[But now there seems to be a feeling among many players that maybe it's not such a bad idea. For one, the old guard is losing jobs to the teen brigade. For another, the youngsters in too many cases just aren't ready to play.] I don't look at [an age limit] as a bad thing, ... I think we're helping out younger guys, not hurting them. |
[Discussions of a contract extension for All-Star guard Ray Allen have been pleasant. They just haven't been productive. At least not in terms of getting Allen closer to signing an extension with the Sonics.] Everything has been very amicable, ... There just hasn't been any movement, and movement is me signing a contract. |
[The idea] is to go out to have fun. I think everybody is trying to feel each other out at the beginning, and the defense isn't ever present at the start. By the fourth quarter, the game grows a personality and everybody starts to play defense. Things really start to get competitive. |
A tough woman. That lady has touched more people than I've ever known. |
After the first half, I thought we were in great shape. We were only down two, and we should have actually been up. We were in the game. I just think everyone was one step behind. |
As much as I see how he goes about his job, I know the other players are watching me and want the same type of work ethic. I see how much he puts into his job and I see how much I put into this job and so we have to be two positive role models for this team. |
At certain times, the whole 'Let's play hard and leave it all on the floor' conversation is corny. I hate saying it, but I have to because that's what we do in sports. That's how we exist. That's how we motivate each other to be better every night. If you don't believe in the team system, that's the look guys gave me a lot of times. 'This is corny. I'm not going to be part of it. This is just me.' And that attitude isn't going to help any team. |
At the end of the day, what brought me back here was my players, the guys I've played with. That meant more to me than anything. |
At the end of the day, what brought me back here was my players, the guys I've played with. That meant to me more than anything. |
Don't be afraid to call a T on Allen. |
Everybody ran. We got buckets in a lot of different ways. We kept running, we kept pushing it. |
Everybody stepped up and they play big for us tonight. When everybody plays well, these are the result. Tonight was a sonic effort. |
Everyone has to do their job. Everyone has to buy into it and believe in what we're trying to do regardless of who's playing and who's not. |
Everything has been very amicable. There just hasn't been any movement, and movement is me signing a contract. |
Everything I know now . . . the pitfalls, the highs and lows, everything . . . it taught me and made stronger. |