NBA PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT: PELICANS vs CLIPPERS

April 15, 2022

Brandon Ingram

New Orleans Pelicans

Postgame Press Conference

Pelicans 105, Clippers 101

Q. Larry was saying that he could tell on the flight here or shootaround you had a look in your eye. How locked in did you feel coming into this game?

BRANDON INGRAM: You know, these two games in the play-in I've been very locked in. Just trying to know everything about the other team, figure out what they really, really do well and trying to figure out how I can be effective on the offensive end.

My approach is just trying to be the aggressor and trying to make sure that my team is -- our guys are being the aggressors, too, on the offensive end and defensive end and just staying consistent throughout the game.

Q. Considering how this season started, how good does it feel to a couple months later, you guys have made it all the way back and you're going to the Playoffs?

BRANDON INGRAM: We've been resilient. Willie stayed positive throughout the season, no matter if we won or lost, and we continued to worry about ourselves, how we can get better, how we can continue to build wins for the organization, and knowing that this isn't just for this year, this continues to go on, but we stayed in the moment and continued to get better.

Q. You took a huge punch from the Clippers in the third quarter, down 10 going into the fourth. How did you collect yourselves and get back into the game in the fourth?

BRANDON INGRAM: Guys stepped up. Trey Murphy was big in that fourth quarter, maybe even in the third quarter, just defensive rebounding and knocking down shots. We're going to need that from him as we continue to go on, for him to knock shots down, be ready and continue to learn the game. Larry Nance came in and was really, really good on the offensive and defensive glass and making smart decisions.

We needed something from everybody today.

Q. Willie said after the game Brandon Ingram is the truth. We've felt all season long that you can tell he really believes in you. Does that give you confidence? How does it make you feel knowing you have that bond with that coach like that?

BRANDON INGRAM: Yeah, it's a great feeling. I get to tell him whatever is on my mind, whatever I feel in the game, and he gives a good response every single time and he listens. It's great to have that, and the continued dialogue. He makes me a better person and a better basketball player, so we continue to keep going.

Q. We heard you talking a little bit after the game, but what does it mean for you to have your first opportunity to play in the Playoffs and get to show what you can do on that stage?

BRANDON INGRAM: To God be the glory. It's our time. All the work that we've put in every single day, all the work that we've put in this summer, we finally get to showcase it on the biggest stage. I'm excited. I know my teammates are excited. Willie is excited. You should see Jose dancing behind this screen right now. I know he's excited. It's going to be fun.

Q. We got to hear the speech on TV, but what were you thinking heading into that fourth quarter, the words Willie said to you guys in the huddle, just looked like a different type of attitude, different type of passion than what we're used to seeing from Willie. What were you thinking when he was giving that speech?

BRANDON INGRAM: That we've got to win this basketball game. That's the only thing that's going through my mind. How I can be effective in the last six minutes in the game, how I can be aggressive, make the best decisions on the basketball floor. Everyone bought into that. Everyone on the floor made good decisions on the floor. We were really good on the defensive end, and we just executed our offense.

Q. For you personally, how do you enjoy playing with those teammates, and what did you see as the ceiling for this team from your perspective?

BRANDON INGRAM: This team is different. We get a chance to be together off the floor and really like each other and be around each other. I think that's why we play so well and we're so loose on the basketball floor. I haven't been around a team like that since maybe high school where we all got young guys, even some of the older guys are just really in tune with what we're doing.

It's fun. It's fun playing with these guys and trying to gut out and get wins. We really play for each other.