Banchero and Wagner detail crucial game plan adjustments and the intense playoff mindset needed to seize their play-in opportunity.
Paolo Banchero:
On what the team accomplished in today's practice going into tomorrow's game:
"Just game plan details — how we want to execute on offense and defense against these guys — and just getting up and down, getting some shooting in."
On how postseason basketball differs from the regular season:
"It's postseason. Guys are playing for something — playing for a championship, playing for playoff spots. It's just high intensity. Every possession is super valuable and it's just more fun."
On how his individual postseason success in the first couple years gives him confidence heading into this year's playoffs:
"Having the experience of playing in those environments at home, on the road, stuff like that gives you confidence. But I think also just trusting your team and going out there and doing whatever it takes to get the win."
On whether Sunday's loss to Boston could have been a wakeup call:
"I wouldn't call it a wakeup call. I think we got to just be ready. I think it just showed us that we can't expect to win a game. We can't relax and be lackadaisical. We have to be locked in every night. Now we're on the road in a tough environment in the play-in game and we got to respond and come out and play better."
On whether he senses the right energy and spirit from the group going into tomorrow's game:
"Yeah, definitely. Definitely. I think guys are excited, guys are pissed off, guys want to prove a point. So I'm excited to see just how we come out."
Franz Wagner:
On the keys from today's practice:
"Obviously, prepare a little bit for tomorrow's game — what Philly is doing — and also a lot of just concepts that we want to do."
On whether Sunday's loss could have been a wakeup call:
"I mean hopefully. I think the way the season went, hopefully we didn't need that but yeah."
On the difference between regular season and postseason basketball:
"I think the game's called a little bit different. Obviously everybody's playing for their playoff lives, their season. So I think intensity is at an all-time high."
On whether he can sense added confidence from Paolo Banchero going into the postseason:
"Yeah, for sure. I think he thrives in those situations and I think we all feed off that."
On how he's feeling physically:
"I feel good."
On whether he's close to 100% or still ramping up for the postseason:
"It's hard to put a number on it, but it's definitely a couple more percent left in the tank."
On the main challenges against the 76ers team:
"I think they're playing really physical. Obviously we got to have a good game plan for Maxey and just got a lot of guys who like to attack from the perimeter. So just making sure we play good team defense."
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