POSTGAME QUOTES



Mike D'Antoni:

On the game and the team’s energy:
“When you come off the road it’s one of those things. The energy went out. It was out of the building, but because of us. Our energy went away and that’s why it’s a tough game anyway and we were up 12 points and we messed with the game and we don’t just take the easy stuff and we try to pinpoint everything. We’re just still struggling on just playing, just play and whoever gets it gets it. It’s not a chess match out there and you can’t mess with the game, you got to play the game and we messed with it today. We got lucky and get to the next game, but it’s lucky.”

On Kobe Bryant’s struggles:
“I guess every seventeen years he’s allowed that. I wouldn’t be too tough on him. It was just one of those nights. He was trying too hard to get everybody else involved. You got to walk the fine line and he’s way over the other line and he’s got to get back in the middle where he facilitates and he’s aggressive. He’s got to flow that way, and then once you get out of rhythm then at the end of the game you have no chance to get back in rhythm. So it’s just one of those games. Just chalk it off and write it off and get to the next one.”

On Dwight Howard and Steve Nash playing together:
“It was good. Obviously when you get 19 [points] and 18 [rebounds] and a big presence underneath the rim it’s good and it should be that way all the time. I think that if he were to get with Steve [Nash] and they can get that going a little bit, get some easy buckets. I thought Steve controlled the game pretty well down toward the end so it was some better stuff, not great yet, but a lot better.

On the team struggling to string together good games:
“We just for whatever reason struggle playing the game and just getting the chemistry right and getting guys comfortable and just taking what’s there and there’s so much going on, ‘you got to do this, you got to do that’ we’re way overthinking the game. We just need to play harder, play better and just move the ball and it’s pretty simple stuff but you’re right. The string, we probably got up to five [well played games in a row] and then we fell off and then we go into a tailspin and then we get it up to three and then we fall off again and we got to quit that.”

On moving forward:
“We won 8 out of the last 11, I don’t know just keep on going, we just got to keep going, and we’ll be ready Thursday. We know the Clippers and how good they are, but again just every once in a while we have these nights where we can’t figure out who to make happy and it’s just tough, tough to go.”

On how they pulled out in the fourth quarter:
“Play defense, get rebounds. We did a good job of that at the end of the game, and that’s how we got the win.”

On his shot blocking and rebounding:
“I just try to do a good job of protecting the basket. Try to force them to take tough shots and that’s what we did, and I was able to get rebounds.”

On their recent performances:
“Our defense is getting a lot better, we’re sharing the ball, we just got to continue to do that.”

On what the Lakers have to do against the Clippers Thursday:
“Same thing. We got to play hard, play defense, contain Chris Paul, and do a good job with their bigs down low.”

On Kobe Bryant’s performance:
“I don’t think he was off, he only took 8 shots. He would have taken 10 more shots; he would have made all 10, so for the most part he was getting everyone else involved. He had 9 assists, that’s a big game. When you watch basketball, people have to understand, assists makes a good all-star. That means you’re playing with your team.”

On his energy:
“I’m trying to play hard and getting that energy back the last 10 games I guess…no excuses but for the most part I’m able to run a little bit, I’m getting my legs back under me so I’m feeling really good about that.”

On Dwight Howard’s performance:
“The thing about Dwight (Howard), people forget this guy just had back surgery. People really need to understand that he’s got a lot of heart, even off that back surgery.”

On taking back the lead:
“It was our defense and rebounding. Once they started missing some shots, we got the rebounds, we got out and we scored. I think also it was the turnovers. We cut the turnovers down. We were turning the ball over in the 3rd quarter too much, which allowed them back in the game with easy fast-break points. We have to cut that out because it can carry over to the next game. We have to learn how to take care of business when we’re up and just finish the game up.”

On overcoming a bad game by best player [Kobe Bryant]:
“We have great players on this team. It’s basketball that’s going to happen. I’m kind of glad it happened because I know come Thursday he is going to come out with fire in his eyes, ready to go. It was just a good team win.”

On overcoming a bad game by best player [Kobe Bryant]:
“We should be able to do that with the personnel that we have here. It just lets you know that you can trust us no matter if Kobe is feeling or not. It should be the same way if Dwight is in the same situation. We have some very key guys at certain positions that can really come in and pick up the slack if our superstars are not feeling it.”

On Dwight’s performance tonight:
“That is what should be happening on a night-in night-out basis. He should be controlling the paint on both ends of the floor and tonight he was able to do that. In order for us to get to where we need to get to he needs to do that very consistently.

On what decided the end result:
“I thought we got a good contribution from the bench. In the third quarter got out of a rhythm offensively. We were not only not getting good shots but giving up fast-break points, we kind of lost control of the game. The bench came in and did a good job and in the fourth quarter we just got back to a little more movement, broke the defense down, got some good shots, also got some offensive rebounds and I thought that was key.”

On Dwight’s performance tonight:
“I thought Dwight was great. I don’t always feel like the numbers tell a story with Dwight. I think he is capable of huge numbers. I think the numbers tonight, and I don’t even know if the numbers tonight were huge for him he’s so capable, but his impact is huge regardless of the numbers. He could have had 12 and 10 today and he would have had a big impact just because he put a lot into the game. Defensively he was a huge presence. Offensively I thought he put energy into the game.”

On tonight being a frustrating night:
“I thought it was great actually. I think obviously going 1 for 8 isn’t necessarily a recipe for success but I think that the important thing is that we just moved the ball. Just moving, it’s not about us individually it’s just about what we can do to help the team.”

On making a conscious effort not to shoot:
“I’ve been doing that since January, just trying to make the right play to keep everybody involved. They took away my post-ups they wanted to see if the other guys could beat us or maybe if I’d get frustrated and start forcing things a little bit. It just took the double teams and we just have to try to make the right play.”

On the game:
“When you put yourself behind the way we did in the first half and they are fighting uphill, it is tough. You can’t fight back and be even with them. You have to fight back and kind of take a big lead and we could never quite pull away. ”

“I think we are slowly making progress. Defensively, we still get stagnant at times and we get lost, but I think the third quarter was probably one of the best quarters we have had defensively this season. When you see signs of things that we have been working on, it is encouraging. But, we still have to keep working until that is done every single time, not just one quarter. So we will go home over the break and watch film and evaluate. And like we said, if some things need to be tweaked and changed, we will do that.”

On Kobe Bryant:
“I think Kobe is smart. He is one of the greatest ever and I think he knows what mode he is in. And I think he realizes when he needs to be aggressive and when he doesn’t. You just always have to be aware of him and we never take it for granted when he is on the floor. We are going to know where he is and we are going to close out to him just as if he was going for 30. But, obviously he knew how he wanted to play the game tonight and they beat us.”

On Metta World Peace’s defense:
“He is great. When he can get his body into people, he is still one of the best. He really wreaked some havoc for us tonight and came up with some key steals at some key times in the game.”

On the team being able to contain Kobe Bryant:
“I wouldn’t go that far to say we held him down. He’s a great player, but we definitely did what we wanted to do as far as our assignments; we just didn’t finish.”

On how frustrating tonight’s loss is:
“It’s real frustrating. We have to look forward to the next game and try not to make the same mistakes. I think our defense really hurt us tonight, except for the third quarter. In the third quarter I felt like we played great defense. We held them to nine points or something like that. Other than that, the first half and the fourth quarter they got whatever they wanted and our defense just wasn’t where they were supposed to be. We just have to work hard and look forward.”

On the team’s play since head coach Lindsey Hunter took over:
“We’ve come around a lot, especially on the defensive side. That’s what we wanted to do; play defense with passion, play hard, and let our defense turn into offense. It’s definitely turning around and we’re heading in the right direction.”

On how frustrating tonight’s loss is:
“We get so close, and play so well in the third quarter and figure it out. Then we went away from it in the fourth quarter for some reason. Kobe [Bryant] has four points and eight or nine turnovers and they win the game, and we didn’t even have a chance to win the game. The third quarter was encouraging and I thought the best we’ve played in a long time. We did everything right in that quarter, but overall they executed their game plan. Kobe [Bryant] wanted to be a facilitator and he was a facilitator. Antawn Jamison was the “X factor,” he got a lot of offensive rebounds and easy buckets, and when you do that to role players it gets them going.”

On what went wrong tonight in the fourth quarter:
“I thought we just got away from what we were doing. Before, we were getting defensive stops, we were running, we were sharing the ball and getting quality shots. We just didn’t get that. We started not running on the break, we started doing half court sets and taking bad contested shots, and when that happens, that’s how they end up propelling themselves and getting the lead.”

On what was the problem in the fourth quarter, not being able to close:
“That’s just the story of our team this year, just not being able to come up with the victory in the end. We had some help side miscommunications, they made some tough shots, and Steve [Nash] made a couple tough ones. But, like I said it’s just the story of our team this season. Just not being able to close the game out and being able to be in a position to win the game. It’s just something we have to keep trying to get better at.”

SUNS-LAKERS PREVIEW

By JORDAN GARRETSON

A lengthy road trip seemed to take its toll on the Los Angeles Lakers, possibly contributing to an uncharacteristically poor rebounding performance in their last game.

They'll likely be happy to return home for Tuesday night's matchup against the struggling Phoenix Suns.

The Lakers (24-28) are looking to avenge a 92-86 loss at Phoenix on Jan. 30, which started their seven-game trip. It also gives Steve Nash another shot against his former team after he had 11 points, two assists and two turnovers in his return to Arizona.

Los Angeles bounced back from that loss with wins in four of the next five games. The schedule, dictated by Staples Center hosting Sunday's Grammy Awards, saw the Lakers travel over 6,500 miles in a span of 13 days, the effects of which perhaps manifested in a 107-97 loss at Miami on Sunday.

Los Angeles, third in the league in rebounding at 44.7 per game, was outrebounded 38-29 by a Miami team that averages a league-worst 38.9 rebounds per game.

"There were moments that we gave up a foul shot or a rebound that turned into a three-point shot," coach Mike D'Antoni said. "There were extra shots that we gave them and we didn't rebound."

Kobe Bryant drew extra attention for his increased role as a facilitator as he totaled 39 assists in the three games before the Lakers left Los Angeles, a trend that continued to a lesser extent. He had eight or more assists four times on the trip.

Bryant had 28 points on 11-of-19 shooting with nine assists against the Heat, but Metta World Peace shot just 3 of 11 for nine points.

"For the most part, we played hard," said Bryant, whose scoring average of 27.4 per game ranks third.

The Suns (17-35) have lost seven of nine and are coming off two blowout defeats at the hands of Oklahoma City, falling 127-96 on the road Friday, then 97-69 at home two days later. Wesley Johnson's tip-in with 7.8 seconds to play Sunday prevented the Suns from setting a franchise scoring low. The team scored 68 at Kansas City on March 8, 1981.

No starter scored more than eight as Phoenix shot 33.0 percent - its worst clip since hitting 26.8 percent in a 110-72 loss at New Jersey on March 27, 2006.

Markieff Morris was the only player in double figures with 12 points, while Goran Dragic, Phoenix's leading scorer with 14.2 ppg, was held to six on 2-of-7 shooting. It was his lowest total since scoring four in a loss to New York on Dec. 26.

"It is like having a bad day at work and nothing goes right for you," interim coach Lindsey Hunter said. "Look at it and you go on. ... You do not hang your head and dwell on it, you move on. And that is what we are going to do. That is my job not to let the guys have pity parties." That could be tough for the Suns with their next three games on the road.

Phoenix owns the league's second-worst road record at 5-22, while Los Angeles has won five of six at home.

The Lakers also defeated the Suns 114-102 in Los Angeles on Nov. 16, their 11th win in the last 12 meetings at Staples Center - including the playoffs.

Bryant had 31 points in the November matchup, and is averaging 39.3 points during the Lakers' four-game home winning streak in the series.

SEASON & SERIES NOTES; CONNECTIONS
The Lakers and Suns have split the first two games of the season series 1-1 after splitting last season’s series 2-2. Last season’s split ended the Lakers run of four straight season series victories over Phoenix. This will be the 224th meeting between the two teams with the Lakers leading the all-time series 131-92. The Lakers are 20-7 against the Suns alltime at STAPLES Center during the regular season and 8-2 in their last 10 regular season home games against Phoenix. On the road, the Lakers have gone 5-5 in their last 10 regular season visits to the Valley of the Sun. Last season, Kobe Bryant averaged 38.7 points against the Suns over three regular season games, including a 48-point effort 1/10/12 vs. Phoenix which marked the highest scoring output of his career in a game in which he did not make a three-point field goal. In 58 career games against the Suns including 51 starts, Kobe Bryant is averaging 26.6 points. In 2010-11, the Lakers defeated the Suns in triple overtime at STAPLES Center on March 22, 2011. The three-overtime contest was just the second ever in Los Angeles (1-1), fourth since the team moved West prior to the 1960-61 season (2-2) and tied for the second longest game in franchise history behind a quadruple overtime loss in January of 1980 at Cleveland. In February of 2009, Bryant shared MVP honors with then Sun Shaquille O’Neal at the 2009 NBA All-Star Game in Phoenix. Steve Nash, who came to the Lakers this offseason via a trade with the Suns, spent 10 seasons in Phoenix (1996-98, 2004-12), averaging 14.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 9.4 assists in 744 career regular season games while winning back-to-back MVP awards in 2004-05 and 2005-06. Lakers forward Jordan Hill (2006-09) and Suns center Channing Frye (2001-05) both attended the University of Arizona. Suns guard Shannon Brown joined the Lakers midway through the 2008-09 season and was a member of the 2009 and 2010 Lakers championship teams. Over 182 games, Brown averaged 7.9 points and 2.0 rebounds in 18.7 minutes while competing in the 2010 Sprite Slam Dunk Contest during All-Star Weekend. Lakers F/C Earl Clark was selected by the Suns with the 14th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. In 60 career games with Phoenix over a season and a half with the Suns, Clark averaged 2.8 points and 1.3 rebounds in 7.6 minutes. Also, Metta World Peace was teammates with Suns forward Luis Scola (2008- 09) while with the Rockets as well as F/C Jermaine O’Neal (2001-06) while with Indiana.

LAST REGULAR SEASON MEETING
Trailing by 13 with 10 minutes left in the fourth and final quarter, the Suns would outscore the Lakers 27-8 the rest of the way, tying the game on a Jared Dudley threepointer with 3:39 left and then breaking an 86-86 tie in the final minute by scoring the games final six points, resulting in a 92-86 Phoenix victory at US Airways Center. The Lakers, who entered the game on a three-game win streak, have now lost their last eight straight road games. Kobe Bryant recorded 17 points, five rebounds and nine assists, Metta World Peace scored 15 points, Pau Gasol finished with 14 points and Antawn Jamison scored 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting. In his first game back in Phoenix, after being traded from the Suns to the Lakers this offseason, Steve Nash finished with 11 points. Dwight Howard posted nine points and 14 rebounds, but left the game with 6:57 remaining in the fourth quarter after reinjuring his right shoulder. Michael Beasley led all scorers with 27 points in 34 minutes off the bench. Marcin Gortat (14 points, 12 rebounds), Luis Scola (12 points), Jared Dudley (11 points) and Goran Dragic (11 points and 8 assists) rounded out the five Suns players in double-figures.