Magic Exit Interviews: Rashard Lewis Quotes
Rashard Lewis:
On what could have been done differently against Boston:
“We would have to take our home court. Turnovers, we turned the ball over a lot that whole series, but in those first two games it really hurt us. If we could have at least won one game at home, it would have really changed that series. I think we built ourselves too deep of a hole to climb out of but we tried, we fought, but we hurt ourselves by going down 3-0.”
On one thing to take away from this season:
“We didn’t win the championship. We went for that ultimate goal and didn’t reach it, so everything else is a failure. There is a lot of positives you can take out of this season, winning 59 games, winning the division, Dwight winning the Defensive Player of the Year, Jameer had a great season. There are a number of things you can take out of this as positive, but when you don’t win that trophy, then everything is a failure.”
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.”
On the idea that against Boston everyone played as individuals:
“We could have played better as a team but I think everybody wanted to win so badly that they were trying to step their game up and be the hero. That’s not the right way to go, sometimes you have to move the ball around and sacrifice, but everybody was so competitive and wanted to win that it didn’t work out the way we wanted it too.”
On what adjustments to his personal game need to be made:
“You always have to work on everything. You got to keep your body in shape and in condition and keep your body strong. But continue to shoot a bunch of jump shots, ball handling, creating my own shots, creating shots for other people, I think you can always work on every aspect of your game and continue to get better. You can focus on one thing but I think you need to work on everything to get better.”
On watching The Finals:
“I’m still debating whether I want to watch it or not. I’m sure I will see it on SportsCenter or on the news but right now I don’t want to watch anything that has to do with sports. Maybe I can watch golf or baseball. But I’m sure eventually I’ll tune into The Finals. I mean, I’m an NBA basketball player, I still love the game of basketball.”
On his summer plans:
“First just relax and get a lot of rest, let your body heal. Physically and mentally just kind of relax. Get back into the gym and start working out. I’m having a baby this summer, due July 21, so it will be a calm relaxed summer for me, working out and taking care of the kids.”
On what could have been done differently against Boston:
“We would have to take our home court. Turnovers, we turned the ball over a lot that whole series, but in those first two games it really hurt us. If we could have at least won one game at home, it would have really changed that series. I think we built ourselves too deep of a hole to climb out of but we tried, we fought, but we hurt ourselves by going down 3-0.”
On one thing to take away from this season:
“We didn’t win the championship. We went for that ultimate goal and didn’t reach it, so everything else is a failure. There is a lot of positives you can take out of this season, winning 59 games, winning the division, Dwight winning the Defensive Player of the Year, Jameer had a great season. There are a number of things you can take out of this as positive, but when you don’t win that trophy, then everything is a failure.”
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.”
On the idea that against Boston everyone played as individuals:
“We could have played better as a team but I think everybody wanted to win so badly that they were trying to step their game up and be the hero. That’s not the right way to go, sometimes you have to move the ball around and sacrifice, but everybody was so competitive and wanted to win that it didn’t work out the way we wanted it too.”
On what adjustments to his personal game need to be made:
“You always have to work on everything. You got to keep your body in shape and in condition and keep your body strong. But continue to shoot a bunch of jump shots, ball handling, creating my own shots, creating shots for other people, I think you can always work on every aspect of your game and continue to get better. You can focus on one thing but I think you need to work on everything to get better.”
On watching The Finals:
“I’m still debating whether I want to watch it or not. I’m sure I will see it on SportsCenter or on the news but right now I don’t want to watch anything that has to do with sports. Maybe I can watch golf or baseball. But I’m sure eventually I’ll tune into The Finals. I mean, I’m an NBA basketball player, I still love the game of basketball.”
On his summer plans:
“First just relax and get a lot of rest, let your body heal. Physically and mentally just kind of relax. Get back into the gym and start working out. I’m having a baby this summer, due July 21, so it will be a calm relaxed summer for me, working out and taking care of the kids.”
