( 8 - 14 )

( 15 - 9 )

Skiles

There was a stretch where you could not get anything done:
“We gave up 45 points off turnovers and second-chance points. At some point if the game goes in that direction, with 48 minutes and all the possessions, it is going to catch up with you. We made it close, we made enough plays to do that, during the two and a half minute span we had a couple turnovers and they had a couple of offensive rebounds and that was it.”

Do you need all of your starters to be playing well?
“That happens on most nights we're looking for three or four to be playing well. It has been a little bit of a struggle for us. We had good bench work tonight. We were not able to sustain anything or go to anything over and over.”

Did you go to Aaron Gray because of Bynum's strong presence in the middle?
“Aaron Gray continues to play better. He is playing better in practice. All of the young bigs, Aaron, Thomas and Joakim, they are all different but they do good things. It is a tough balance just to find a way to work them all in there.”

If you stop Kobe, should you usually win?
“As eye-popping as Kobe's numbers are, the reason they have the record they do is because all the other guys are playing well. They were second in the league in bench points—that means other guys are doing well. They have been able to get contributions from a lot of people."

Is it frustrating for you to have the team make strides and then take steps back?
“I don't know that it is helpful to get frustrated. I tend not to get frustrated about it, we have to problem solve, we have to look at it for what it is, we have definite problems that we need to solve. I am not going to be able to think clearly if I walk around in a frustrated state all the time. We have to get better in a lot of areas and we are trying to work on those areas.”

Can you continue to have Ben Wallace occasionally put up all-around games?
“We are the type of team that needs several players to play well. And of course every team needs their main players to play well. We appear to have two or three guys coming out of it but we need everybody at the same time, so far we have been inconsistent with that.”

Gordon

Is this frustrating?
“It is. It's frustrating, I don't know what to say.”

On the fourth quarter:
“We didn't get enough stops when we needed them and that was kind of the game right there. We just didn't get stops. It's just frustrating, use any word you want.”

On their bench:
“They have a very good bench and we knew that coming in. We weren't able to slow them down, that was the key to the game. It isn't like Kobe went off for 28 or 31 but their bench definitely was the key to the game.”

Hinrich

On the consequences of the fourth quarter:
“The consequences of the fourth quarter were that we lost the game. We didn't play well down the stretch.”

On their inconsistency:
“It's a common theme. We've had different problems in various games. We couldn't get a stop and we didn't make key shots. We got a number of possessions that were just wasted.”

On the need for improved consistency:
“We have to be more consistent, especially when so many teams we play have great players. We can't have those types of lapses.”

Deng

On the game:
“We didn't do a good job taking care of the ball. We weren't sharp running our plays, we had about seven turnovers when the game was on the line and they made us pay for it.”

On the lack of consistency from game to game:
“That's something we've been struggling with all year. We really haven't had a decent run yet. We've had a few short runs but not a run of a number of games together and that's what good teams do.”

Jackson

On the game:
"Tonight we survived a rather poor shooting game. We did it by making defensive stops and getting turnovers in the process. They played a good game defensively but we were able to survive it."

On five starters in double figures:
"To do that it depends on what happens in the game. They had us taking outside shots, some of which we didn't make. That's when Sasha came in and hit them. We also got the offensive rebounds and were getting those second chance points. We know Lamar and Kobe are going to get their points and Luke knows his way around out there and tonight Fish hit some shots which he had not been doing lately. Andrew only had a point at halftime but played a good second half and his teammates found him. He did a good job balancing his game tonight and got back on defense."

On Kobe:
"He had a tough shooting night however he made some good defensive plays. When he was guaranteed on the outside, he did a good job of setting a pick for Jordan who hit a big three which was one of the keys late in the game. Being in Chicago he knew there would be a lot of noise. Kobe got a basket early but then missed some of his three-point shots. He just played an aggressive game defensively and helped his teammates win the game."

Bryant

On the team:
"Everybody is contributing and playing well. It makes the game fun. Tonight we kept our poise. That's the part of the team that is starting to grow up a bit—understanding that you can't get too high or can't get too low. You just have to execute and take what the defense gives you."

How far can this team go?
"We just want to think about the next game. My responsibility on this ballclub is making sure we stay focused and don't get too far ahead of ourselves. We'll enjoy this win, but tomorrow we got to Cleveland, get ready for a hard practice and get ready for our next game."

On playing in Chicago:
"It was a fun night. It's always good to come here and play. It's one of my favorite places to play. I'm just excited to come out of here with a win. Normally we play well for three and a half quarters then stink it up for the last five minutes and lose. It felt good to come out of here with a win."

Odom

On the balanced scoring:
"We got 12 guys that can make shots. We had six guys in double figures and that's great. We're a tough team to beat when that happens. And what happens too is that everyone stays in the game defensively because they have confidence because they're making shots on the offensive end. And, we got stops when we needed to as a team."

On not getting flustered when things got tight toward the end:
"Phil is rubbing off on us. We've got guys who have been to the championship round. That experience is rubbing off on us and it feels good when you have that confidence that you're going to win every game."

On the 11-0 4th quarter run:
"We know we just had to take our time. Deng got hot and kept them in it. He did a great job tonight. But in the end, our team locked down, came up with some big stops."

Walton

On the Lakers being more than a one man team: "We play our best basketball when we get everyone involved in the scoring. When Kobe gets double teamed and we can make the extra pass and hit the open shots, then it doesn't allow the Bulls to double team him down the stretch. And when you don't double team him, he'll make you pay. People can call us a one man show and we don't care as long as we're winning ballgames. If we start losing then we'll get mad and we'll get up in arms about it."