Willie Green Pregame Interview - Pelicans at Rockets - Jan. 31.
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00:00 Starting with the good stuff, to go through players name to the rising stars challenge,
00:07 Hawk, and Dyson.
00:10 With those two nominees, those two heading there, what do you think of their performances
00:16 over the season and the choice to feature them in Nike?
00:19 Well, it's a credit to them, to Dyson and to Hawk, the work that they put in.
00:26 Coach Cory Brewer and Ryan Frazier, all those guys just putting in countless hours.
00:34 We're grateful, grateful to have them.
00:37 We're extremely happy and proud of that accomplishment.
00:41 That's pretty cool.
00:42 And also, big picture with that trade deadline coming up, how do you handle that with your team?
00:47 Is it something that you discuss with individuals or as a group, or is it something that you
00:52 just ride out until it comes and goes?
00:54 Right now, our focus is really on the game.
00:58 When things come up, if they do, we try to address them head on.
01:03 But other than that, we try to maintain our focus on the task at hand.
01:08 Like I said, if there's something that we need to address, we make sure we do it.
01:13 And finally, third meeting with Houston, when you flip on the film of the first two meetings,
01:18 what lessons did you learn from that that you can use tonight?
01:21 Two close games, and it boils down to our ability to take care of the ball at the end of games,
01:29 offensive rebounds, just the little things, the simple things throughout the course of a game
01:34 that come back and they either win you those games when you do them well, or you can be on a losing end,
01:39 which we have been.
01:42 It'll be another good test.
01:44 They're a good team.
01:45 They played with toughness.
01:46 They just had a big win here on their home floor.
01:49 So they'll be playing with confidence for sure.
01:51 How is Shane Dillard's improvement helping to elevate his team to where it is right now?
01:56 He's playing at an all-star caliber level this season.
02:00 They're playing through him, and he's delivering.
02:03 His ability to score in the paint, to make plays from the pocket pass, Van Fleet does a great job,
02:10 them two in picket rows, and he's delivering.
02:14 So he's a handful.
02:16 Everyone knows it in the NBA.
02:18 We know it, and we've got to make sure we do a good job on him tonight.
02:23 When you look at some of y'all's possessions, those last nine minutes or so in Boston,
02:27 where do you think you guys could have been better?
02:30 We slowed the pace down.
02:34 We turned the ball over in the fourth quarter.
02:36 We had too many turnovers in the fourth quarter, and that's what it comes down to,
02:41 executing offensively, getting quality looks, and it seems like I'm saying the same thing,
02:47 and I really am, because this is what gives you an opportunity to win that game.
02:52 But the turnovers and getting into our offense with force and pace.
02:58 Do you know about Herb and Z for tonight yet?
03:00 Yeah, both of those guys will be out.
03:02 Last time we asked you about Z, it was like there's nothing structurally wrong.
03:06 This is just kind of some sort of--is it still the same situation as far as you know?
03:10 As far as I know it is, yeah.
03:14 The previous two matchups--hey, Coach--the previous two matchups against Houston,
03:20 you talked about their physicality.
03:23 What's going to happen today?
03:25 Is it the same thing that you guys have been emphasizing, trying to be more physical
03:29 and get those baskets and hustle more?
03:32 For sure.
03:33 They have an identity.
03:36 Coach Emay's done a great job coming in and instilling how he wants his team to play.
03:41 They're doing it.
03:43 The game will be much of the same.
03:44 They're going to be a physical team.
03:45 They're going to come out, try to play fast.
03:48 They do a great job of offensive rebound, and the ball will find Syngoon.
03:53 It'll find Van Vliet late.
03:56 You've got to make those guys take tough shots
03:59 and try to take the ball out of their hands as much as you can.
04:02 As a coach and a point guard, I just want to touch base on Van Vliet
04:08 and maybe what you've seen him at and how--I know he hasn't done it alone--
04:12 but how a guy like that at the top of your--
04:15 as I said, it can really affect the team and create a change of culture.
04:19 It seems to be happening here.
04:21 Well, from what I know and what I see on the floor, he's a leader.
04:29 He puts in his work.
04:31 You can see it.
04:32 He wouldn't be in this position if he didn't.
04:35 I had an opportunity to coach against him when he was with Toronto,
04:40 and he was doing the same thing there, late-game situations in the finals.
04:44 When I was with Golden State, he hit big shot after big shot.
04:47 He made big play after big play defensively,
04:50 and it's what he's done his whole career.
04:52 When you make it to this league at that size, you bring toughness,
04:56 you bring leadership and confidence, and that's what he's brought to this team.
05:01 Thank you.
05:03 All right, thank you, Coach.