duncan228
03-29-2010, 10:35 PM
Post Game Quotes (http://www.nba.com/spurs/gameday/100329.html)
Head Coach Gregg Popovich
“The Nets did a good job, they got a good win. They worked hard for 48 minutes and deserved it. One of the big parts in the game was when we were up nine points with less than two minutes to go in the first half. We had a huge mistake and they hit a three from an out of bounds play. The Nets got some momentum and really felt good about themselves. They scored 90 points on 37% shooting, if you tell me that any team was going to score 90 points on 37% shooting, you would have a great chance to win. We just didn’t have anybody that could score. If you’re not scoring, then you at least have to make free throws, which we didn’t. You at least have to take care of the ball, which we also didn’t do. So we were bad from the free throw, bad handling the ball and we couldn’t find anyone to score.”
Tim Duncan
On the absence Manu Ginobili - “Obviously we wish Manu was there the whole time. We had problems scoring the ball. There wasn’t anything anyone could do consistently. Manu has been our go-to guy for the last 10-15 games.”
On the free throws and turnovers being the difference - “We left a lot of points on the board and gave them a lot of hope all the way down to the end. They made their free throws and it allowed them to stay in the game and win it. We tried to take them out early and not let them stay in the ballgame. They have skilled ballplayers despite their record. We gave them the confidence to stay in it and they did. They made the plays.”
Richard Jefferson
On the game - “We turned the ball over. Fortunately for them they didn’t turn the ball over. They only had four total turnovers. We couldn’t make the shots.”
On player’s awareness of the Nets record - “I think more is made of it in the media. Nobody else around the league really cares about it. We’re all professional athletes. They have some talent over there to win some games.”
On the defense - “We’re coming off three games in four nights. Our defense wasn’t that bad. When you hold a team to 37% you are doing some things right. That 37% came with them hitting quite a few shots down the stretch. We just couldn’t knock it down and when you combine that our turnovers we couldn’t win."
Head Coach Kiki Vandeweghe
On no more record - “You don’t have to ask me about it and you do not get to ask me about it everyday. I’m happy for the guys and I’m happy that they continued to work, continued to improve. What’s important is, and I know not everyone sees that, but our guys everyday in practice have really worked hard to work on their individual skills. They tried to get better everyday. We watched film everyday as a group and individually. They continued to keep their heads up in what was a very difficult situation. With guys in and out of the line ups, guys hurt all the time, they stayed together as a group. What I liked the most tonight was 1 thru14 (players) everyone was cheering. Everyone was up cheering for their teammates and everyone contributed. We had great games from a lot of guys. I thought we just played very, very hard and we talked about it before the game. Right now we’re playing for pride and fighting as hard as you can. That’s what I think they did.”
On taking Tim Duncan out of the game - “I am pleased with the effort. Duncan is a tremendous player. You’re not going to stop him and history shows that, but you can limit him a little bit. We tried to double him and tried to make it crowded and make someone else beat us. They shoot the ball very well, they’re a good shooting team. This is a team that has played, even without Ginobili, about as well as anyone in the NBA recently. They’re very confident, they’re a veteran team. This was a good win for us."
Brook Lopez
On early frustrations - “I think that our team’s aggression was very high. They played great defensively and I had to match their intensity to be in the game. They lifted me up and I played well off their energy.”
On working to channel the focus - “I think so. I don’t know about last year if I would have made it through a stretch like this, but Kiki talked to me about focusing my energy like a laser beam. He told me to just focus and not let anything get in my way.”
On being down with six minutes to go - “We just helped the helper. I tried to front the post but I think we talked about the pick and roll. We closed out to the shooters and made them put the ball on the floor. We kept helping each other and had each other’s back.”
Courtney Lee
On Duncan throwing the ball away in the closing seconds - “I know they were looking for a three. I was up taking it away so he still threw the ball and George threw a back door cut. And even if they got that back door cut that two wouldn’t have hurt us. So we wanted to run them off the three.”
Asked if he tipped the ball - “No I didn’t. So Tim threw it straight out of bounds. So I gave him the fist pump.”
About the 10th win - “That’s one less problem we have to deal with for the rest of the season. Now it’s just about going out and getting better and playing together and getting wins. Get as many wins as possible and hopefully catch Minnesota. We just want to finish the season strong.”
Head Coach Gregg Popovich
“The Nets did a good job, they got a good win. They worked hard for 48 minutes and deserved it. One of the big parts in the game was when we were up nine points with less than two minutes to go in the first half. We had a huge mistake and they hit a three from an out of bounds play. The Nets got some momentum and really felt good about themselves. They scored 90 points on 37% shooting, if you tell me that any team was going to score 90 points on 37% shooting, you would have a great chance to win. We just didn’t have anybody that could score. If you’re not scoring, then you at least have to make free throws, which we didn’t. You at least have to take care of the ball, which we also didn’t do. So we were bad from the free throw, bad handling the ball and we couldn’t find anyone to score.”
Tim Duncan
On the absence Manu Ginobili - “Obviously we wish Manu was there the whole time. We had problems scoring the ball. There wasn’t anything anyone could do consistently. Manu has been our go-to guy for the last 10-15 games.”
On the free throws and turnovers being the difference - “We left a lot of points on the board and gave them a lot of hope all the way down to the end. They made their free throws and it allowed them to stay in the game and win it. We tried to take them out early and not let them stay in the ballgame. They have skilled ballplayers despite their record. We gave them the confidence to stay in it and they did. They made the plays.”
Richard Jefferson
On the game - “We turned the ball over. Fortunately for them they didn’t turn the ball over. They only had four total turnovers. We couldn’t make the shots.”
On player’s awareness of the Nets record - “I think more is made of it in the media. Nobody else around the league really cares about it. We’re all professional athletes. They have some talent over there to win some games.”
On the defense - “We’re coming off three games in four nights. Our defense wasn’t that bad. When you hold a team to 37% you are doing some things right. That 37% came with them hitting quite a few shots down the stretch. We just couldn’t knock it down and when you combine that our turnovers we couldn’t win."
Head Coach Kiki Vandeweghe
On no more record - “You don’t have to ask me about it and you do not get to ask me about it everyday. I’m happy for the guys and I’m happy that they continued to work, continued to improve. What’s important is, and I know not everyone sees that, but our guys everyday in practice have really worked hard to work on their individual skills. They tried to get better everyday. We watched film everyday as a group and individually. They continued to keep their heads up in what was a very difficult situation. With guys in and out of the line ups, guys hurt all the time, they stayed together as a group. What I liked the most tonight was 1 thru14 (players) everyone was cheering. Everyone was up cheering for their teammates and everyone contributed. We had great games from a lot of guys. I thought we just played very, very hard and we talked about it before the game. Right now we’re playing for pride and fighting as hard as you can. That’s what I think they did.”
On taking Tim Duncan out of the game - “I am pleased with the effort. Duncan is a tremendous player. You’re not going to stop him and history shows that, but you can limit him a little bit. We tried to double him and tried to make it crowded and make someone else beat us. They shoot the ball very well, they’re a good shooting team. This is a team that has played, even without Ginobili, about as well as anyone in the NBA recently. They’re very confident, they’re a veteran team. This was a good win for us."
Brook Lopez
On early frustrations - “I think that our team’s aggression was very high. They played great defensively and I had to match their intensity to be in the game. They lifted me up and I played well off their energy.”
On working to channel the focus - “I think so. I don’t know about last year if I would have made it through a stretch like this, but Kiki talked to me about focusing my energy like a laser beam. He told me to just focus and not let anything get in my way.”
On being down with six minutes to go - “We just helped the helper. I tried to front the post but I think we talked about the pick and roll. We closed out to the shooters and made them put the ball on the floor. We kept helping each other and had each other’s back.”
Courtney Lee
On Duncan throwing the ball away in the closing seconds - “I know they were looking for a three. I was up taking it away so he still threw the ball and George threw a back door cut. And even if they got that back door cut that two wouldn’t have hurt us. So we wanted to run them off the three.”
Asked if he tipped the ball - “No I didn’t. So Tim threw it straight out of bounds. So I gave him the fist pump.”
About the 10th win - “That’s one less problem we have to deal with for the rest of the season. Now it’s just about going out and getting better and playing together and getting wins. Get as many wins as possible and hopefully catch Minnesota. We just want to finish the season strong.”