Kori Ellis
06-22-2005, 02:47 PM
LARRY BROWN
Q. We just asked Chauncey sort of the flipside of this question, but if tomorrow turns out to be your last game as a coach, how would you like to be remembered?
COACH BROWN: No, I don't even want to think about that. I mean, this is about the players. Pop and I talked about this when the series started. You know, this has been an unbelievable experience for me this whole playoff run, but it's also been kind of hard because one of your dearest friends is coaching.
But this is all about the players. It was obvious last night, so I don't even want to think about that.
Q. We always ask the players, you know, how are you going to respond in this kind of moment, how is it different for you in this kind of moment. What about for coaches in terms of your own emotions going into a game like this, never mind what happens after the season, but just trying to win this particular game. Does it change the way you go into it tomorrow?
COACH BROWN: No. I was in such awe last night just watching what those guys did. Because one, I think the team we're playing is great. They are unbelievably well coached. But, you know, to come in here, I think everybody kept asking the same question, how are we going to get ourselves ready to play in Game 6? And then I just marvelled at their enthusiasm and their effort and the fact that they cared so much that I could have handled almost anything last night.
I'm really looking forward to tomorrow. I think it's great for the league, and it will be a wonderful experience being part of that.
So it's only good. It's like The Finals of the NCAA. Unfortunately in our country, they only remember the winning team, but I have a lot of admiration for both teams and what's going on.
Q. In this kind of game, a lot of people have said the home court advantage is what you play all year for, but when it's a Game 7 at this magnitude, that kind of gets muted somewhat because both teams face the same consequence. Do you buy that at all?
COACH BROWN: I hope so. (Smiling).
You know, I don't even really think about that last night. I told my team, pretend that noise is for you. But to realize how long this has gone and what sacrifices people have had to make, you hate to see anybody lose. And I really don't think there will be a loser coming out of this. I'm just hopeful that both teams play great.
I looked at, you know, in Game 5, they won the game because they made plays. And as disappointed as we might have been, losing, and I look down there, I said, hey, Pop and I talked about it, they made shots, we didn't make shots late.
In last night's game, same thing, we made plays at the end of the game and we won. So hopefully that will be the case tomorrow.
Q. Specifically in terms of tomorrow's game, but also encompassing the last two years, how are you a good fit for this group of players, and also, how is this group of players a good fit for you?
COACH BROWN: Well, I think anybody would be a good fit for my group. I think you've got to think about what Joe did, one, hiring Rick Carlisle. The points of emphasis, the things that he encouraged, defense, team play, respecting your teammates; they were all in place when I got there.
I think the coach in that locker room would allow any coach that cares about the game and just cares about coaching to just step in and be comfortable. You know, my whole thing is the hardest thing I think in today, with today's game, is getting players to understand there's a difference between coaching and criticism. These guys allow me to coach. So that's all I ever want to do. They have allowed me to do that.
So that's why I feel like for me this is a perfect situation. And again, don't take this wrong, I've been fortunate in my career that I've had that opportunity in a lot of places. It's not just it just didn't happen in Detroit. But for the players, you'd have to ask them.
Q. Can you think of a specific reason why this group became champions, as opposed to others that you've played?
COACH BROWN: Well, I think we're probably better. My team in Philly in 2001 was banged up. I was looking at one of the newspapers documenting all of Robert's great shots. We had a chance to win Game 3 at home, which a lot of people said, no, they beat you four out of five, but that was a pretty resilient group with one special player and everybody buying into what we were trying to do.
I've had a lot of teams that have had chances, but I really honestly thought it wasn't meant to be; other teams were better. But last year, I truly felt we were the best team. This year, I truly believed from the outset that we had a chance to repeat. Now, I understand you've got to be pretty lucky.
Q. How does Chauncey compare to guys in other sports like Derek Jeter of the Yankee, Tom Brady of the Patriots in his ability to come up big in bigger games?
COACH BROWN: Well, I don't think any of them have been through what he's been through, so maybe because of that, if you hear him talk, a lot of guys feel sorry about what has happened early in their career. He hasn't. He's used it as a motivation. He's mentioned to me a lot of times that maybe he wasn't ready, and now he has one, he respects the opportunity he's been given. And he's tried to get better. Anybody that knows me that's played for me, I've put a lot of responsibility on the point guard. He's probably had to sacrifice as much as anybody I've ever coached for the benefit of the team, and I think everybody in our locker room recognizes that.
Then he has great confidence. You know, he always says that I have great confidence in him. I would hope as a coach that's something that all your players feel. But he has great confidence in himself and he knows his teammates feel the very same way, so he's able to perform at a high level when it really matters most.
Q. For all of the years you've coached, is there a way for you to succinctly define yourself as a coach, whether it's X's and O's, strategy, motivation; is there some way you would describe yourself?
COACH BROWN: No, you've been with me long enough, you can probably do that.
Q. I can't figure it out.
COACH BROWN: One, I've been blessed because I'm doing exactly what I always wanted to do. I don't know how many people are lucky enough to do that.
Two, I don't think anybody in our sport has ever had the mentors that I've had, you know, perfect Mr. Iba and John McLendon and Pete Newell, Alex Smith, McGuire, I don't think anybody has been this fortunate as I have in terms of the people that have taught me. And I've been blessed with players that have allowed me to be myself and coach.
So I'm hopeful that when all of this is said and done that people say the guy cared about the sport and cared about the players he taught. I'm not an innovator, but I'm relentless in what I believe in, so I guess that's it.
Q. You were talking about Chauncey a second ago, but he's really come from the player he was early in his career to something a superstar and that just doesn't happen to a lot of players. Some become good, but he's become a superstar. Is there one thing that you can point to that was the difference?
COACH BROWN: Well, I think you're the first person that's ever mentioned that to me when they talked about Chauncey. I always think super players are the ones that make players around them better, and sometimes it's at a great sacrifice. I think that, one, he's as good a shooter as I've ever coached. You know, Reggie was I don't count Reggie. (Laughter) I don't think that's fair.
He's not afraid to fail. He just shows up.
But it doesn't just happen. You know, he has I don't think he's missed one practice since I've been there. I don't think he's ever taken a possession off where he's not trying to do the right thing. And again, the fact that we've been able to win 50 games the two years Rip well, he played for Rick one year, but he was pretty successful at Minnesota in a different role. When Rick had him, I think people recognized you know, his value to the team, and I've heard Rick comment, I don't buy Detroit not having great players. Chauncey Billups is as good as anybody in the league at that position. And he led us to a championship last year and is giving us an opportunity to repeat. So that in itself says enough.
RASHEED WALLACE
Q: What are you listening to Rasheed?
Wallace: Music (laughter).
Q: How does this team get ready for this type of situation, one game to win it all?
Wallace: That’s how we do it, that’s what we’ve been doing for the last few years, just winning games. There’s no pressure on us.
Q: How pleased does it make you to keep proving people wrong?
Wallace: Cool. It feels real good to prove all you cats wrong.
Q: Rasheed, describe the mentality behind the fact that you guys have won five straight times facing elimination. How have you been able to do that?
Wallace: When we’re out there, we don’t think about it like, “Oh, it’s the last game, this might our last game.” No. We just play.
Q: How much of a difference will it make that you have so much Game 7 experience?
Wallace: I mean, it’s only – like I said last night – it’s only a little bit of difference, because this team is too good for us to sit up there and be like, “They’ve never been in a Game 7 so we’ve got the advantage.” No. They’re too good.
Q: How much do the humble beginnings of this team help when you play in these do-or-die situations?
Wallace: Like I said, you just gotta play. You can’t look at it like a do-or-die situation. You just gotta go out there and hoop.
Q: Why do you seem to play your best games under these conditions?
Wallace: That I can’t answer.
Q: How did it feel last night, when it seems the refs were doing everything they could to try to keep you out of the game and you –
Wallace: I’m not going to get on that.
Q: – but you were able to preserver through all that and come up big down the stre –
Wallace: I’m not going to get on that.
Q: How important is it that, while Tim Duncan is a great player, he hasn’t had anyone to help him down in the post?
Wallace: That’s on them. That’s something for them to figure out. That’s not our problem. Our thing is just keep doing what we’ve been doing these last few games.
Q: Does it make it a lot easier though?
Wallace: That’s not our problem.
Q: Where does the pressure live right now in this series?
Wallace: Ain’t no pressure for us. Pressure busts pipes, we don’t bust pipes.
Q: Is this the biggest game you’ve ever played in?
Wallace: No.
Q: What would you consider the biggest game you’ve ever played in?
Wallace: When I was younger, my first championship.
Q: Does this compare at all to that, a Game 7?
Wallace: Ain’t no comparison.
Q: Why’s that?
Wallace: Because that was my first one, and this is not my first one.
Q: Can you enjoy and have fun in a Game 7?
Wallace: Oh yeah, I have fun every time I’m out there on the court, no matter whether we’re winning or losing. Just play.
Q: Talk about how Chauncey has played for you, not allowing them to make a run by making big shot after big shot.
Wallace: That’s the nickname you all gave him. He’s just living up to it. He’s going good, doing what he needs to do for us to win.
CHAUNCEY BILLUPS
Q. Can you just talk about in each of the last two Finals, your ability just to step up, you were the MVP last year and could be again this year, you raised your scoring average three points from the regular season, can you talk about that?
CHAUNCEY BILLUPS: I don't know, I just try to be aggressive, I just try to really be the best teammate I can. If that means to step it up and set the tone for my team in whatever way I have to, I will. It doesn't have to be scoring. But it just so happened that it has been. There's other things that I like to do to set the tone, too. But of course, scoring is, you know, most of what y'all look at, you know what I mean, but I don't think that's my only effect on the game. It's a huge effect, but I don't think that's my only effect.
Q. No team that has advanced to The Finals has ever lost its last two home games, and they have been so fantastic here at home all season, do you think that the pressure to win might be a little bit more on them than you all?
CHAUNCEY BILLUPS: Oh, yeah, I do. Of course, we're defending champs, so that pressure is on us. But they are at home. They are at home, and I think the pressure is really on them to win this Game 7 and win it all.
They had the best record in the league other than maybe Phoenix, I don't know. But the pressure is definitely on them. They have got the home court advantage in the series. This is Game 7 and no team has ever lost Game 6 and 7 and this and that, but there has not even been a Game 7 since '94 or whatever.
I don't really believe in all that kind of stuff, but I do think the pressure is on them.
Q. Do you think it started to show a little bit last night with Tim Duncan missing free throws, etc., turnovers in the last quarter?
CHAUNCEY BILLUPS: It happens. I don't think that that was him feeling the pressure. He's one of the greats of all time, really. So I don't think that it was pressure he was feeling. It just happens. You can't make every shot, you know what I mean. Plus, he's playing against three big defenders out here in Ben and Rasheed, they are all playing him different ways, you know what I mean, Sheed is playing with length, Tay is playing with quickness and Dyess is playing with his strength and his power, so it's tough every time he gets a comfort level with one of those guys, there's another one coming to guard him. So you have to change it up a little bit.
It's tough on him, but even with all that, he's still having a great series.
Q. In these types of situations, you've always been able to it seems been able to kind of slow down the moment and just focus and play. Can you tell us what that's like for you and what kind of joy you get out of playing these kinds of do or die situations?
CHAUNCEY BILLUPS: Yeah, well, I love it. I think so many players just get a little too excited, which is understandable, you know, being in a situation like that, to get a little too excited and get a little too impatient. I think that's where I come in at with that calm demeanor and just staying poised out there and just playing this Game 7 like it's Game 1, you know what I mean, or the first round, not The Finals. I think my guys pull that confidence from me knowing that I'm going to be the same way out there.
Q. Do you put out of your mind the ramifications, where this will put you in terms of NBA history and all that other kind of tough?
CHAUNCEY BILLUPS: No, you can't worry about any of that stuff. None of that stuff matters right now. It's all about playing this game tomorrow, you know what I mean, and playing every single possession and knowing that every possession is critical and the outcome will take care of itself, either way, whatever comes about. But you can't worry about anything outside that 90 x 50 out there.
Q. Derek Jeter of the Yankees and Tom Brady of the Patriots always come up big in the post season and make others big around them, how do you compare to guys like Jeter, Brady?
CHAUNCEY BILLUPS: I don't know if I compare to those guy, man. That's unbelievable company. But I do like these situations. I love them, man, I love to be in these kind of pressure situations. I have some history of doing good in these situations. I don't always do good, but my history is pretty good, you know what I mean, but all that doesn't mean nothing right now, because I haven't played in a Game 7 in The Finals. Not many people have.
But, you know, I don't look at it like it's a Game 7 of The Finals. I look at it like, you know, this game, this is a regular season game, even though it means a lot more. I played that same way, you know what I mean. I'm not going to get too high up or too high down. I'm going to be the same way throughout the whole process, and I do take a lot of pride in trying to be there in these big moments and trying to make my teammates better, and they make me better, also. I don't deserve a lot of that credit. But it's nice.
Q. By now it's certainly well established that you guys are a really resilient team and you've been asked about this, but you've had more happen to you this season than a normal team would have in about 10 years and you're 23 18 mid season, was there a point where you were getting a little concerned?
CHAUNCEY BILLUPS: There was a couple dark days during the season. Of course, the melee at the Palace, it took a toll on us. It took a major toll on us. You couldn't turn on the TV without seeing it. It was just horrible. It was just a horrible thing that took a major toll on us. Then finally getting Ben back and then Coach Brown falling a little sick and being unhealthy and not being able to coach was a setback a couple of times.
So we've had it, man, we've been through a lot. We understood that. We felt like had we not been through some of those situations, maybe we'll be sitting Game 7 at our place, you know what I mean, but we're not. You can't get those games back, but we're here you know what I mean. We're here, we are expected to be here and we're looking forward to tomorrow night's game.
Q. Chauncey, you've played roughly a couple hundred games for Larry Brown. A, how would you define him, and B, if, in fact, for whatever reason it's over after tomorrow night, how will you remember him?
CHAUNCEY BILLUPS: I think the way I would define Coach Brown is I think he's more passionate about this game than anybody I've ever been around, player, coach, fan, anything. I don't know anybody that loves the game like he does and cares about, you know, the integrity of the game like he does. I don't think he wants this game to change from when he played it, you know.
But he just really he's in love with this game, man. I don't see him not being around this game. I can't see it. I can't see it.
I've learned so much personally from him about this game, about my game, you know, that it's priceless, really, what I learn from him. I don't anticipate it being over for him, but if it is, you know, it's going to be a dark day in the NBA.
BEN WALLACE
Q: Have you thought about the fact that this team is so good in pressure situations?
Wallace: No, not really. It is a little too much to try to solve it right now. But we put ourselves in a position to have an opportunity to win another championship and that is all we are focusing on now.
Q: Your confidence has to be sky high after last night.
Wallace: This team never lacks confidence. We always feel good about ourselves, we always like our chances as long as we go out and compete.
Q: Do you feel the bond on this team is getting stronger and stronger?
Wallace: This team is a close knit group, everybody cares about the game, everybody cares about each other. Everybody stays together, that has been big for us all season.
Q: Talk about Antonio McDyess, he has been talking all year about getting to where you guys were last year.
Wallace: He has helped put us in a position to get one [championship]. So right now it’s not about talking about it, it’s just about going out and getting it done, we are in a position to do it.
Q: Is home court gone in this series? did you guys take that out of the equation last night?
Wallace: We are still playing on their court, so its still here. But it is the Finals, so anything can happen.
RICHARD HAMILTON
Q. You've played a couple hundred games now for Larry Brown. Can you define what it's been like to play for him, and if, in fact, after tomorrow night, it's over, how will you remember him?
RICHARD HAMILTON: It's been fun. I think that ever since Coach got here, I think I believe that it took our team to the next level to where we've got to get to, and that was win the world championship and have another opportunity to win another one tomorrow night.
Coach has been great. It's one of them things that you don't look past and see what type of decision he makes or anything like that. The only thing you can say is we go out there, try to win a game tomorrow and we'll see what happens.
Q. A few weeks ago, it seemed like the talk around this team constantly was about where would Coach Brown go next, and everyone was describing it's a distraction, yet now you could walk away winning a championship, what does it say about yourself as players and about Coach Brown that made that not be a distraction at all and you just went ahead and went about your business so easily?
RICHARD HAMILTON: In this game of basketball, with all of the different trades and everything like that, there's rumors every day. You can never allow yourself to get caught up in what's written in the newspaper or what people hear and things like that. It only takes one person to start a rumor, and that person could be lying through their mouth, you know, but if he says it to the right person and the whole world believes it, you know.
We don't allow ourselves to get caught up in that. We've got other things to accomplish, and that's going out and trying to win a championship.
Q. What qualities does Chauncey possess that would compare him to Derek Jeter in baseball and Tom Brady in football?
RICHARD HAMILTON: He's our catalyst, he's our leader out there. He runs our team. He's our point guard out there, and he has to make a lot of decisions. The great thing about him, he's capable of doing so many great things on the basketball court, even though he's a point guard, he can score.
Like I said, he's a strong point guard. He can play multi positions and he can defend. He can do a lot of special things out there. He knows how to lead and when you have a point guard that knows how to lead and wants to lead, then you can't ask for anything better than that.
Q. You defended a lot during Game 6 on Tony Parker, is it something that you think made it tougher for him or was different for him?
RICHARD HAMILTON: You know, guarding him, I just like to use my speed and my quickness. You know, I have a lot of energy out there and I want to use as much of it as possible. So me and Chauncey is interchangeable. We help each other out on both ends of the floor. That's the great thing about us. Sometimes I can pressure the ball and things like that. You know, it was just one of them things that I want to try to do something a little different and it kind of worked.
Q. Have you gotten more comfortable as this series has gone on playing Bruce and how he's going at you?
RICHARD HAMILTON: Oh, yeah, like I said, as the series goes on, you learn to laugh at a lot of the things that he does, other than get frustrated, mad and things like that. You learn to laugh because he's going to continue to do it regardless of what type of calls they make out there, he's going to do it every play on the court and you can't allow yourself to get caught up. You just have to laugh at it and keep playing.
Q. How much is the fact that you guys have been in Game 7s, how will that help you guys tomorrow night?
RICHARD HAMILTON: A lot. Like I said, this is what we do. We know in a situation like this it just ain't right, playing in a Game 7, it's big. We want to go out there and play hard, regardless. It would be a great thing for us to go out on a winning note.
I think the guys on our team, we are all prepared to go out there and go to war and do what we've got to do to try to get a win.
ANTONIO MCDYESS
Q: You said before Game 7 against Miami that that was the biggest game of your life. Can you change that now?
McDyess: Yeah, definitely, getting myself in this position is definitely exciting. For everyone on this team just to be motivated and hopefully come in here Thursday and get another one.
Q: What did you learn from your teammates last night?
McDyess: Not to panic, definitely not to panic. Like they say it’s not over until it’s over. A lot of people counted us out, and when our backs were are against the wall we always come out fighting.
Q: Talk about your emotions after Game 5. Did you feel as if a championship had slipped away?
McDyess: Yeah, definitely. To give up an opportunity like that at home – we had a chance to win that game. And this is the Playoffs and you never know what is going to happen, but I was pretty sick to my stomach watching the whole situation. In regulation I didn’t watch the last minute, in overtime I didn’t watch the last minute. But we hung in there yesterday and got a win, but emotionally it was just hurtful to watch it.
Q: How will you prepare you for Game 7? Will there be knots in your stomach?
McDyess: I am just going to try to go out there and approach it like any other game, not put any pressure on myself. Take it as a regular season game, and that is kind of how I’ve been approaching these games, like it’s a regular season, not putting pressure on myself by saying ‘This is the Finals, this is the Finals.’ I think that is how I will approach everything as we go on.
Q: What would it mean to you to win a championship?
McDyess: Man, what would it mean? I have been through a lot. I have accomplished a lot and just to get a ring would mean the world to me. Being here, just playing here means a lot to me, even if we don’t get it – which is not an option, it is going to mean the world to me.
Q. We just asked Chauncey sort of the flipside of this question, but if tomorrow turns out to be your last game as a coach, how would you like to be remembered?
COACH BROWN: No, I don't even want to think about that. I mean, this is about the players. Pop and I talked about this when the series started. You know, this has been an unbelievable experience for me this whole playoff run, but it's also been kind of hard because one of your dearest friends is coaching.
But this is all about the players. It was obvious last night, so I don't even want to think about that.
Q. We always ask the players, you know, how are you going to respond in this kind of moment, how is it different for you in this kind of moment. What about for coaches in terms of your own emotions going into a game like this, never mind what happens after the season, but just trying to win this particular game. Does it change the way you go into it tomorrow?
COACH BROWN: No. I was in such awe last night just watching what those guys did. Because one, I think the team we're playing is great. They are unbelievably well coached. But, you know, to come in here, I think everybody kept asking the same question, how are we going to get ourselves ready to play in Game 6? And then I just marvelled at their enthusiasm and their effort and the fact that they cared so much that I could have handled almost anything last night.
I'm really looking forward to tomorrow. I think it's great for the league, and it will be a wonderful experience being part of that.
So it's only good. It's like The Finals of the NCAA. Unfortunately in our country, they only remember the winning team, but I have a lot of admiration for both teams and what's going on.
Q. In this kind of game, a lot of people have said the home court advantage is what you play all year for, but when it's a Game 7 at this magnitude, that kind of gets muted somewhat because both teams face the same consequence. Do you buy that at all?
COACH BROWN: I hope so. (Smiling).
You know, I don't even really think about that last night. I told my team, pretend that noise is for you. But to realize how long this has gone and what sacrifices people have had to make, you hate to see anybody lose. And I really don't think there will be a loser coming out of this. I'm just hopeful that both teams play great.
I looked at, you know, in Game 5, they won the game because they made plays. And as disappointed as we might have been, losing, and I look down there, I said, hey, Pop and I talked about it, they made shots, we didn't make shots late.
In last night's game, same thing, we made plays at the end of the game and we won. So hopefully that will be the case tomorrow.
Q. Specifically in terms of tomorrow's game, but also encompassing the last two years, how are you a good fit for this group of players, and also, how is this group of players a good fit for you?
COACH BROWN: Well, I think anybody would be a good fit for my group. I think you've got to think about what Joe did, one, hiring Rick Carlisle. The points of emphasis, the things that he encouraged, defense, team play, respecting your teammates; they were all in place when I got there.
I think the coach in that locker room would allow any coach that cares about the game and just cares about coaching to just step in and be comfortable. You know, my whole thing is the hardest thing I think in today, with today's game, is getting players to understand there's a difference between coaching and criticism. These guys allow me to coach. So that's all I ever want to do. They have allowed me to do that.
So that's why I feel like for me this is a perfect situation. And again, don't take this wrong, I've been fortunate in my career that I've had that opportunity in a lot of places. It's not just it just didn't happen in Detroit. But for the players, you'd have to ask them.
Q. Can you think of a specific reason why this group became champions, as opposed to others that you've played?
COACH BROWN: Well, I think we're probably better. My team in Philly in 2001 was banged up. I was looking at one of the newspapers documenting all of Robert's great shots. We had a chance to win Game 3 at home, which a lot of people said, no, they beat you four out of five, but that was a pretty resilient group with one special player and everybody buying into what we were trying to do.
I've had a lot of teams that have had chances, but I really honestly thought it wasn't meant to be; other teams were better. But last year, I truly felt we were the best team. This year, I truly believed from the outset that we had a chance to repeat. Now, I understand you've got to be pretty lucky.
Q. How does Chauncey compare to guys in other sports like Derek Jeter of the Yankee, Tom Brady of the Patriots in his ability to come up big in bigger games?
COACH BROWN: Well, I don't think any of them have been through what he's been through, so maybe because of that, if you hear him talk, a lot of guys feel sorry about what has happened early in their career. He hasn't. He's used it as a motivation. He's mentioned to me a lot of times that maybe he wasn't ready, and now he has one, he respects the opportunity he's been given. And he's tried to get better. Anybody that knows me that's played for me, I've put a lot of responsibility on the point guard. He's probably had to sacrifice as much as anybody I've ever coached for the benefit of the team, and I think everybody in our locker room recognizes that.
Then he has great confidence. You know, he always says that I have great confidence in him. I would hope as a coach that's something that all your players feel. But he has great confidence in himself and he knows his teammates feel the very same way, so he's able to perform at a high level when it really matters most.
Q. For all of the years you've coached, is there a way for you to succinctly define yourself as a coach, whether it's X's and O's, strategy, motivation; is there some way you would describe yourself?
COACH BROWN: No, you've been with me long enough, you can probably do that.
Q. I can't figure it out.
COACH BROWN: One, I've been blessed because I'm doing exactly what I always wanted to do. I don't know how many people are lucky enough to do that.
Two, I don't think anybody in our sport has ever had the mentors that I've had, you know, perfect Mr. Iba and John McLendon and Pete Newell, Alex Smith, McGuire, I don't think anybody has been this fortunate as I have in terms of the people that have taught me. And I've been blessed with players that have allowed me to be myself and coach.
So I'm hopeful that when all of this is said and done that people say the guy cared about the sport and cared about the players he taught. I'm not an innovator, but I'm relentless in what I believe in, so I guess that's it.
Q. You were talking about Chauncey a second ago, but he's really come from the player he was early in his career to something a superstar and that just doesn't happen to a lot of players. Some become good, but he's become a superstar. Is there one thing that you can point to that was the difference?
COACH BROWN: Well, I think you're the first person that's ever mentioned that to me when they talked about Chauncey. I always think super players are the ones that make players around them better, and sometimes it's at a great sacrifice. I think that, one, he's as good a shooter as I've ever coached. You know, Reggie was I don't count Reggie. (Laughter) I don't think that's fair.
He's not afraid to fail. He just shows up.
But it doesn't just happen. You know, he has I don't think he's missed one practice since I've been there. I don't think he's ever taken a possession off where he's not trying to do the right thing. And again, the fact that we've been able to win 50 games the two years Rip well, he played for Rick one year, but he was pretty successful at Minnesota in a different role. When Rick had him, I think people recognized you know, his value to the team, and I've heard Rick comment, I don't buy Detroit not having great players. Chauncey Billups is as good as anybody in the league at that position. And he led us to a championship last year and is giving us an opportunity to repeat. So that in itself says enough.
RASHEED WALLACE
Q: What are you listening to Rasheed?
Wallace: Music (laughter).
Q: How does this team get ready for this type of situation, one game to win it all?
Wallace: That’s how we do it, that’s what we’ve been doing for the last few years, just winning games. There’s no pressure on us.
Q: How pleased does it make you to keep proving people wrong?
Wallace: Cool. It feels real good to prove all you cats wrong.
Q: Rasheed, describe the mentality behind the fact that you guys have won five straight times facing elimination. How have you been able to do that?
Wallace: When we’re out there, we don’t think about it like, “Oh, it’s the last game, this might our last game.” No. We just play.
Q: How much of a difference will it make that you have so much Game 7 experience?
Wallace: I mean, it’s only – like I said last night – it’s only a little bit of difference, because this team is too good for us to sit up there and be like, “They’ve never been in a Game 7 so we’ve got the advantage.” No. They’re too good.
Q: How much do the humble beginnings of this team help when you play in these do-or-die situations?
Wallace: Like I said, you just gotta play. You can’t look at it like a do-or-die situation. You just gotta go out there and hoop.
Q: Why do you seem to play your best games under these conditions?
Wallace: That I can’t answer.
Q: How did it feel last night, when it seems the refs were doing everything they could to try to keep you out of the game and you –
Wallace: I’m not going to get on that.
Q: – but you were able to preserver through all that and come up big down the stre –
Wallace: I’m not going to get on that.
Q: How important is it that, while Tim Duncan is a great player, he hasn’t had anyone to help him down in the post?
Wallace: That’s on them. That’s something for them to figure out. That’s not our problem. Our thing is just keep doing what we’ve been doing these last few games.
Q: Does it make it a lot easier though?
Wallace: That’s not our problem.
Q: Where does the pressure live right now in this series?
Wallace: Ain’t no pressure for us. Pressure busts pipes, we don’t bust pipes.
Q: Is this the biggest game you’ve ever played in?
Wallace: No.
Q: What would you consider the biggest game you’ve ever played in?
Wallace: When I was younger, my first championship.
Q: Does this compare at all to that, a Game 7?
Wallace: Ain’t no comparison.
Q: Why’s that?
Wallace: Because that was my first one, and this is not my first one.
Q: Can you enjoy and have fun in a Game 7?
Wallace: Oh yeah, I have fun every time I’m out there on the court, no matter whether we’re winning or losing. Just play.
Q: Talk about how Chauncey has played for you, not allowing them to make a run by making big shot after big shot.
Wallace: That’s the nickname you all gave him. He’s just living up to it. He’s going good, doing what he needs to do for us to win.
CHAUNCEY BILLUPS
Q. Can you just talk about in each of the last two Finals, your ability just to step up, you were the MVP last year and could be again this year, you raised your scoring average three points from the regular season, can you talk about that?
CHAUNCEY BILLUPS: I don't know, I just try to be aggressive, I just try to really be the best teammate I can. If that means to step it up and set the tone for my team in whatever way I have to, I will. It doesn't have to be scoring. But it just so happened that it has been. There's other things that I like to do to set the tone, too. But of course, scoring is, you know, most of what y'all look at, you know what I mean, but I don't think that's my only effect on the game. It's a huge effect, but I don't think that's my only effect.
Q. No team that has advanced to The Finals has ever lost its last two home games, and they have been so fantastic here at home all season, do you think that the pressure to win might be a little bit more on them than you all?
CHAUNCEY BILLUPS: Oh, yeah, I do. Of course, we're defending champs, so that pressure is on us. But they are at home. They are at home, and I think the pressure is really on them to win this Game 7 and win it all.
They had the best record in the league other than maybe Phoenix, I don't know. But the pressure is definitely on them. They have got the home court advantage in the series. This is Game 7 and no team has ever lost Game 6 and 7 and this and that, but there has not even been a Game 7 since '94 or whatever.
I don't really believe in all that kind of stuff, but I do think the pressure is on them.
Q. Do you think it started to show a little bit last night with Tim Duncan missing free throws, etc., turnovers in the last quarter?
CHAUNCEY BILLUPS: It happens. I don't think that that was him feeling the pressure. He's one of the greats of all time, really. So I don't think that it was pressure he was feeling. It just happens. You can't make every shot, you know what I mean. Plus, he's playing against three big defenders out here in Ben and Rasheed, they are all playing him different ways, you know what I mean, Sheed is playing with length, Tay is playing with quickness and Dyess is playing with his strength and his power, so it's tough every time he gets a comfort level with one of those guys, there's another one coming to guard him. So you have to change it up a little bit.
It's tough on him, but even with all that, he's still having a great series.
Q. In these types of situations, you've always been able to it seems been able to kind of slow down the moment and just focus and play. Can you tell us what that's like for you and what kind of joy you get out of playing these kinds of do or die situations?
CHAUNCEY BILLUPS: Yeah, well, I love it. I think so many players just get a little too excited, which is understandable, you know, being in a situation like that, to get a little too excited and get a little too impatient. I think that's where I come in at with that calm demeanor and just staying poised out there and just playing this Game 7 like it's Game 1, you know what I mean, or the first round, not The Finals. I think my guys pull that confidence from me knowing that I'm going to be the same way out there.
Q. Do you put out of your mind the ramifications, where this will put you in terms of NBA history and all that other kind of tough?
CHAUNCEY BILLUPS: No, you can't worry about any of that stuff. None of that stuff matters right now. It's all about playing this game tomorrow, you know what I mean, and playing every single possession and knowing that every possession is critical and the outcome will take care of itself, either way, whatever comes about. But you can't worry about anything outside that 90 x 50 out there.
Q. Derek Jeter of the Yankees and Tom Brady of the Patriots always come up big in the post season and make others big around them, how do you compare to guys like Jeter, Brady?
CHAUNCEY BILLUPS: I don't know if I compare to those guy, man. That's unbelievable company. But I do like these situations. I love them, man, I love to be in these kind of pressure situations. I have some history of doing good in these situations. I don't always do good, but my history is pretty good, you know what I mean, but all that doesn't mean nothing right now, because I haven't played in a Game 7 in The Finals. Not many people have.
But, you know, I don't look at it like it's a Game 7 of The Finals. I look at it like, you know, this game, this is a regular season game, even though it means a lot more. I played that same way, you know what I mean. I'm not going to get too high up or too high down. I'm going to be the same way throughout the whole process, and I do take a lot of pride in trying to be there in these big moments and trying to make my teammates better, and they make me better, also. I don't deserve a lot of that credit. But it's nice.
Q. By now it's certainly well established that you guys are a really resilient team and you've been asked about this, but you've had more happen to you this season than a normal team would have in about 10 years and you're 23 18 mid season, was there a point where you were getting a little concerned?
CHAUNCEY BILLUPS: There was a couple dark days during the season. Of course, the melee at the Palace, it took a toll on us. It took a major toll on us. You couldn't turn on the TV without seeing it. It was just horrible. It was just a horrible thing that took a major toll on us. Then finally getting Ben back and then Coach Brown falling a little sick and being unhealthy and not being able to coach was a setback a couple of times.
So we've had it, man, we've been through a lot. We understood that. We felt like had we not been through some of those situations, maybe we'll be sitting Game 7 at our place, you know what I mean, but we're not. You can't get those games back, but we're here you know what I mean. We're here, we are expected to be here and we're looking forward to tomorrow night's game.
Q. Chauncey, you've played roughly a couple hundred games for Larry Brown. A, how would you define him, and B, if, in fact, for whatever reason it's over after tomorrow night, how will you remember him?
CHAUNCEY BILLUPS: I think the way I would define Coach Brown is I think he's more passionate about this game than anybody I've ever been around, player, coach, fan, anything. I don't know anybody that loves the game like he does and cares about, you know, the integrity of the game like he does. I don't think he wants this game to change from when he played it, you know.
But he just really he's in love with this game, man. I don't see him not being around this game. I can't see it. I can't see it.
I've learned so much personally from him about this game, about my game, you know, that it's priceless, really, what I learn from him. I don't anticipate it being over for him, but if it is, you know, it's going to be a dark day in the NBA.
BEN WALLACE
Q: Have you thought about the fact that this team is so good in pressure situations?
Wallace: No, not really. It is a little too much to try to solve it right now. But we put ourselves in a position to have an opportunity to win another championship and that is all we are focusing on now.
Q: Your confidence has to be sky high after last night.
Wallace: This team never lacks confidence. We always feel good about ourselves, we always like our chances as long as we go out and compete.
Q: Do you feel the bond on this team is getting stronger and stronger?
Wallace: This team is a close knit group, everybody cares about the game, everybody cares about each other. Everybody stays together, that has been big for us all season.
Q: Talk about Antonio McDyess, he has been talking all year about getting to where you guys were last year.
Wallace: He has helped put us in a position to get one [championship]. So right now it’s not about talking about it, it’s just about going out and getting it done, we are in a position to do it.
Q: Is home court gone in this series? did you guys take that out of the equation last night?
Wallace: We are still playing on their court, so its still here. But it is the Finals, so anything can happen.
RICHARD HAMILTON
Q. You've played a couple hundred games now for Larry Brown. Can you define what it's been like to play for him, and if, in fact, after tomorrow night, it's over, how will you remember him?
RICHARD HAMILTON: It's been fun. I think that ever since Coach got here, I think I believe that it took our team to the next level to where we've got to get to, and that was win the world championship and have another opportunity to win another one tomorrow night.
Coach has been great. It's one of them things that you don't look past and see what type of decision he makes or anything like that. The only thing you can say is we go out there, try to win a game tomorrow and we'll see what happens.
Q. A few weeks ago, it seemed like the talk around this team constantly was about where would Coach Brown go next, and everyone was describing it's a distraction, yet now you could walk away winning a championship, what does it say about yourself as players and about Coach Brown that made that not be a distraction at all and you just went ahead and went about your business so easily?
RICHARD HAMILTON: In this game of basketball, with all of the different trades and everything like that, there's rumors every day. You can never allow yourself to get caught up in what's written in the newspaper or what people hear and things like that. It only takes one person to start a rumor, and that person could be lying through their mouth, you know, but if he says it to the right person and the whole world believes it, you know.
We don't allow ourselves to get caught up in that. We've got other things to accomplish, and that's going out and trying to win a championship.
Q. What qualities does Chauncey possess that would compare him to Derek Jeter in baseball and Tom Brady in football?
RICHARD HAMILTON: He's our catalyst, he's our leader out there. He runs our team. He's our point guard out there, and he has to make a lot of decisions. The great thing about him, he's capable of doing so many great things on the basketball court, even though he's a point guard, he can score.
Like I said, he's a strong point guard. He can play multi positions and he can defend. He can do a lot of special things out there. He knows how to lead and when you have a point guard that knows how to lead and wants to lead, then you can't ask for anything better than that.
Q. You defended a lot during Game 6 on Tony Parker, is it something that you think made it tougher for him or was different for him?
RICHARD HAMILTON: You know, guarding him, I just like to use my speed and my quickness. You know, I have a lot of energy out there and I want to use as much of it as possible. So me and Chauncey is interchangeable. We help each other out on both ends of the floor. That's the great thing about us. Sometimes I can pressure the ball and things like that. You know, it was just one of them things that I want to try to do something a little different and it kind of worked.
Q. Have you gotten more comfortable as this series has gone on playing Bruce and how he's going at you?
RICHARD HAMILTON: Oh, yeah, like I said, as the series goes on, you learn to laugh at a lot of the things that he does, other than get frustrated, mad and things like that. You learn to laugh because he's going to continue to do it regardless of what type of calls they make out there, he's going to do it every play on the court and you can't allow yourself to get caught up. You just have to laugh at it and keep playing.
Q. How much is the fact that you guys have been in Game 7s, how will that help you guys tomorrow night?
RICHARD HAMILTON: A lot. Like I said, this is what we do. We know in a situation like this it just ain't right, playing in a Game 7, it's big. We want to go out there and play hard, regardless. It would be a great thing for us to go out on a winning note.
I think the guys on our team, we are all prepared to go out there and go to war and do what we've got to do to try to get a win.
ANTONIO MCDYESS
Q: You said before Game 7 against Miami that that was the biggest game of your life. Can you change that now?
McDyess: Yeah, definitely, getting myself in this position is definitely exciting. For everyone on this team just to be motivated and hopefully come in here Thursday and get another one.
Q: What did you learn from your teammates last night?
McDyess: Not to panic, definitely not to panic. Like they say it’s not over until it’s over. A lot of people counted us out, and when our backs were are against the wall we always come out fighting.
Q: Talk about your emotions after Game 5. Did you feel as if a championship had slipped away?
McDyess: Yeah, definitely. To give up an opportunity like that at home – we had a chance to win that game. And this is the Playoffs and you never know what is going to happen, but I was pretty sick to my stomach watching the whole situation. In regulation I didn’t watch the last minute, in overtime I didn’t watch the last minute. But we hung in there yesterday and got a win, but emotionally it was just hurtful to watch it.
Q: How will you prepare you for Game 7? Will there be knots in your stomach?
McDyess: I am just going to try to go out there and approach it like any other game, not put any pressure on myself. Take it as a regular season game, and that is kind of how I’ve been approaching these games, like it’s a regular season, not putting pressure on myself by saying ‘This is the Finals, this is the Finals.’ I think that is how I will approach everything as we go on.
Q: What would it mean to you to win a championship?
McDyess: Man, what would it mean? I have been through a lot. I have accomplished a lot and just to get a ring would mean the world to me. Being here, just playing here means a lot to me, even if we don’t get it – which is not an option, it is going to mean the world to me.