(McDyess) has been like that the last week or two. It takes him a little while to get into his flow. I consider him one of the starters, and that's how he's playing. |
(The Lakers) were extremely aggressive. We got pounded on the glass and they took things to the basket. We played out of character defensively. We were switching and getting little (guys) matched on big (guys) and we took the easy way out by settling for jump shots. |
(With) a young team, what happens is, it's like they're waiting for us to make a run. When a team makes a run, you have to really jump in there. |
[But even in a league where analysis and scouting are a way of life, there's no learning experience like the real thing.] It's always different to scout someone and then to really be in the heat of the battle against them, ... And so there's no question I think it does help. ... That might not translate to wins, but at least you're not going to be surprised too much. |
[Shaq's nearly impeccable on-court comportment certainly earns him points with the refs.] If most players were fouled the way Shaq gets fouled--hard fouls, hacking--they'd be ready to fight, ... but Shaq just takes it and goes to the free throw line. |
[The constant, of course, is Bryant, who disheartens defenses because he makes so many shots under duress.] Kobe is the best tough-shot-maker in the game, ... It is very discouraging for a defense to have done something perfectly, then have him come along and make the shot anyway. |
[Yet in the playoffs Garnett showed he could take over a game when his team needed it most. No one is ripping him anymore after his decisive performance against the Kings in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals: 32 points, 21 boards, five blocks and four steals in 46 minutes. He poured in 13 straight fourth-quarter points, including a buzzer-beating three that put Minnesota up 77-70 with 3:39 to go.] There was a ton of pressure, ... but he had an amazing calm about him. |
A lot of things could still happen. We will continue to look and see what's available. There will be things that could shake out in the next day or so. |
A lot of times, there's not even contact on some of his calls. He happens to be the wrong guy in the wrong place. |
After the second half started, we locked down and were a lot better defensively. Even though we got down, we didn't lose our aggressiveness. But we came down and ... scored three times on them. We just kept controlling it. |
All of our guys, we sense what's coming. We know what's going to come here in two weeks, and you have to have an edge. You have to not only have an edge, but from an individual standpoint you want your game and the things you do to be at top form. |
All that's going to take care of itself, ... I always say as a coach, 'I don't determine who plays, they do.' |
And I didn't understand how good a perimeter shooter he was and how good a passer he was. He's got some things as a coach you can't teach, as far as his feel for the game passing-wise. |
And sometimes the basic plays are the ones that he doesn't make. Those are the ones I get frustrated with. |
Antonio was great tonight. He's been playing like that for a while now. He has a lot of confidence in himself. |