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Postgame Quotes - November 21, 2015

DETROIT PISTONS HEAD COACH STAN VAN GUNDY: (On starters playing more minutes): “We can’t play the starters more minutes than we are, we just can’t. As a matter of fact we need to get those minutes down. If you just look at the plus-minus’ our starters were dominant tonight, and we still couldn’t get a win, it’s frustrating.” (On the final play): “We broke the play. We didn’t have the discipline to go to the last option, so we ended up random. We have to execute in those situations and we did not.” (On starters being tired in the fourth quarter): “I agree, they were tired no question about it. But nonetheless, we had a three to tie with Marcus (Morris), and then we don’t execute the last play. There’s no excuse for that, I don’t care if you’re tired. You can run the play and we didn’t have the discipline to stick with it.” DETROIT PISTONS GUARD REGGIE JACKSON: (On playing a lot of minutes and using that as an excuse): “Just have to find a way to get a win. Too many costly turnovers in the fourth; still had a shot. The last play, kind of broke it off early, just have to trust we have enough time to complete the play.” (On final play): “I felt like they had a quick five-second count themselves, got nervous that we didn’t have enough time. Like I said I just have to trust we have enough time that the play was going to develop.” WASHINGTON WIZARDS HEAD COACH RANDY WITTMAN:  (On if the win was a full team effort): “Yeah, it was.  I thought the bench saved the day twice.  It was huge, but in an 82-game season, that’s what it takes.  It was good to have good, strong bench play.  Our bench isn’t going to play good sometimes and our starters are going save the day.  That was the case tonight: the bench.” (On the importance of keeping Andre Drummond off the offensive glass): “That’s a team effort.  We have guys coming in when the shot goes up to help stay on the perimeter.  He’s a load.  I thought our guys battled all night long.” (On if the last play was trying to keep (Reggie) Jackson out of the lane): “Well we knew they were going to run a high pick-and-roll, we ran it 48 times today.  We kind of didn’t want to let (Jackson) have any comfort dictating any shot he was going to get, whether it was for a teammate, so we jumped him as soon as he came off of it and scrambled out and contested a tough step back three at the buzzer.” WASHINGTON WIZARDS GUARD JOHN WALL: (On his play and Bradley Beal’s play late in the fourth quarter): “We just have a no-quit mindset.  We knew in the fourth quarter the ball was going to be in our hands and we wanted to be the guys making the shots and making the plays.  Coming back out we said let’s take over and let’s win the game.  Give credit to our second unit.  They gave us the opportunity to even be in this game because the way we started the third quarter it could have easily gotten ugly if coach didn’t make a substitution.” (On containing Andre Drummond): “That was the key.  At first we were giving up too many layups to Reggie Jackson.  In the pick-and-roll we were trying to back up and not let Drummond get lobs but Reggie Jackson was getting layup after layup.  In the third quarter, when the second unit came in, they started making adjustments against (their defense).  In the fourth quarter we started to help out a little bit more.  We couldn’t keep giving up layups because Reggie (Jackson) was going downhill and no one was contesting.  Give credit to them (Washington bench) because you’re in a tough situation because you have shooters on the backside- (Kentavious) Caldwell-Pope, (Marcus) Morris, and (Ersan) Ilyasova, and then Drummond at the rim.  You have to pick and choose what you give up.  We did a better job.” WASHINGTON WIZARDS CENTER MARCIN GORTAT: (On guarding Andre Drummond): “Well we did get ready for him.  We were battling, we all focused on him that every time I go to help we have to go box him out and do a good job on the boards.  But at the same time go at him offensively, make him tired.  I think the way we play, the way I play- run the floor, move a lot, you’re just wearing him out.  It didn’t look like he had a lot of energy tonight.  I take a lot of pride in playing a guy like that because he’s a rising star in this league and he had been literally destroying people.  I’m glad I had a good game against him and we won.  He didn’t have an offensive rebound and he didn’t have a double-double.  It was a good game.” (On battling with the Pistons for possible playoff positioning): “Definitely.  Always, especially since I know the whole staff.  I know the whole organization pretty much.  Everybody that works for Detroit right now is an ex-player or staff members from the Orlando Magic.  Stan (Van Gundy) put up an outstanding crew and he’s doing a tremendous job.  From the players he has he’s doing an amazing job.  He’s a great leader and a great mentor.  It’s always tough to play him.”

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