Apr. 22 2003 Playoffs Quotes

Head Coach Doc Rivers
On taking the next step: "The bottom line is someone has to win four to move on. Until then, no one is going to relax, I can guarantee you that. The step for us is to win FOUR games. However we do that, we do it. We have an opportunity tomorrow night. I've always been amazed that the team that loses the first game, says the next game is a must-win. I rarely hear the winning team call the second game a must-win, so I asked our guys, 'Why not?' Why isn't this a must-win. Unless they know something I don't know, this is a must-win for us also.

"You saw it from Phoenix and you saw it from Boston last night. The first thing out of the Celtics locker room was that they already got what they wanted. Well, that's not the answer I am looking for out of our guys."

On expecting Detroit to be more physical in Game #2: "That sounds good. I thought they did a good job of it in Game #1, so maybe if they are more physical, WE can shoot 40-something free throws. That would be terrific. I hope they do that...that would be great. Now we can go to the line as many times as they did. For us, that's the best news we heard all morning.

"We are just going to do what we did in Game #1. We're just going to come out and play. We're a happy bunch. We're just going to come out, be aggressive and we're going to play. We're the #8 seed, so let them be physical, let them knock our guys down. I just hope Tracy McGrady goes to the line more than he did in Game #1, and he should. We're not talking about anything but playing basketball tomorrow."

Pat Garrity
On Detroit's adjustments in Game #2: "Teams always adjust how they play in a series. They are definitely going to make an adjustment on how they are playing Tracy (McGrady), whether it be they are going to double-team him early, or just try to run someone at him every time he catches the ball. If they do that, the rest of us are going to have to make shots. That's how we are going to play it. It's a series of adjustments in the playoffs."

Tracy McGrady
On whether it bothers him if Detroit plays more physical in Game #2 tomorrow: "Hmmm...good. Maybe I'll get a chance to go to the free throw line more. It doesn't bother me. Whatever they feel like they need to do, that's fine. If they feel they need to be more physical, then more power to them. My game's not going to change at all. I'll have the same approach tomorrow as I do for every game. I'm going to stay in attack mode, so whatever they want to do, let them do it. If they are going to knock me down, I'm going to get right back up. It's not going to change the way I play."

On taking it to the Pistons in Game #1: "We just came out focused and in attack mode for the entire game. We didn't wait for anything. Defensively, I think we stepped it up another notch.. It's something that has really killed us in the past. They really don't have a superstar scorer on their team, so I think if we come out and set our defensive presence right away, then hopefully we won't have a problem."

On the Magic winning without him scoring 40-plus points: "Absolutely. We've done it before and I think we can do it again. If they decide to double-team, I just have to get my teammates involved. Hopefully they are knocking down shots. If they are, then yes, they'll be in a run for their money. We are going to be ready."