We're pleased with the way we played. We feel good. |
We're starting to play with more of a purpose now, and a clear concept of what we're trying to accomplish out there. |
We've been allies for a long time, ... We've had our public battles, but we know each other so well. When pressure situations came, he knew I'd be able to orchestrate the offense exactly how he wanted it. |
We've been joking with him because he's gotten extremely close in a bunch of games. He's in a great rhythm. He knows where shots are coming from, he knows where the assists are coming from, how to set the table. It's fun to watch. |
We've been on a stretch here where we have to win these games. And I try to lead by example. The way I go about doing it, and my role here on the team, is to put the ball in the basket. |
We've been through so much. When I try to play the game, I try to please him. So when he's happy with my performance, it makes me happy because I learned the game from him. He taught me how to play. |
We've made some significant strides. I look for us to make more significant strides. We're not in a position where we're playing our best basketball. |
Weird things happen in the NBA, and tonight was one of them. We had a chance to win the game and just didn't close it out. They made some big shots down the stretch and came away with the victory. Even though (Odom) made a mistake, as a team, defense down the stretch cost us the ballgame. |
What I saw today was a collection of people who have obviously been through a devastating time but are not down. Their spirits are not down. It's a bounce-back kind of attitude and energy that I got from them. ... Their energy is just tremendous. |
What I'm doing right now, I'm chasing perfection. |
When I was 14 or 15 he started cheating. He'd elbow me in the mouth, rip my lip open. |
When somebody comes down the lane, you've got to hit him. You can't let them come down the lane and just finger roll and get easy baskets. ... That's just basic NBA basketball. |
When the game is on the line, they put the ball in my hands. I've gotta do what I've gotta do, I don't care if it's 50 shots, 60 shots, five shots. |
When they double-team me and triple-team me and I swing the ball, we've got to step up and knock those shots down. |
When we all walked in, you could feel their spirits being uplifted, like they felt very encouraged and happy that we were there. It was just real cool to see that. To be able to go back (to New Orleans), play a game there and be able to uplift them again, that's special. |