Gary Trent Jr. on why he wanted to play: Every game is ‘meaningful’

With a playoff spot locked up and a weaker opponent on deck, Raptors veterans had the option to take Friday night off — but most decided to play. Gary Trent Jr. breaks down his decision to skip a rest day in favor of taking the floor with his teammates. Follow our Raptors coverage all season long on Yahoo Sports Canada.

Video Transcript

[INAUDIBLE]

- Before the game, we asked Nick about potentially resting [INAUDIBLE] for bat. [INAUDIBLE] the guys who were available to play all wanted to play. Why is it important for you to play in these games that are making [INAUDIBLE].

Collection?

GARY TRENT, JR: Every game we go out and play-- they're meaningful, you know? Whether it's going on our record or not, it's preparing yourself mentally and going through moves, the motions of what you're going to need in a week or two-- the next week.

So I think just coming out, trying to stay assertive, keep a rhythm, going into the little break before playoffs.

- I was going to ask about that break. Is it just too long to also sit out, like, the three or four days to kind of get into it, and all of a sudden, you've been off-- like, if you had sat, you've been off for like 10 or 11 days before game one?

GARY TRENT, JR: Yeah, you could say that but, you know, all them days is really just going to be work, preparation, getting ready. So that's all-- same thing it is now. Same thing, next week.

- Are those things that you can't really recreate in practice-- that, like being out there in games helps?

GARY TRENT, JR: Well, yeah, for sure, you know? But obviously, you can look at-- some scenarios, we watch film. You could see, OK, well, maybe, this situation, I could've did this different, or maybe I should have done this move.

So you know, as you watch the film and you pick and choose and nit-pick on what you did right or wrong, you know, you go from there.

- Gary, you obviously will have [INAUDIBLE] results when you get the ball. Is there a difference in crunch time-- like, you try to simplify it in terms of what you want to go to in terms of response?

GARY TRENT, JR: Really just whatever the defense gives me. Whenever I see opportunity, take it, be assertive, be confident, play the game. [INAUDIBLE].

- What's that arena feel like when you get the ball in your hands and crowds on their feet in the last few seconds of the game?

GARY TRENT, JR: Sure, it's everything you dream of. It's everything you work for. You know, it's great to hear Scotia rocking, the house rocking. And I can't wait to see what it's talking about next week.

- The value of playing at close games-- obviously, you always want to win the game. Just the first [INAUDIBLE].

GARY TRENT, JR: Sure.

- Just, you know, you get into late game in situations where maybe you'd like to be at 20, but closer game-- what's the value in that moving forward?

GARY TRENT, JR: Yeah, you know, this whole time, it's teaching moments. You know, even coming out as flat as we did, we can't do that next week. And we know that. So go back to the drawing board. Make sure we ready made. Sure we're on our P's and Q's, and come out strong going forward from here.

- Gary, Scottie's obviously started off really strong. And then since the all-star break, he's taken it to another level. What's it say about him-- because there's rookies that start off strong and then sort of taper off--

GARY TRENT, JR: For sure.

- --that he's been able to take it to another level since.

GARY TRENT, JR: For sure. No, it just shows, you know, he's the real deal, you know? Everything he's shown, everything he-- it's just different timing, different players. Not a lot of rookies-- really like him-- you know, what he can do, how he, impacts the game offensively, defensively, being able to create space. Has amazing touch you know already as a rookie. So keep working. Sky's the limit for him. He can be as great as he want to be.

- I'm sorry. You had 19 points in the second half. Did you make any conscious adjustments at the break? Or did you just keep trying to do what you're doing?

GARY TRENT, JR: No, same shots I was shooting the first half, same ones I shot in the second half. And now the first half this wasn't going in. So that's how it goes. How did the game go. Keep playing and don't worry about that.

- All good? Thank you.

- Thanks, Christine.