duncan228
03-31-2009, 11:25 PM
Post Game Quotes (http://www.nba.com/spurs/news/quotes_090331.html)
Gregg Popovich
On the game - "Obviously it was a tough loss. We've been playing up and down. Some nights we play really well and some nights are like tonight. I think the common denominator is we're not hitting our jump shots. We had the same problem in New Orleans. It makes it tough if we're not hitting those shots and a couple of people aren't playing well. Knocking down shots is really important in the NBA and we’re not doing it."
When asked if a timeout should have been called after the ball got knocked out of Tony Parker’s hands and knocked back in bounds - "It should have been a timeout. Absolutely."
When asked if shooting was the main issue right now - "Every team has a number of things they want to improve. No team is perfect or they would be undefeated. We have things we need to improve. We're picking a bad time to be spotty, that’s for sure."
Roger Mason Jr.
On the game - "I think we're just in a bad spot right now. Obviously, we're not playing to the best of our abilities but it happens. Right now, noone is going to pull us out of it. It’s got to come from within. It’ll be a good test for us. I think we'll bounce back. We'll have a good day of practice tomorrow and regroup."
On the difference in play between the first and second halves - "I think in the first half there was more to it. We’re a team that gets stops. We don't depend on having to make shots to win games. I think as of late, we haven't been hitting as many shots as we have been in the past and we’re still not getting those stops. That combination is putting us behind and these games have been close."
Manu Ginobili
On not calling a timeout after he lost control of the ball - "I think it was kind of late after saving the ball. If I was going to call it I should have called it after I caught it but I didn't have a quick shot. I thought I had him but then instead of shooting the runner I thought he was going to block me from behind. I saw Tony (Parker), he was guarded, and it was a bad decision. I should’ve called timeout but now it's easier to say."
On Coach Popovich saying a couple players need to play better - "I think it's a little more than a couple. With a couple it's not going to be enough. We really need to step up. And it's not only with playing better, we really have to support each other more, need to hustle more and have to be tougher. The last couple weeks have not been very good for us and we consider ourselves an experienced and tough team so we have to stick together and stand up now."
Thunder Head Coach Scott Brooks
On the game - "That was just a great game. One of our better played games. We shared the ball well, played so well defensively. We’ve been telling our guys, nothing changes from day to day. We want to just keep getting better every day. Russell Westbrook is an example of that. I am really proud of the way he set the table tonight. Then K.D. was great to follow it up and then our whole bench did a great job behind them."
On his team's offensive performance - "We haven't been playing that well offensively as a team lately, but not tonight. Tonight we did that. We shared the ball well and that is what you have to do against a team like this. To beat a team like the Spurs you have to be almost flawless."
On the Spurs - "We know the Spurs are one of the best teams in basketball. Now with Ginobili back they are still trying to re-establish a rhythm. I really admire Pop, the way he handles himself and this team. They really make every game a 4th quarter game and we stand to learn so much from games like that."
On Kevin Durant - "Watching Kevin Durant get better is just a joy. He is one of those guys who doesn't take any time off. Great ones do that, they utilize every day to get better. He has a beautiful shot and we challenged him to take some of the focus off the long range shot, trying to hit the home run, and focus on shooting from all parts of the floor. He has the length to shoot over just about anyone."
Kevin Durant
On the game - "It's a big win for us tonight. Coming into a building where the Spurs have won so many championships and to get a win, it's a real confidence builder. They are a good team and playing them makes us that much better. They are one of the teams that we watch closely how they play basketball, play defense and how they move the ball."
On playing close to Austin - "I take it one game at a time and have to get up for every game. But it's always fun coming back to San Antonio where I am close to Austin where played basketball as a freshman at Texas."
On playing defense on the Spurs - "We got stop defensive stops, collapsed on their shooters and were able to keep Tony Parker out of the lane. When he would drive and create, we would pack in to make him get it out to the shooters."
Jeff Green
On the game - "We are a young team that is trying to get better and better each game. We are just trying to win games and finish strong along with keep learning how to be a team. To beat a team like San Antonio, who is a powerhouse in the league, is a great win for us. We just need to finish strong so that we can carry some momentum over to next season."
On the Spurs playoff positioning - "There is no doubt that they will be good in the Playoffs. They have great players like Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili along with excellent shooters like Roger Mason Jr. They are a great team no matter which playoff spot they end up with in the end. They are going to turn it on at some point late in the season. Everyone knows that they are a team that can just flip a switch and turn it on when it is playoff time."
Gregg Popovich
On the game - "Obviously it was a tough loss. We've been playing up and down. Some nights we play really well and some nights are like tonight. I think the common denominator is we're not hitting our jump shots. We had the same problem in New Orleans. It makes it tough if we're not hitting those shots and a couple of people aren't playing well. Knocking down shots is really important in the NBA and we’re not doing it."
When asked if a timeout should have been called after the ball got knocked out of Tony Parker’s hands and knocked back in bounds - "It should have been a timeout. Absolutely."
When asked if shooting was the main issue right now - "Every team has a number of things they want to improve. No team is perfect or they would be undefeated. We have things we need to improve. We're picking a bad time to be spotty, that’s for sure."
Roger Mason Jr.
On the game - "I think we're just in a bad spot right now. Obviously, we're not playing to the best of our abilities but it happens. Right now, noone is going to pull us out of it. It’s got to come from within. It’ll be a good test for us. I think we'll bounce back. We'll have a good day of practice tomorrow and regroup."
On the difference in play between the first and second halves - "I think in the first half there was more to it. We’re a team that gets stops. We don't depend on having to make shots to win games. I think as of late, we haven't been hitting as many shots as we have been in the past and we’re still not getting those stops. That combination is putting us behind and these games have been close."
Manu Ginobili
On not calling a timeout after he lost control of the ball - "I think it was kind of late after saving the ball. If I was going to call it I should have called it after I caught it but I didn't have a quick shot. I thought I had him but then instead of shooting the runner I thought he was going to block me from behind. I saw Tony (Parker), he was guarded, and it was a bad decision. I should’ve called timeout but now it's easier to say."
On Coach Popovich saying a couple players need to play better - "I think it's a little more than a couple. With a couple it's not going to be enough. We really need to step up. And it's not only with playing better, we really have to support each other more, need to hustle more and have to be tougher. The last couple weeks have not been very good for us and we consider ourselves an experienced and tough team so we have to stick together and stand up now."
Thunder Head Coach Scott Brooks
On the game - "That was just a great game. One of our better played games. We shared the ball well, played so well defensively. We’ve been telling our guys, nothing changes from day to day. We want to just keep getting better every day. Russell Westbrook is an example of that. I am really proud of the way he set the table tonight. Then K.D. was great to follow it up and then our whole bench did a great job behind them."
On his team's offensive performance - "We haven't been playing that well offensively as a team lately, but not tonight. Tonight we did that. We shared the ball well and that is what you have to do against a team like this. To beat a team like the Spurs you have to be almost flawless."
On the Spurs - "We know the Spurs are one of the best teams in basketball. Now with Ginobili back they are still trying to re-establish a rhythm. I really admire Pop, the way he handles himself and this team. They really make every game a 4th quarter game and we stand to learn so much from games like that."
On Kevin Durant - "Watching Kevin Durant get better is just a joy. He is one of those guys who doesn't take any time off. Great ones do that, they utilize every day to get better. He has a beautiful shot and we challenged him to take some of the focus off the long range shot, trying to hit the home run, and focus on shooting from all parts of the floor. He has the length to shoot over just about anyone."
Kevin Durant
On the game - "It's a big win for us tonight. Coming into a building where the Spurs have won so many championships and to get a win, it's a real confidence builder. They are a good team and playing them makes us that much better. They are one of the teams that we watch closely how they play basketball, play defense and how they move the ball."
On playing close to Austin - "I take it one game at a time and have to get up for every game. But it's always fun coming back to San Antonio where I am close to Austin where played basketball as a freshman at Texas."
On playing defense on the Spurs - "We got stop defensive stops, collapsed on their shooters and were able to keep Tony Parker out of the lane. When he would drive and create, we would pack in to make him get it out to the shooters."
Jeff Green
On the game - "We are a young team that is trying to get better and better each game. We are just trying to win games and finish strong along with keep learning how to be a team. To beat a team like San Antonio, who is a powerhouse in the league, is a great win for us. We just need to finish strong so that we can carry some momentum over to next season."
On the Spurs playoff positioning - "There is no doubt that they will be good in the Playoffs. They have great players like Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili along with excellent shooters like Roger Mason Jr. They are a great team no matter which playoff spot they end up with in the end. They are going to turn it on at some point late in the season. Everyone knows that they are a team that can just flip a switch and turn it on when it is playoff time."