New Orleans Pelicans all-star forward Zion Williamson's postgame interview following defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves on Jan. 3, 2024.
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00:00 (air whooshing)
00:02 - Zion, that's four in a row, nine of 12 now.
00:09 What's working so well for you guys?
00:11 - The defensive end.
00:14 We've all been locked in and connected on defensive end
00:17 and I think that leads to a lot of better things
00:20 for us on the offensive end.
00:21 It's times to transition points
00:23 and just the movement of the ball
00:25 so that when me, CJ and BI do get in our eyes,
00:30 we got more space.
00:31 - What did you see that end of the second,
00:35 start of the third
00:35 as you kind of pulled away a little bit?
00:37 - Gotta give that credit to BI,
00:41 especially at the end of the second quarter,
00:43 he made that separation.
00:46 He just was getting to it.
00:49 And then in the third quarter,
00:50 that energy continued with the whole team.
00:55 - They're the number one defense right now in the league.
01:00 But do you like the way you guys match up with them?
01:02 - I'm just happy we got the win.
01:07 I'm just happy we got the win.
01:08 Coach Finch was here in New Orleans during my first year.
01:15 Great coach.
01:17 I don't think people know it,
01:20 but he's a good people person too.
01:24 But I think Coach Green did a great job tonight.
01:27 Like I said, we had our focal points and we executed them.
01:31 - Speaking of Coach Green,
01:33 did you see him run on the court for you to have you back?
01:37 - Oh yeah.
01:38 I told him, "Come on out of halftime, coach.
01:41 I appreciate that.
01:42 That meant a lot to me."
01:43 - What was the game plan as far as going at that defense?
01:48 Obviously in the offensive end for them,
01:50 you guys got Rudy Gobert in foul trouble quick.
01:52 Was that the game plan or was that kind of
01:55 what the game plan was for you guys?
01:56 - You know, we always have an initial game plan
02:00 going into the game, but this is the NBA.
02:03 You got to feel it out.
02:05 So yeah, we saw that if we can get him in foul trouble,
02:09 that would take the rim protection away.
02:12 So that allows more baskets at the rim.
02:17 And when they try to collapse,
02:19 you have kickouts for threes.
02:21 - And you gave Ant a lot of props last year after a game.
02:26 Just how much respect do you have for his game?
02:29 And just what have you seen from his game,
02:30 you know, over the years as well that you like about it?
02:34 - He's just a dog.
02:35 You know, if it's not going for him on the offensive end,
02:39 he's still getting to it on the defensive end.
02:42 Well, what I respect most about him is
02:45 he's just a competitor that just want to win.