Game 5 Post Game Quotes
DETROIT PISTONS 98 VS. ORLANDO MAGIC 67
NBA PLAYOFF QUARTERFINALS GAME 5
THE PALACE OF AUBURN HILLS, APRIL 30, 2003
ORLAND MAGIC HEAD COACH DOC RIVERS: “Well, not a lot to say except we got our butts kicked tonight. I thought they were the more aggressive basketball team. I thought they deserved to win tonight. I thought they were more physical and they basically took it to us throughout the game. That happens, it’s disappointing and as a young team we learned a lot of lessons tonight. You get a number one seed against the wall and they’re going to play like a number one seed and you’re going to have to up your play or you’re going to loose the basketball game. . . The 32 percent field goal percentage bothered me tonight. The fact that we only had 17 free throws and they had 28 meant that they were more aggressive . . . Two numbers that stand out to me are the 18 turnovers for 25 points, and the fact that we only forced nine turnovers showed our lack of aggressiveness.”
TRACY MCGRADY: (Regarding that Orlando still has a chance to win) “Absolutely. I give them credit. They played well. I think that this is the worst game that we have played in the series. I think that’s the best game that they have played. Both teams played hard (laughing). It was one of those nights where I would penetrate to try and make things happen. I had no choice but to kick it out and find my guys. The thing tonight, is that the shots weren’t falling for us. (on trying to get into offensive rythym) It’ not hard at all. The last few games, I really didn’t have to do as much. A lot of it was just getting my teammates involved.”
PAT GARRITY: “We need to continue to improve our defense and get it back to the level it was back home. We need to start moving the ball like we were at home too. (On McGrady tonight) When a guy is playing that spectacular, maybe he’s going to have a down game. If it happened tonight, we’re just going to need everyone to play a great game at home. Ben played with a lot of energy and Chauncey was aggressive tonight. With Hamilton, those three guys were the key for them tonight. We have to get back to the things we’ve been doing at home and completely forget about this one. We have to have a sense of urgency. We didn’t have a sense of urgency tonight. Going back, we have to finish that thing at home. He (Tayshaun Prince) played well tonight. He’s long and he’s active and he’s a guy that’s trying to carve a niche for himself. He’s hungry and he brought them a lot of energy tonight.”
DARRELL ARMSTRONG: “They fought for their lives and they outplayed us. From the beginning to the end they were the aggressive team, they really put us back on our heels and you have to give them the credit, they’re fighting for their lives, I don’t think our focus was there. We need to stop them on defense. Our defensive energy wasn’t there tonight. They were beating us to every us to every punch tonight, to every spot and every loose ball. When the ball was on the floor it was like we didn’t know it was on the floor and they did. One chance. We have to clinch down there on Friday night because they’re going to be fighting the same way. The only difference is that we’re going to be at home and they’re going to be on the road. We have to give them everything we got. I don’t think we gave them everything we had. They gave us everything tonight. We have to come out and play Magic basketball which we didn’t do tonight. They played Detroit Pistons style basketball and that’s why they won the game. Guys were just everywhere. We didn’t stop Rip Hamilton, we didn’t stop Chauncey Billups, we didn’t stop anybody. The coach could’ve taken a shot and we probably wouldn’t have stopped him either.”
DREW GOODEN: “The playoffs are tough, it’s no cakewalk. We’re the number eight seed playing the number one seed so you’re going to expect some ups and downs in this playoff series. Luckily we’re up 3-2 and playing at home the next game so hopefully we can wrap it up at home. They’ve been coming out the first quarter on fire every game and it’s just how we respond. The previous games we responded but tonight we didn’t.”
DETROIT PISTONS HEAD COACH RICK CARLISLE: “It felt better I thought to play a complete game. We’ve had our struggle on both ends of the court, and tonight we finally put together what I thought was forty minutes of really hard basketball. The results were favorable. We’ve got to take this momentum down to Orlando tonight, and carry it over into game six on Friday. Our crowd had a lot to do with our energy. They were great, as they always are. So a lot of our credit has to go to our fans. And I knew our guys were going to play. There was just no question in my mind. Ben has been in an ornery mood since the weekend and justifiably so. .. The reality is we are one road win away from getting our home court advantage back and the goal tonight was to put ourselves in that position and we have. And now we have an opportunity so we’re looking forward to that. Curry’s early foul trouble dictated Tayshaun’s getting in earlier. I anticipated that he could play, but the way that it went he got in there and played so effectively that it was hard to get him out. He’s been a big factor for us in our two wins and I’m sure he’ll be a factor on Friday as well.”
BEN WALLACE: “This time we came out with a lot of energy. The way we came out tonight, we forced their team to defend us. Get down on defense, and defending other teams. You know making things tough for them. As long as we keep that energy while the game goes it will be tough to beat us. We had a lot of energy, I was liking the way the energy was feeling. Second quarter the guys came out and continued to play hard. I said some things the last couple of days and called my teammates out, and they responded. We finished up and played a serious game, and we didn’t take anything for granted. (In response to first quarter play) That’s from my teammates penetrating, breaking the defense down. My man would slide over to help out, and then I would slide in through the back door and get a couple easy points early. I think that’s when our team is at it’s best…when we break guys down, get into the paint and force teams to play.”
TAYSHAUN PRINCE: “I didn’t even have a clue I was playing today so it was a surprise to me. You just have to be prepared. Mike (Curry) picked up three quick fouls and once that happened, I knew there was an opportunity for me. Like I said, I didn’t know I was getting in, but I do have to make the best of it. We made big shots every time (Orlando) made a run. They got it to 59-51 at one point and cut it to an eight-point game; we called a time-out and came out and got to the free throw line because for the last eight minutes in the quarter, we were in the bonus. We knew we needed to get the ball inside or attack the basket to get to the foul line.”
MICHAEL CURRY: “The fact is that we all had to look in the mirror and say, with the effort we gave (in the last two games), Orlando can beat you and any other team can beat you. Keeping (Tracy) McGrady off of the (free throw) line was good, but he is still going to make tough shots. Once we got a lead, we were able to help (on McGrady) even more. When it is a four or six-point game, it’s hard to help out on guys because they (Orlando) have guys that will knock down big shots if you leave them open. The difference in the game is that Darrell Armstrong only had three (points) tonight. In the games that (Orlando) has won, he has had double-digit points. We have to really keep him down when he comes off the bench. We also have to keep (Drew) Gooden off the boards; he is doing a great job and is a heck of a player.”
JON BARRY: “We needed something to happen and we had to make it happen. I think with an effort like this, there is more belief that we can do this. Obviously, odds are against you any time you get down three games to one. We haven’t been the team that we were in the regular season in any of those games. We know that if we play to our capabilities, we can come out and show what kind of team we can be. I’m just hoping the guys believe even more now. Hopefully we can go down there (Orlando) and win to bring it back here Sunday.”
NBA PLAYOFF QUARTERFINALS GAME 5
THE PALACE OF AUBURN HILLS, APRIL 30, 2003
ORLAND MAGIC HEAD COACH DOC RIVERS: “Well, not a lot to say except we got our butts kicked tonight. I thought they were the more aggressive basketball team. I thought they deserved to win tonight. I thought they were more physical and they basically took it to us throughout the game. That happens, it’s disappointing and as a young team we learned a lot of lessons tonight. You get a number one seed against the wall and they’re going to play like a number one seed and you’re going to have to up your play or you’re going to loose the basketball game. . . The 32 percent field goal percentage bothered me tonight. The fact that we only had 17 free throws and they had 28 meant that they were more aggressive . . . Two numbers that stand out to me are the 18 turnovers for 25 points, and the fact that we only forced nine turnovers showed our lack of aggressiveness.”
TRACY MCGRADY: (Regarding that Orlando still has a chance to win) “Absolutely. I give them credit. They played well. I think that this is the worst game that we have played in the series. I think that’s the best game that they have played. Both teams played hard (laughing). It was one of those nights where I would penetrate to try and make things happen. I had no choice but to kick it out and find my guys. The thing tonight, is that the shots weren’t falling for us. (on trying to get into offensive rythym) It’ not hard at all. The last few games, I really didn’t have to do as much. A lot of it was just getting my teammates involved.”
PAT GARRITY: “We need to continue to improve our defense and get it back to the level it was back home. We need to start moving the ball like we were at home too. (On McGrady tonight) When a guy is playing that spectacular, maybe he’s going to have a down game. If it happened tonight, we’re just going to need everyone to play a great game at home. Ben played with a lot of energy and Chauncey was aggressive tonight. With Hamilton, those three guys were the key for them tonight. We have to get back to the things we’ve been doing at home and completely forget about this one. We have to have a sense of urgency. We didn’t have a sense of urgency tonight. Going back, we have to finish that thing at home. He (Tayshaun Prince) played well tonight. He’s long and he’s active and he’s a guy that’s trying to carve a niche for himself. He’s hungry and he brought them a lot of energy tonight.”
DARRELL ARMSTRONG: “They fought for their lives and they outplayed us. From the beginning to the end they were the aggressive team, they really put us back on our heels and you have to give them the credit, they’re fighting for their lives, I don’t think our focus was there. We need to stop them on defense. Our defensive energy wasn’t there tonight. They were beating us to every us to every punch tonight, to every spot and every loose ball. When the ball was on the floor it was like we didn’t know it was on the floor and they did. One chance. We have to clinch down there on Friday night because they’re going to be fighting the same way. The only difference is that we’re going to be at home and they’re going to be on the road. We have to give them everything we got. I don’t think we gave them everything we had. They gave us everything tonight. We have to come out and play Magic basketball which we didn’t do tonight. They played Detroit Pistons style basketball and that’s why they won the game. Guys were just everywhere. We didn’t stop Rip Hamilton, we didn’t stop Chauncey Billups, we didn’t stop anybody. The coach could’ve taken a shot and we probably wouldn’t have stopped him either.”
DREW GOODEN: “The playoffs are tough, it’s no cakewalk. We’re the number eight seed playing the number one seed so you’re going to expect some ups and downs in this playoff series. Luckily we’re up 3-2 and playing at home the next game so hopefully we can wrap it up at home. They’ve been coming out the first quarter on fire every game and it’s just how we respond. The previous games we responded but tonight we didn’t.”
DETROIT PISTONS HEAD COACH RICK CARLISLE: “It felt better I thought to play a complete game. We’ve had our struggle on both ends of the court, and tonight we finally put together what I thought was forty minutes of really hard basketball. The results were favorable. We’ve got to take this momentum down to Orlando tonight, and carry it over into game six on Friday. Our crowd had a lot to do with our energy. They were great, as they always are. So a lot of our credit has to go to our fans. And I knew our guys were going to play. There was just no question in my mind. Ben has been in an ornery mood since the weekend and justifiably so. .. The reality is we are one road win away from getting our home court advantage back and the goal tonight was to put ourselves in that position and we have. And now we have an opportunity so we’re looking forward to that. Curry’s early foul trouble dictated Tayshaun’s getting in earlier. I anticipated that he could play, but the way that it went he got in there and played so effectively that it was hard to get him out. He’s been a big factor for us in our two wins and I’m sure he’ll be a factor on Friday as well.”
BEN WALLACE: “This time we came out with a lot of energy. The way we came out tonight, we forced their team to defend us. Get down on defense, and defending other teams. You know making things tough for them. As long as we keep that energy while the game goes it will be tough to beat us. We had a lot of energy, I was liking the way the energy was feeling. Second quarter the guys came out and continued to play hard. I said some things the last couple of days and called my teammates out, and they responded. We finished up and played a serious game, and we didn’t take anything for granted. (In response to first quarter play) That’s from my teammates penetrating, breaking the defense down. My man would slide over to help out, and then I would slide in through the back door and get a couple easy points early. I think that’s when our team is at it’s best…when we break guys down, get into the paint and force teams to play.”
TAYSHAUN PRINCE: “I didn’t even have a clue I was playing today so it was a surprise to me. You just have to be prepared. Mike (Curry) picked up three quick fouls and once that happened, I knew there was an opportunity for me. Like I said, I didn’t know I was getting in, but I do have to make the best of it. We made big shots every time (Orlando) made a run. They got it to 59-51 at one point and cut it to an eight-point game; we called a time-out and came out and got to the free throw line because for the last eight minutes in the quarter, we were in the bonus. We knew we needed to get the ball inside or attack the basket to get to the foul line.”
MICHAEL CURRY: “The fact is that we all had to look in the mirror and say, with the effort we gave (in the last two games), Orlando can beat you and any other team can beat you. Keeping (Tracy) McGrady off of the (free throw) line was good, but he is still going to make tough shots. Once we got a lead, we were able to help (on McGrady) even more. When it is a four or six-point game, it’s hard to help out on guys because they (Orlando) have guys that will knock down big shots if you leave them open. The difference in the game is that Darrell Armstrong only had three (points) tonight. In the games that (Orlando) has won, he has had double-digit points. We have to really keep him down when he comes off the bench. We also have to keep (Drew) Gooden off the boards; he is doing a great job and is a heck of a player.”
JON BARRY: “We needed something to happen and we had to make it happen. I think with an effort like this, there is more belief that we can do this. Obviously, odds are against you any time you get down three games to one. We haven’t been the team that we were in the regular season in any of those games. We know that if we play to our capabilities, we can come out and show what kind of team we can be. I’m just hoping the guys believe even more now. Hopefully we can go down there (Orlando) and win to bring it back here Sunday.”
