Locker Room Quotes
Pacers 77, Lakers 99

Coach Rick Carlisle:

(On the game) “The Lakers played a great game. They pretty much took the game to us. We have to give them the credit. They played at a very high level. We weren’t up to it tonight…They are the best team we’ve seen at this point by far.”

(On Shaquille O'Neal) “They played 19 minutes without Shaq in the first half and still had a nine point lead. We didn’t play our best but they had a lot to do with it. They are an exceptional team right now and we are going to have to get better.”

(On potential Finals matchup) “It’s way too early for us to think of things like that. We’ve gotten off to a good start but none of us are going to get carried away talking about the finals. We have to sustain playing at a higher level throughout the season. We have to get to the playoffs and win in the playoffs.”

(On the Lakers effectiveness) "They have obviously some great great players, their top four. The other guys have been there before, deep in the playoffs. They know what that’s about. Right now they’re clicking..tonight defensively they impressed me.”

Ron Artest:

(On Carlisle's comment that the Lakers are the best team they’ve faced) “Yeah, so far that we have played against that is the best team. Tonight we just didn’t play our game. Their role players are coming in the game and getting shots and moving the ball, playing team defense. They are tough, and they have the big guy in the middle for them.”

“They were the best tonight. They did a good job. They shared the ball all over the place and won the ball game.”

Al Harrington:

“They played well. All we have to do is forget about this. It is over. Not to take anything away from those guys but we did not play like we normally play. You nave nights like that. We are 14-3 and 7-1 on the road. That is nothing to hang you head on.”

Reggie Miller:

“Give them the credit. They played with force, played together, they moved the basketball, something that we have done the first part of the season but for some reason tonight we didn’t.”