franz were just talking about it walking back here—it’s a completely different feeling. When you're winning at home, you have all the juice, the crowd is lit on your run, and you have that auto-momentum built in. Here, it’s got to come from the 15 and the coaching staff. I think today we did an amazing job from the get-go, throwing the first punch and then sustaining that energy. We were really intentional in our timeouts about coming out, adding momentum, and getting back on our flow. It says a lot about our growth and how far we’ve come. This feels better than all the other ones, to be honest."
Franz Wagner: On why the "upset" wasn't a surprise to the team:
"I think everybody knows we got a really talented team. Obviously, we didn’t have the regular season that we wanted, but that’s how it goes sometimes. I think we showed today that we belong here. It’s got to be consistent, though. One game doesn’t win the series, so it’s got to be on my side going forward."
Jalen Suggs: On putting regular season frustrations aside for the playoffs:
"It’s pretty easy, to be honest, because it’s impossible not to get excited for these games. Especially when you have high-character guys and competitors all throughout the locker room. We had a conversation about letting everything go, learning from it, but stepping into a new space because the playoffs is that. Our practices have been elite and our communication has been high level in film. We’re really breaking down the game and preparing ourselves. We knew what we were getting to defensively—we really dialed in on our rotations and where we wanted to funnel the ball. All that matters now is the game you’re playing and taking care of the series."
Franz Wagner: On scoring 11 points in the fourth quarter after a 1-for-7 start:
"I think Coach hit on it. You’re going to miss some shots and make mistakes out there. As long as the shots are good shots, that’s something we can work on. Sometimes you can’t control makes and misses. I thought I had good energy and gave good effort all game. If all 15 played consistently like that, I think we have a good chance every night."
Franz Wagner: On the keys to winning the battle in the paint:
"I think we would have been even better there if we would have taken care of the ball a little bit better. They got a lot of easy ones in transition and got that crowd going a couple times, so that’s something we got to focus on for next game. Other than that, I like to focus on the game plan. We’re going to see some adjustments in Game 2, so we got to be ready for that."
Jalen Suggs: On his health and the importance of the next two days:
"I feel good. They’re a very important time for us to spend time together, stay connected as a unit, watch the game, and take care of our bodies. We have to get ready for another battle. Like I said, I’m protected. Glory to God. I’m feeling solid."
Franz Wagner: On the quality of Paolo Banchero’s playmaking:
"That alley-oop is super difficult. That’s why that got us going as a group. When Paolo plays like that and manipulates the game, that sets great players apart. He led us all game tonight, and when he’s playing like that, I think we’re tough to beat."
Jalen Suggs: On living with high foul counts to maintain physical dominance:
"I believe so. I don’t think we had many bad fouls that were lazy ones because we were out of position. We didn’t give up many and-ones, which I also thought was really good. There might be a game where we come out and shoot more free throws because the quality of fouls go our way. I’m perfectly fine with how we played. I loved how physical we were. We were smart when we needed to be, especially getting into foul trouble and recognizing when the bonus was there. You absolutely can live with it; it’s part of the game and it’ll all balance itself out in the end."
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