duncan228
06-16-2010, 01:35 AM
Lakers F Pau Gasol: ‘It’s Definitely Not Just Another Game’ (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=tsn-lakersfpaugasolitsde)
SportingNews
Lakers forward Pau Gasol struggled badly in Game 5 in Boston, scoring just 12 points on 5-for-12 shooting and failing to make an assist. He bounced back in a big way in Game 6, though, scoring 17 points with 13 rebounds and nine assists to help force a Game 7 in Los Angeles. He spoke with Sporting News’ Sean Deveney and other reporters after the game.
Question: How important was this for you to come back after getting only 12 points in Game 5?
Pau Gasol: I think it was good. You know, I’m really happy about the team, the way we played as a team tonight, defensively, the activity, the intensity, just everything was very, very positive and very together. So you know, we’re really, really happy with that. I just did my part, I guess.
Q: At the end of the second quarter, you guys were outrebounding (the Celtics) 30 to 13. How important is it for you guys to win the rebound battle?
PG: It’s huge. Pretty much every game that either team has won has been also the winner of the rebounding game and battle. When you outrebound a team like we did tonight, you’re giving yourself a huge advantage.
Q: When you go into a Game 7 like this, do you want to consider how big the moment is? Do players like to do that? Or do you as the old cliche says, it’s just another game?
PG: It’s definitely not just another game. But it’s a crucial game, obviously, like it was tonight, and luckily we play at home, and we want to carry everything that we did right tonight to it, too. And then I think we’ll be in a very good place to win.
Q: You were in these situations before many times that one game decides everything. It was world championships, European championships, Olympics. How much does experience help you in Game 7 here that you’ve been in this situation that you have to win this one game?
PG: Experience is always a huge plus, especially when you face these kinds of games and these kinds of situations. I’ve been fortunate throughout my career that I’ve experienced a few, and it puts me in a better place mentally, especially, to be able to face it and be successful. So I hope that we get now some good rest tomorrow and look at the tape again and just come to Game 7 to play as hard as possible to win it.
SportingNews
Lakers forward Pau Gasol struggled badly in Game 5 in Boston, scoring just 12 points on 5-for-12 shooting and failing to make an assist. He bounced back in a big way in Game 6, though, scoring 17 points with 13 rebounds and nine assists to help force a Game 7 in Los Angeles. He spoke with Sporting News’ Sean Deveney and other reporters after the game.
Question: How important was this for you to come back after getting only 12 points in Game 5?
Pau Gasol: I think it was good. You know, I’m really happy about the team, the way we played as a team tonight, defensively, the activity, the intensity, just everything was very, very positive and very together. So you know, we’re really, really happy with that. I just did my part, I guess.
Q: At the end of the second quarter, you guys were outrebounding (the Celtics) 30 to 13. How important is it for you guys to win the rebound battle?
PG: It’s huge. Pretty much every game that either team has won has been also the winner of the rebounding game and battle. When you outrebound a team like we did tonight, you’re giving yourself a huge advantage.
Q: When you go into a Game 7 like this, do you want to consider how big the moment is? Do players like to do that? Or do you as the old cliche says, it’s just another game?
PG: It’s definitely not just another game. But it’s a crucial game, obviously, like it was tonight, and luckily we play at home, and we want to carry everything that we did right tonight to it, too. And then I think we’ll be in a very good place to win.
Q: You were in these situations before many times that one game decides everything. It was world championships, European championships, Olympics. How much does experience help you in Game 7 here that you’ve been in this situation that you have to win this one game?
PG: Experience is always a huge plus, especially when you face these kinds of games and these kinds of situations. I’ve been fortunate throughout my career that I’ve experienced a few, and it puts me in a better place mentally, especially, to be able to face it and be successful. So I hope that we get now some good rest tomorrow and look at the tape again and just come to Game 7 to play as hard as possible to win it.