The Urban League used to come and talk to us. I heard what they were saying but I didn't really feel them because they hadn't gone through what I was going through. For the youth, seeing is believing. I think them seeing me today probably uplifted a lot of their spirits and gave them a little hope. |
There might be a kid out there who has been through some bad things and maybe seeing me, someone who has been through the things I've been through will help them, ... I don't necessarily mean playing in the NBA. It can be school. It can be music. It might be helping other people. There are so many better things that you can do with your life. We all go through some difficult things, but once those things happen, the question is: How are you going to respond? |
There seemed to be a lot of extra celebrating. We just soaked it all in. |
They were able to stop the bleeding for about 8 seconds so I could shoot the free throws. Then I came back to the locker room, and it took a bit longer than usual to get stitches — probably because I was really in a rhythm. |
This is an opportunity right here, ... You pray for situations like this. To be put in a situation where you are with a [general manager] who has followed you since high school and knows the ins and outs of your game. Not only that, but he knows about your personality. This is a great situation for me and my family and I'm going to embrace it. |
This time all their key guys are going to be out there, but ours are, too. That's a challenge we look forward to. |
This trip is big, it really is. We're trying to get some consistency right now, and we have to find it on this trip. We have to do something before the new year starts and use that as momentum. It's a long season, but we have to feel that sense of urgency to get something done, and it begins with this trip. |
We didn't want to come out flat. That was one of our weaknesses over the last couple of weeks, coming out after halftime flat. With the Karl Malone retirement and everything, we were in (the locker room) a little bit longer than usual. (We had to) come out and get some buckets quick. |
We have to play with the same tenacity. Nothing changes. |
We just wanted to make things tough for him. |
We need an almost-perfect game. Ain't that right, L.O.? |
We were rushing things. We were doing a lot of things that were out of character. Coach showed us films. He showed us that our offense works. Obviously, we know that. We just have to stick with it. |
We will take them however we can get them. |
We're confident. We don't doubt our ability to go out and have a successful trip. |
We're fed up with this losing already. It's not something we're going to get used to. |