WATCH: Everything From Trae Young After Hawks Victory Over The Spurs
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00:00 A tale of two halves for you guys.
00:02 Sure.
00:03 What did you see that was going so well in the first half and kind of why weren't you
00:06 guys able to really carry that over to the second half?
00:08 And what would you have liked to see better in the second half?
00:11 I mean, I think we obviously did a really good job in the first half.
00:14 I think the attention to detail and the focus that we had coming out was big for us.
00:21 And I mean, contesting shooters, rebounding, running, we were just playing like we should
00:27 be playing.
00:28 And then in the second half, I feel like we just got too relaxed.
00:31 I think they picked up the energy, obviously, they picked up the effort.
00:35 And I mean, they were full court.
00:38 The refs let them play a little bit, and then that's why they get back into the game, picking
00:42 up the energy.
00:43 You just have to respond.
00:44 And teams are going to go on runs throughout the game.
00:47 It's hard to hold a team, no matter who it is, to no run.
00:51 So we knew they were going to make a run.
00:53 We just needed to try to stop it.
00:55 We did it.
00:56 And thankfully, we had as big of a lead as we did, and just be able to hold on.
01:00 Trey, the second half, Jalen Johnson had a couple moments where he was really calling
01:04 that Victor.
01:05 Just kind of what do you see tonight out of Jalen?
01:08 I mean, what he's been showing all year for us.
01:11 He's been playing really well as he's been out there.
01:14 Just being aggressive and, I mean, just attacking the paint.
01:18 It's difficult when Victor's in there.
01:20 He makes you think a lot, whether you're going to shoot the floater, if he's going to contest
01:24 you, or go back to the big.
01:26 I had a couple of moments where I didn't make the right read.
01:30 I either turned over or just a blocked shot.
01:34 So it's tough when he's in there.
01:36 But I think Jalen did a great job tonight, attacking him and just keeping him on his heels.
01:43 You mentioned that they kind of picked up the energy in the third there.
01:46 Why does that lull kind of happen for you guys in the third?
01:49 I don't know.
01:51 If I had an answer for you, I would be to switch it.
01:54 I mean, it's just how it is.
01:56 I don't know what it is.
01:58 I mean, it's been years where we weren't good at starting the games and we were really good
02:02 in the third quarters.
02:03 So I don't know what it is.
02:05 I mean, we've got to figure it out.
02:07 And we've got time to change it.
02:12 Late in the second half, you had a floater that looked like maybe the highest floater
02:15 you've ever shot.
02:16 Do you have to change the geometry of your floater when you're playing against somebody
02:19 like Victor?
02:20 You definitely have to think about it, like I said, a little bit more when he's in the paint.
02:25 Yes and no.
02:27 He's a tough guy to go against when he's in the paint.
02:31 He's not like a regular big.
02:36 He's a smart big who can think out there and makes it tough on you.
02:40 You get asked these kind of questions a lot.
02:43 Were you aware starting in the second half that you were one point shy of a big milestone
02:47 of 10,000 career points?
02:50 And if so, was that on your mind?
02:52 Hell no.
02:53 That wasn't on my mind at all.
02:55 I was trying to win.
02:57 I just wanted to win.
02:58 I knew I didn't-- I mean, to be honest with you, I didn't even know about it.
03:02 I was just trying to go out there and win and try to put on a show.
03:06 And this is always a special day to be able to play on this day.
03:09 So I wanted to go out here and get a win for our team.
03:13 Yeah, just piggybacking off that, the importance of playing while you're in the
03:16 MLK Day here in Atlanta.
03:19 Oh, yeah, it's very important to play on this day.
03:22 I mean, he obviously lived here, had family years.
03:26 I think he still has family here.
03:28 So to be able to play on this day is always special.
03:32 You can never take it for granted putting on this jersey on MLK Day
03:37 and playing in the city of Atlanta.
03:39 So you just got to embrace it, enjoy these types of days because they only happen
03:43 once a year.
03:45 I'm glad we get to play on this type of day, so I'm thankful.
03:49 All right.
03:50 Thank you.