When I saw his height and the potential he had, I knew good things were going to happen. If he stayed two more years, he'd be the first pick in the (NBA) draft. |
When the new ownership came in, they made some decisions I wasn't pleased with. And when they changed the whole aspect of it, I just totally lost interest. |
When there's a performance like that, you're going to hear it. He's supposed to do that, the way his team performed. |
When we get our minds to playing defense, we can turn any game around. I hope we get to a more consistent level of play. |
Words can't express how good it is to see him back out there. I know how frustrating it was for him to be out. |
You can hardly touch a guy. If anybody has any athletic ability and quickness, with the first step he's going to get to the basket. They don't want you to touch guys on the dribble. I remember when I came into the league, you could touch guys. You can't do that anymore. |
You know what? We've still got a whole summer. So, that's not really etched in stone. He's at an age right now, man, where I wouldn't put any guarantees on the future. |
You play this game to provide for your family, No. 1. After that, it's about winning. ... We're in good hands. |
[Miami, meanwhile, is so built for the playoffs, from Shaq to Wade to Mourning, who enjoyed a triumphant homecoming. The former Georgetown star returned to Miami as an insurance policy, a guy in the twilight of his career who would spell Shaq for 10, maybe 12 minutes per night. Yet, he played 35 minutes in Game 3 and scored 14 points. It's difficult to imagine a sweeter outcome for Mourning, who retired after a kidney transplant and had to miss most of two seasons.] At shoot around this morning, ... Shaq came to me . . . on the bus and said, 'I'm going to need you tonight.' And I said, 'Okay, I haven't forgotten how to play this game.' |
[Mourning, 35, who underwent a kidney transplant in December 2003, seemed offended when a reporter asked if he could play 30 minutes a night over several games.] Did you see me play last year? Enough said, ... I'm not sick. There's nothing wrong with me... . So don't question my abilities, please. |