Banchero reveals the winning formula: energy, togetherness, and a warrior mentality to conquer playoff road games.
On where it starts going on the road for an NBA playoff game in Detroit:
"It just starts with our energy, our togetherness, and coming out understanding the position and respecting our opponent, but also just coming in with a warrior mentality and trying to come out here and get a win."
On the team's current mentality, especially coming off the performance against the Hornets:
"It's playoff basketball. It's a new season. Obviously we did what we had to do to get ourselves here. So now it's time to just refocus and do what we need to do to get the win. Just one game at a time. Obviously going up against a one seed, you got to be prepared. So just coming in being together."
On anticipating the physicality of the game against Detroit:
"Two really physical teams, two teams that are familiar with each other and familiar with each other's play styles. Yeah, it's going to be physical. It's going to be a high intensity game. We just got to come in, take their punches, throw our own punches, and come out on top."
On how his playoff preparation has evolved for a seven-game series against a physical top team:
"Just coming in with a fresh mindset. Like I said, it's a new season, so coming in with a clear head. Nothing that happened before or after matters. All that matters is that we come out and get a win tonight and eventually win a series. That's all that matters. So it's just a singular focus."
On whether experience makes him more comfortable in a series and helps with preparation:
"Yeah, I think you know what to expect. Obviously they're going to come out with a lot of energy and a lot of hype with it being their first playoff game. So you got to expect that and be ready for that. But we've been playing a lot of basketball, so I think guys are fresh and guys are in rhythm."
On conversations with Desmond Bane about his playoff experience:
"We've talked to him just throughout the season about some of his experiences in Memphis. He'll be ready to play tonight. We'll be ready to play tonight, but we haven't really talked to him about it since we made the playoffs. More so just ready to play."
On how he mentally centers himself with the responsibility on his shoulders in a playoff game:
"Just coming out here and getting ready to fight and put out maximum effort and go out here and have fun. This is the most fun basketball. It's the most high-stakes basketball, but it's also the most fun to play. Get out here with your teammates on the road and do what we got to do to get a win. So obviously it starts with me, starts with my energy, my focus, and I look forward to it."
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