Dwayne Bacon: "I had the same mental approach for every game"
Blue-whites forward Dwayne Bacon shared his impressions of the second game of the VTB United League quarterfinals against PARMA (92:79). About the hockey jersey collection, a new postgame tradition and mindset before the third match — in a new interview for Zenit TV.
— Dwayne, you started the game like a hurricane. Playoff mode activated?
— Yeah, yeah. I mean, it's playoffs. This is when I'm supposed to play my best. I'm not hitting threes, but at the end of the day, I'm still staying aggressive and attacking. You know, at this time of the season, it's not really about the numbers. It's just about getting a win. So, you know, every night I'm coming out with the same aggression, just to be aggressive and play my game and play within the team to win.
— Why did you wear the Anaheim Ducks jersey before the game and what does Trevor Zegras means for you?
— I mean I like hockey jerseys, I got, I probably got at least about 15 different kind of hockey jerseys but growing up that was like, you know, that jersey with the Duck face was like popular jersey. I just happen to bring it here but you know I like hockey it's aggressive those guys get after it it's a tough sport to play. So, I respect their grind and you know I got a like I said I got about 15 hockey jerseys that I just love to switch out and swap in.I think I wore one earlier this season but I don't know I switch them up.
— Which club do you prefer more Panthers or Ducks?
— I wear any jersey it don't matter.
— We made a funny video with DuckTales intro because of your outfit. Did you watch this cartoon or played maybe a video game?
— No no, I haven't.I haven't even seen a video yet I gotta watch it.
— What was the main difference in mental approach if we compare Game 1 and Game 2?
— I had the same mental approach. Every game is game one. Every game matters. You know the goal is to always go out there and win every single game. That's my that's been my motto all year. Unfortunately we didn't win every game all year but you know that was my motto all year just to go out and win every single game that way you don't have no problem. Every game is gonna be a test, next game is gonna be different. We're going on the road, those guys still are gonna come out and play they never give up, they never quit and that's how it's gonna be every single game. Every game is a Game 7 to me. You just got to keep coming and keep fighting and come with the same approach every game and I come with it.
— What do you think about our new postgame tradition of collecting wins and did you have the same experience in NCAA?
— I like it I. I didn't have this experience in the NCAA, but I like it. It's just to give you a reminder that it's a long journey. I think we've got one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight... We've got nine wins left and we're bringing the trophy home, but it's going to be difficult, it's going to be hard. Every team is going to put up a fight, so we've just got to be ready to play.
— Now we have to travel to the Urals. What are your expectations before the Game 3?
— Just to come with the same mentality. Don't get comfortable, we cannot get comfortable at all, so we just got to come to play, you know, come ready. You know, the first group started the game well, but we just got to get up to speed with our second unit and help them out a little bit and get everybody on the same page.
