Post Game Quotes
Jazz 100, Lakers 113
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NEXT: Tuesday, April 21 8:30 PM MT
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Jazz Quotes
Coach Jerry Sloan
on his team’s performance:
“We had a very difficult time, we gave up 62 points in the first half and it’s virtually impossible to try and beat this team giving them that kind of edge. We’ve been able to have somewhat of a decent start; we shot 48 shots in the first half and end up shooting 36% I believe. And some of those shots were makeable shots but they were leaving us open for a reason; because we’re not great shooters out there and we took some of those shots to I guess prove that we could make a shot and consequentially it didn’t go down for us. But we stayed in our offense and executed that. I felt like we were at least able to try and make them play us a little more.
on if this loss was a carryover from last Tuesday’s game:
“I hope not, if it is then we better learn how to forget about a game that we just had and whether you win or lose nobody cares what happened with the last game. And the important thing is that we kind of looked like deer in the headlights to start off with. I was really shocked that we would play that way, but some of our guys are young guys and hopefully they will learn and we have four games and hopefully we get better each time we play them and see what happens. I thought our effort was good, I just thought some of the mistakes we made on both ends of the floor were something we have to do a much better job with. We were obviously short out there to start with, and we get shorter when we have to substitute. And they are a big long team anyway, and we can’t seem to make our guys any taller, if I could do that maybe we’d be a little better off.”
“The fact of it is that they scored 55 points in the paint, and I think it lot of that has to do with their size and their physical ability to be able to take advantage of you. And we have to do better job trying to help each other. And we got caught in between a few times and that gives them an opportunity to go on top of the basket. Kobe Bryant is Kobe Bryant he takes the game puts it in his hands and scored about 3 or 4 times off the pick-and roll and we try pushing it and had a little more success with that, didn’t have any success at all in the first part of it. That’s what great players do; they put a lot of pressure on you.
Carlos Boozer
on Utah’s shooting in tonight’s game:
“We just have to step up and knock them down and shoot with confidence. We make shots all year and we believe in each other so if we have shots we have to take them but at the same time we have to execute the offense.”
on the confidence level going into the next game:
“We have a good concept of the game. We played a lot better in the second half and whenever we can do better job defensively then we will do a better job defensively; make them take some more jump shots and take away layups we will have a much better chance for victory.”
on the way he feels now that he is back from knee surgery:
“I felt great. It is the best I have felt since knee surgery and I feel like my lift is coming back a lot, my conditioning is there and I am just playing ball.
Deron Williams
on falling behind the Lakers in game 1:
“That is something that we can’t have happen against a team like this, you may never be able to come back. You are not going to be able to come back from twenty-down; they are just not going to let you get back in the game. We have to do a better job of playing even.”
on what encouragement they take from this game:
“We played much better in the second half, a better effort. Any time you let a team shoot 65% at the half it is tough to come out with some positive. We have to do a better job. And we weren’t hitting shots. The second half was a lot better. We played a little bit more effectively, we executed better and that is something that we have to take away from the second half.”
on his performance in tonight’s game:
“I didn’t shoot the ball too well. I thought I did a good job getting in the lane and distributing the basketball I just couldn’t finish so I have to do a better job with that. As a team, we didn’t shoot well either so we just have to make shots; get some more stops and make shots.”
on the team’s confidence in the playoffs:
“I think we definitely have it but I don’t think we have showcased it this year. We have been the same team confidence-wise that we have in the past. Pretty much we have the same group of guys that we had in the last three years that have advanced in the playoffs and in the Western Conference finals. It is just a mentality that we have and we haven’t brought it out and we do have to get if we want to win the series.”
Matt Harpring
on today’s loss:
“You can’t get down twenty something points at half time and try to make a comeback on the road at the playoffs. We played harder and focused on our offense, but we found our self in the first half sometimes at a place, not knowing our position at offense or on defense. That’s just inexcusable in the playoffs.”
on his team’s chances on beating the Lakers:
“We feel that we have a shot. We felt that way coming in today. A lot of people are writing us off right now but we defiantly feel that we can beat this team.”
Ronnie Brewer
on his team’s second half turnaround:
“We weren’t in the game early. They were getting the ball on the side, we got a foul and had them going to the free throw line, and all that. I think we made a run. We made them take tough shots, we were rebounding the ball, and executing on offense. The beginning of the game we weren’t making enough shots but that was the turning point.”
Kyle Korver
on today’s game:
“We got down early. We were missing shots and they were making shots. We have to come out a little bit better on defense in game two and our shots are going to fall. I think in the second half we did some better things but against the Lakers, in the playoffs, on the road, you have to play good for 48 minutes.”
on Trevor and Shannon’s three point shooting:
“Well they’re not going to take them if they miss them but they keep on making them which makes it tough on us. I thought in the second half we did a better job and hopefully that will carry over to Tuesday night.”
Paul Milsap
on the importance of defense:
“We have to be physical as a team, put the pressures on the refs and be strong while we’re down there. I felt good about the second half. The second half was great. You’re seeing guys down there banging, working, and helping each other out on defense. It starts on the defensive end. We can’t give up 65 points like we did in the first half and expect to win a game on the road. If we can get that down pat and play solid defense the first two quarters and the last two quarters we’ll be all right.”
BOXSCORE | GAME RECAP | 2009 PLAYOFF CENTRAL
Lakers Quotes
Coach Phil Jackson
on Lakers performance today:
“I don’t even know if we can say that we prevailed on that second half effort, but we got the win. And it wasn’t coach’s delight that’s for sure but wee were able to outscore them.”
“I thought we played relatively good defense first half and the second half I thought our defense was, it’s going to happen that way they generate the game in front of their bench on the road at their end of the floor so there’s going to be some of that. Foul after foul after foul is just you know rebounds, offensive rebounds, those are the things we harped on all week about having to watch that particular aspect of our game.”
on Carlos Boozer:
“Carlos got in foul trouble he did a little bit tonight, but he was in foul trouble a lot in the first couple games in the series last year. And that limited his time and also you know got him out of the sink. But he was able to stay on the floor tonight and play the game and had a good game.”
on Shannon Brown and Trevor Ariza:
“They knocked down the shots they had open looks they knocked them down. It was probably the best aspect of our game as far as the stat goes. Although our shooting was relatively good, it really keyed our gamed.”
on the Lakers second half performance:
“I just don’t think they are ready for the onslaught. You know that energy that Utah brings they play with a lot of determination and they want to bring the ball as deep as you let them bring it in they are in the lane almost at the basket. That’s their game you have to try and eliminate some of that and Pau had 4 blocked shots we know that size affects them on the interior part of the game. But many of those were fouls on Drew and fouls on Pau they couldn’t get blocks and couldn’t stop those shots.”
“I think our guys were keyed up for the series, and I think they were ready and that was the pleasing part about it that they were here and ready to play this game.”
Kobe Bryant
on the second half:
“It was a lot of free throws, a lot of free throws. Anytime you get to the line it stops momentum. It doesn’t enable us to get out in transition, get momentum, build up our lead. It just stops the game.”
on the impact of Shannon Brown:
“He works extremely hard, as all our players do. You know, he’s in the gym early; he’s working on his shot. When I see that it makes it even more easier for me to trust him in a game situation.”
on adjustments the Lakers need to make for Game 2:
“We’ll try to keep them off the free throw line as much as possible.”
Trevor Ariza
on what the Lakers need to take from this game:
“We’re definitely going to go into practice tomorrow and work on a lot of things. We gave up a lot of points in the second half. If we want to accomplish our goal we have to keep pushing and get better every day.
on holding Utah from making a run:
“We did get the first game but again, we’ve got to go back to practice and get better.”
Andrew Bynum
on what he can learn from this game:
“My mindset going in is that I’m going to be a lot more aggressive in the next game. I’m going to play a lot more out there. Even though I did get into foul trouble this game, I’m going to look at the tape, see what happened out there, and try to adjust.”
on the strong performance from the bench:
“For the most part the guys on the bench stepped up today. They carried us – when the bench mob came out there in the second quarter.”
Pau Gasol
on tonight’s game:
“I’m really happy with it. I’m really happy with the win. It wasn’t our best game and our most complete game but still, it’s a pretty good win against a really good team. And that’s the way you want to start. So, you know, we make the adjustments, try to get better for Game 2 and try to get another one. And if it’s ugly and not pretty and not really great, we’ll take it too. All we care about is winning, it’s about moving on, beating teams. That’s all. Obviously you can always play better or worse, either way.
whether he is happy with the win:
“A win is a win and a win at home is important. And that’s what we did. We’re happy about it and we’re excited about Game 2.”
BOXSCORE | GAME RECAP | 2009 PLAYOFF CENTRAL
