5/31/07
PAUL MILLSAP:

“Overall, it was a good season for us – we can’t hang our heads.  We lost last night, but it was a successful season.  We overachieved what we were supposed to do.

Being my first year, and to go to the Conference Finals, it just shows how much we’ve grown up.  I’m not going to say I’m a veteran now, but having this year under my belt, I know now what it’s going to take to get there.

I’m just going to work on my overall game this summer and try to come back as a better player.  As far as our team, we don’t know where we’re at right now, but we can go off of our playoff experience from this year and try to carry on next year and go further.”

5/31/07
DEE BROWN:

“It was a good year.  Especially being my first year, playing with a great team, a good organization.  I had fun and I’m blessed to be here. 

During the off season, I need to work on everything.  I’m just an average NBA guy, and I want to be good and end up being great.  I’m going to take a couple weeks off, but after that it’s back to the gym. 

Hopefully we can get everybody back for next season.  I know that’s not the nature of the business, but if I was doing it, I’d bring this whole team back and do it again.  We have a better chance of winning, and we’re a good team.  I love all of my teammates; all of them are good guys.  I’m not just saying this because it’s what you’re supposed to say and it’s what you want to hear – it’s just real talk.”

5/31/07
RONNIE BREWER:

“I feel like we had a good season.  We started off really strong, we peaked a little bit mid season.  At the end, we kind of fell off a little bit, but I think overall we met our expectations.  Nobody thought we would win as many games as we did, win our division, make it into the playoffs, or win first and second rounds and make it into the Conference Finals.  It went pretty well.  You can’t really ask much more after your first season other than a championship, but that’s a goal that we can do within the next year or so.

I just think we need to polish our skills.  Personally, I need to work on my shot, my defense, and my athleticism. When you look at this last series, San Antonio is a championship caliber team, and for us to win championships we’ve got to beat a team like that.  So as a team, everybody needs to tone their game up a little bit and come back next year a little better. 

I appreciate all of the support from the fans. I know the team appreciates all the support, too.  It’s kinda hard being a rookie and coming into a different situation and not playing a lot.  Every time I got in the game, I got a great vibe from the fans, who always treat me well no matter what the situation is—so, thank you for all the support."

5/24/07
PAUL MILLSAP:

“It feels good to be a part of this in my first year. Not too many guys get this kind of an opportunity their first year in, and for me to come in and contribute what I do contribute – it feels real good.

This round definitely brings more pressure than the first two, and it’s a lot harder. San Antonio is a great team, and they’ve got some great players. It’s going to be hard to knock them off, but if we come in every day and work hard, the sky’s the limit for us.

I’m going to continue to work hard, and when I get an opportunity to get in there, I’m going to keep trying to crash the boards and get loose balls. For us to turn this series around, we’re going to have to play team basketball. We haven’t been playing team basketball for the past two games, but if we come out and play as a team, we can win."

5/8/07
PAUL MILLSAP:

“There was a big difference between last night’s game and the first series. There were two different styles of play – Golden State likes to run a lot and Houston liked to slow it down. It was a major difference for us, but we have to compete with there guards.

As a team, we’re focusing on getting back on defense for this series. They like to run out a transition and get easy lay-ups, so our main focus is trying to get our big guys back.”

5/8/07
RONNIE BREWER:

“It was good to start this series off at home. This team is different from Houston, because they’ve got a lot of guards so it’s much more up-tempo. They score a lot of points and play less defense, so it’s going to be a long series, and it’s going to be exciting. They have a fast paced offense and we like to execute

I think that being in Round 2 actually takes a little pressure off of us, because the hardest round to get out of is Round 1. We know what it feels like to win some pressure games in the playoffs from Round 1, and that’s a big advantage for us.

Last night was alright for me personally, but if I had played a little bit better, I would’ve gotten more minutes. Like coach said, you’ve got to be ready to get thrown in the fire and I don’t think I played that well. But being a rookie, and being in this situation, a lot of guys are not fortunate enough to experience this, so I’m happy about that.”

5/2/07
PAUL MILLSAP:

“I don’t really feel like there’s more pressure on us for tomorrow’s game than there has been during the rest of the series. Hopefully we can get a win at home where we play best at, and then go back to Houston and put pressure on them when they have home court advantage.

We need to continue doing what we’ve been doing – just do it a little better. We’ve been executing perfectly, there are just certain phases of the game where we may miss an assignment and we pay for it.

4/25/07
PAUL MILLSAP:

“The playoff games against Houston are more physical than regular season games. Both teams are working towards a certain goal, and obviously we’re both going to do everything we can to get to that goal.

Playing against Yao is tough. When you’re trying to block out a 7’6” post guard, it’s kinda hard, but I don’t break down for anybody so I’m going to do the best I can.

It feels good to have a chance to play some home games, because you play a lot better when you have your fans behind you. Hopefully we can get these two games and then go to Houston and get a game. We’ve been playing pretty good lately, there were just some areas on the court where their best players took over the game – they really catch us in the third quarters. Hopefully we’ll come out and stop them and then continue to play well.”

4/18/07
PAUL MILLSAP:

“As we head into the playoffs, my expectations for myself are just to do the best that I can and keep my intensity level up. Our team has been missing the intensity that we need for the last 20 games, and we need to pick it up in order to do what we are capable of in the playoffs.

Playing so many games in one season gets tiring sometimes, but you just have to deal with it. That’s why you stay in shape and stay healthy, so you can keep up with this game. I’ve been trying to do that, so hopefully I will be able to contribute some good things during the playoffs.”

4/18/07
RONNIE BREWER:

“I’m really looking forward to my first experience in the playoffs, and we just need to keep working hard and do what we need to do as a team to take it to the next level in the playoffs.

82 games is a long season—especially compared to college ball, when you have one or two games a week. It has a lot of wear-and-tear on your body, but it’s not over yet. We need to come together as a team and keep our intensity level to what it needs to be in the playoffs, so that everything we worked for in those 82 games doesn’t end in just four or five games.”

4/11/07
PAUL MILLSAP:

“Our team is struggling right now, and we’ve got to get back on track. Once we start playing as a team again, we’re going to win a lot of games—the sky’s the limit for us.

It’s always good to get home-court advantage in the playoffs, and it’s crucial for us. We let some games slip away from us—some games we should’ve won. The crowd motivates us, so getting home court would mean a lot to us. Hopefully Houston will lose some games and we will win ours so that we can get it.”

4/11/06
RONNIE BREWER:

“As we head into the playoffs, we need to start playing a little bit better. We’ve lost a couple games, and we just need to get back on a winning streak so we can have some momentum going into the playoffs. We need to have a lot of confidence, and I think that if we can do that, we can go a long way in the playoffs.

4/11/07
DEE BROWN:

“I’m happy for us to be getting into the playoffs my first year. I think we could be a much better team, even though we’re one of the best teams in the NBA. It’s just the struggles and the wear-and-tear of a long season, but I feel like once we get to the playoffs, it’s going to be a whole different ballgame.

When we’re at home, the energy of the fans gets us over the hump most of the time. On the road, I think we’ve just got to focus in more, and understand that we’ve got to play the same way we play at home.

It’s been a great year for me—I’m blessed to be in the NBA, I’m blessed to be with great teammates, and blessed to be on a great team. We just hope our fans continue to support us.”

3/26/07
PAUL MILLSAP:

“I think I am getting more confident as it gets closer to the end of the season. It’s just a lot of me getting out there and doing what I’ve been doing. As long as I keep the energy, I’m going to continue to play that way. Rebounding will become more important in the playoffs, because you’ve got to stop teams from getting second-chance shots. As long as we get second-chance shots, we can win the game.

I do watch the standings to see where Houston is, because they’re pretty close, and we realize that we’ve got to win almost every game we play now. If we do that, we’ll be in good shape.”

3/26/07
DEE BROWN:

“It was fun to get some minutes on Saturday. You never know when you’re going to play, but every time Coach calls your name, you’ve got to be ready to play. It’s great to get an opportunity to play a little bit and get that experience—that’s what it’s all about.

Of course, I watch the standings to see how close Houston is, but we just try to continue to win—that’s our biggest thing right now. First, it was to make the playoffs, and now it’s to continue to win.”

3/21/06
RONNIE BREWER:

“This last week was tough, because when you’re on the road, you play so many games and you get fatigued. A lot of guys were tired, and a lot of guys had to step up because we had some injuries, too.

It was tough because we lost four games, and every game is important, but I think we came back and showed that we are a good team. We bounced back and won at home, and good teams win games. Hopefully we can continue to win.”

3/21/07
PAUL MILLSAP:

“This last road trip was tough because at the end of the week, the guys were tired. We played hard the first few games, but it’s kinda hard to play four games in five days—it’s hard for everybody.

My first NBA three-pointer felt good. I believe it came at the right time, and it was just a real good experience.”

3/7/06
RONNIE BREWER:

“Last night at Leapin’ Leaners was cool, and it was a new experience for me. They had a variety of things that you could do—put-put, air hockey and stuff like that. I really enjoyed myself. My favorite part was being able to interact with the fans, shooting free throws and doing dribbling contests with them.”

2/26/07
DEE BROWN:

“We’ve played well even with Boozer out because a lot of guys have gotten the opportunity to step up and play. He’s a major part of our team so we had to collectively play harder and always be ready. With him back, we’re an even better team—other teams have to worry about Boozer.

We’ve had a lot of success this year against the Nuggets, and it’s just because we play hard. We know it’s a big game every time, so we come out there ready to play.

The Lakers always bring so much energy and attention. They have a lot of fans around Utah and a lot of fans around America, and with one of the best players coming into town, it’s going to be fun”

2/12/06
RONNIE BREWER:

“Memo’s been playing really well lately—we call him “Big Shot” Memo. He steps up big in the fourth quarter—with Boozer being out, he’s really stepped up and he’s our go-to guy in the fourth quarter. I think he should’ve been an All-Star, because without guys like him, Deron and Boozer, we wouldn’t have the record that we have right now.

My minutes have gone up a little in the last few games, but no matter what happens, you just have to be ready for whenever coach calls your name. You never know if you’re going to get a lot of minutes or not play at all. You’ve got to prepare yourself for whatever you can get in. You work on your shot and just stay ready.”

2/5/07
PAUL MILLSAP:

“My first start wasn’t exactly how I thought it was going to be. I didn’t play up to par and I got in some foul trouble, but other than that it was good.

I do feel some added pressure now that Boozer’s out of the lineup. Most people think I have a lot of weight on my shoulders to carry, but I’ve got good players and teammates around that make everyone better.

Being selected to play in the Rookie/Sophomore game is a good thing. It’s good for me and good for our team, and hopefully I can make everybody proud of me. It’s going to be a little weird to play against Deron, but I’m going to have to take it to him.”

1/29/07
RONNIE BREWER:

“I wasn’t really surprised how well Memphis played—every team in the NBA is a good team and you have to prepare yourself for every game. Even though their record doesn’t show that they win a lot of games, they have players that are capable of playing well.

It was fun to watch Boozer and Williams achieve career-highs against Memphis. Sometimes you get a sense of things from watching them on the court because they do some amazing things together as well as individually.

Playing against Carmello Anthony and Allen Iverson together for the first time was tough because it was a playoff atmosphere and they are some of the best players in the league. We had to try and make them take tough shots, and I think that’s what we did.

I went to my first Jr. Jazz appearance recently. There were a lot more people than I expected, so it was cool and I enjoyed it. I look forward to doing some more.”

1/23/07
PAUL MILLSAP:

“This last road trip was good, but the fireworks before the game in Detroit were a little scary! They were so unexpected—two of us almost jumped out of our shoes! But they were entertaining.

After the loss to Washington, I knew we were going to try and get back on top. There were a lot of players who were disappointed about the game, and I knew they were going to bring there A-game the rest of the way.

I was able to catch one of my little brother’s high school games recently. I’ve only caught three games this year, and it’s hard because I’m always on the road or at a game, but it’s great when I can make it."

1/8/07
PAUL MILLSAP:

“Playing Allen Iverson was not what I thought it was going to be. Our guards contained him well and we got the win, so it was a good night. I think Denver’s going to be a pretty good team once Carmello returns. Once they get all their players back, they’re going to be loaded.

I think that Dallas is going to be a different team than they were the last time they came here. They had been on a 14-game winning streak. They lost a game yesterday, so I think they’re going to come in with a new attitude. Their forwards can shoot the ball well and they’re very athletic, so we need to step up and play some good defense."

1/3/07
DEE BROWN:

“In the game against San Antonio, I wanted to win but it was good to get some minutes and experience playing with the young guys.

One of the great things about road trips is meeting with the Illini alumni clubs. We’ve got some big-time fans and coming from Illinois, there’s so much support and so much love. It’s always good to see and it makes my day.

12/26/06
RONNIE BREWER:

“The road trip was good—we won more than we lost. I thought we could have beat some of the teams we lost to, but it was still a good road trip. It was also a little difficult because you can’t simulate a five-game road trip. Being away from home and family like that can be wearing, so you’ve got to focus and concentrate on playing basketball. You have to be prepared every night.

The game against Atlanta was cool because even though I wasn’t getting much playing time in the beginning, for them to bring me in and allow me to make the most of my time was a great experience.”

12/18/06
RONNIE BREWER :

“This upcoming road trip is a long one, but it’s a good trip because I have family at almost every stop. The game on the 23rd is close to Christmas and my family gets to come to that. I’m not going home for Christmas, so it’s like I’ll be celebrating then. This will be my first long road trip, so it’s going to be a new experience. I’m looking forward to trying to win all the games and hopefully it will be fun.”

12/18/06
PAUL MILLSAP:

“During this long road trip, I just want to go out there and do the best that I can. This is my first long road trip, so we’ll see how it goes. I haven’t gotten any Christmas shopping done—I’m a last-minute person. Hopefully, I’ll have time to do it when I get back.”

12/11/06
DEE BROWN:

“I’m just trying to do my job whenever the coach calls my name. It’s fun to actually get out there and play, but at the same time I just want the team to get better and gain more confidence. I’m glad to bet shooting a lot better, and I’m going to try and keep my confidence going and have some more fun.

It was exciting to play against Kevin Garnett. He was one of my favorite players growing up. He played high school ball in the city where I grew up, so I got to see him and play against him a lot. It was good to see him out there playing again.

We visited Primary Children’s Hospital last week, and I loved it! Doing something like that really humbles me and makes me appreciate what I do. I love putting smiles on the kids’ faces. It made me want to go back and continue to do it, and I will.”

12/4/06
RONNIE BREWER:

“After matching up against Ray Allen once already this season, I felt more prepared to guard him the second time around. I think you get better after playing anyone the first time. You get to study the tape and see what you did wrong, and then try to improve the next time. It’s just like when we play teams twice, we’re better prepared.

12/4/06
PAUL MILLSAP:

“I knew Coach Sloan wouldn’t call a time out when Ray Allen tied it up late in the game. In the past, he has just let it play out and that’s the best thing to do. It’s good for our team that we have so many guys willing to take big shots at the end of the game, because you may have one player being double-teamed or triple-teamed, and there’s always someone who can get the ball and make the play.

When I’m able to crash the boards early in the game like I did against the Sonics, it really boosts my confidence, and it really gets the team’s confidence up when we can play off the boards on the offensive and defensive ends.”

11/27/06
RONNIE BREWER:

“I’m getting more comfortable because I’m not on as short of a leash as I was at the beginning of the season. I’m getting more playing time so I can contribute a little more to the team. The crowd has been terrific, and gives me and the team some momentum. They get behind us and support us, and there’s nothing like having a great supporting crowd. A lot of teams on the road have crowds that aren’t in it, and we’re able to take their team out of the game. Our crowd is here and it really helps us out.

Guarding Kobe Bryant was kind of nerve-racking—especially after I got that steal and made that dunk, he came back down the court looking kind of mad. You know what he’s capable of, but you’ve just got to keep playing your hardest. When I was younger and he first came into the league, he was one of the guys I looked up to. Actually getting a chance to play against him was kind of crazy, but I really enjoyed it.

Golden State’s zone defense caught us off guard. We hadn’t really faced it that much and we didn’t execute like we wanted to. We’ve touched up on some things, and I think if we execute a little bit better than we will be successful in the future when the other team plays a zone defense.”

11/6/06
RONNIE BREWER:

"I feel like the games have gone pretty good so far, I just tried to make the most of my time. At first it was a little nerve-racking, but I just tried to find my comfort zone and I’m starting to understand the system and the quickness of the game. We’re 3-0 and I’m excited about that.

Regular season games are a lot more intense and the concentration level is a lot higher. It’s crazy to be guarding people like Tracy McGrady, because he’s a star player and someone that everyone looks up to. Having an opportunity to play against him is a great feeling and being able to do a fairly good job guarding him gave me pride in my defense.

It’s also great to be playing up-tempo teams like Phoenix. They have some great players and I’m just excited to be able to do this night in and night out."