Magic Exit Interviews: Quotes
Coach Stan Van Gundy:
On if the season was a complete disappointment:
“There are all kinds of good things. Ultimately, we were not successful but that does not mean there were not good things along the way. I think the best thing you can probably say is that our organization has come far enough and we have reached a level that going to Game 6 of the Conference Finals is not a success. I think that’s the best thing you can say about our organization. We are one of a very small group of teams that genuinely has the expectations of trying to win a championship. For those teams, that is the only success. It makes it hard to finish in anything other than disappointment. You have to be No. 1 out of 30; No. 2 won’t do it or anything else. At the same time, I think that is a good thing that our organization has reached that level.”
More Van Gundy Quotes | Video Interview
General Manager Otis Smith
On what kind of process he will go through to improve the team in the offseason:
“I think you are in the process now, I don’t think you’re not in the process. You’re always in the process of trying to get better, so you’re going to adjust certain things but the process really never stops to be real honest with you. You’re always trying to get your team better. With that said, we are always evaluating our roster, always trying to get better, always trying to get a team on the floor that gives us the best opportunity to win a title.”
More Smith Quotes | Video Interview
Dwight Howard:
On the season not finishing the way you wanted:
On how close the team is:
“We were six games away, so that’s pretty close. We were right there with what we had. People may say it was a failure but there are not a lot of teams that get back to the Eastern Conference Finals two years in a row. Not a lot of teams to that. There are a lot of positives that came out of this season. We didn’t get our main goal but we accomplished a lot of things so like I said, there is no need to hang our heads or be mad at the world. We didn’t finish the right way but this season I think we learned a lot about ourselves. I think me and Jameer grew as leaders this year and we are just looking forward to next season.”
More Howard Quotes | Video Interview
Jameer Nelson:
On being fully healthy in the playoffs:
“It means a lot. Any time you can recover from any type of surgery, because all surgeries are serious, it’s tough to get yourself back involved in terms of your heath and your mental focus, everything is just tough. I thought coach (Van Gundy) and Otis and the training staff, they stood by me when I first came back, and maybe it was a little early, but they gave me an opportunity to come back and be myself, and work myself back into the rotation and get myself in shape.”
More Nelson Quotes | Video Interview
Rashard Lewis:
On the different roster from last season:
“We most definitely missed Turk because he is a good friend off the court but he is also a great player. When you go to The Finals with a team, you want to keep that team together but Hedo went to Toronto and we got another good player in Vince Carter. He and Hedo are similar players, but I hope we can keep this team together because I think we have all the right pieces to win the NBA Championship. We have to mature and grow as a team. I think every year we mature and we are going to continue to mature and hopefully we can do all the little things that kept us from that, like turning the ball over 18 times against Boston, from winning that series.”
More Lewis Quotes | Video Interview
Vince Carter:
On this season:
“We didn’t accomplish our goal but all in all it was a very special season where we accomplished a lot and it gives us something to build on. Going into next year, it is not like we are going to be starting over and having to build trust. I think we all understand what needs to be done and what can be done with the people we have. I think it was a very good season. We accomplished a lot and were able to come together as a unit with a lot of new guys and we made a nice run. But, we didn’t accomplish our goal.”
More Carter Quotes | Video Interview
Matt Barnes:
On the mood of the team:
“You’re just kind of saying your goodbyes, I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot of each other throughout the summer. Disappointed – from a numbers standpoint, we had a good season. We made some people happy, but expectations here are to win a championship and we fell short, so personally, and I think I speak for a majority of the team, we’re not happy. We want to be playing in the Finals and going for a ring. It’s something that will eat us up during the summer and I’m sure drive us and hopefully bring us back next year hungry.”
More Barnes Quotes | Video Interview
J.J. Redick
On the importance of keeping team together:
“I think it’s important. One of the things that kind of happens when you don’t win a championship, everybody is quick to say what kind of changes you can make, but this team still has a window. And it has a window to win a championship and the core of our team is pretty young and can still get the job done. Tweaks, I think that’s what needs to be done and there obviously needs to be a great sense of urgency when you get to the Conference Finals.”
More Redick Quotes | Video Interview
Coach Stan Van Gundy:
On if the season was a complete disappointment:
“There are all kinds of good things. Ultimately, we were not successful but that does not mean there were not good things along the way. I think the best thing you can probably say is that our organization has come far enough and we have reached a level that going to Game 6 of the Conference Finals is not a success. I think that’s the best thing you can say about our organization. We are one of a very small group of teams that genuinely has the expectations of trying to win a championship. For those teams, that is the only success. It makes it hard to finish in anything other than disappointment. You have to be No. 1 out of 30; No. 2 won’t do it or anything else. At the same time, I think that is a good thing that our organization has reached that level.”
More Van Gundy Quotes | Video Interview
General Manager Otis Smith
On what kind of process he will go through to improve the team in the offseason:
“I think you are in the process now, I don’t think you’re not in the process. You’re always in the process of trying to get better, so you’re going to adjust certain things but the process really never stops to be real honest with you. You’re always trying to get your team better. With that said, we are always evaluating our roster, always trying to get better, always trying to get a team on the floor that gives us the best opportunity to win a title.”
More Smith Quotes | Video Interview
Dwight Howard:
On the season not finishing the way you wanted:
On how close the team is:
“We were six games away, so that’s pretty close. We were right there with what we had. People may say it was a failure but there are not a lot of teams that get back to the Eastern Conference Finals two years in a row. Not a lot of teams to that. There are a lot of positives that came out of this season. We didn’t get our main goal but we accomplished a lot of things so like I said, there is no need to hang our heads or be mad at the world. We didn’t finish the right way but this season I think we learned a lot about ourselves. I think me and Jameer grew as leaders this year and we are just looking forward to next season.”
More Howard Quotes | Video Interview
Jameer Nelson:
On being fully healthy in the playoffs:
“It means a lot. Any time you can recover from any type of surgery, because all surgeries are serious, it’s tough to get yourself back involved in terms of your heath and your mental focus, everything is just tough. I thought coach (Van Gundy) and Otis and the training staff, they stood by me when I first came back, and maybe it was a little early, but they gave me an opportunity to come back and be myself, and work myself back into the rotation and get myself in shape.”
More Nelson Quotes | Video Interview
Rashard Lewis:
On the different roster from last season:
“We most definitely missed Turk because he is a good friend off the court but he is also a great player. When you go to The Finals with a team, you want to keep that team together but Hedo went to Toronto and we got another good player in Vince Carter. He and Hedo are similar players, but I hope we can keep this team together because I think we have all the right pieces to win the NBA Championship. We have to mature and grow as a team. I think every year we mature and we are going to continue to mature and hopefully we can do all the little things that kept us from that, like turning the ball over 18 times against Boston, from winning that series.”
More Lewis Quotes | Video Interview
Vince Carter:
On this season:
“We didn’t accomplish our goal but all in all it was a very special season where we accomplished a lot and it gives us something to build on. Going into next year, it is not like we are going to be starting over and having to build trust. I think we all understand what needs to be done and what can be done with the people we have. I think it was a very good season. We accomplished a lot and were able to come together as a unit with a lot of new guys and we made a nice run. But, we didn’t accomplish our goal.”
More Carter Quotes | Video Interview
Matt Barnes:
On the mood of the team:
“You’re just kind of saying your goodbyes, I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot of each other throughout the summer. Disappointed – from a numbers standpoint, we had a good season. We made some people happy, but expectations here are to win a championship and we fell short, so personally, and I think I speak for a majority of the team, we’re not happy. We want to be playing in the Finals and going for a ring. It’s something that will eat us up during the summer and I’m sure drive us and hopefully bring us back next year hungry.”
More Barnes Quotes | Video Interview
J.J. Redick
On the importance of keeping team together:
“I think it’s important. One of the things that kind of happens when you don’t win a championship, everybody is quick to say what kind of changes you can make, but this team still has a window. And it has a window to win a championship and the core of our team is pretty young and can still get the job done. Tweaks, I think that’s what needs to be done and there obviously needs to be a great sense of urgency when you get to the Conference Finals.”
More Redick Quotes | Video Interview
