Post Game Quotes -- Dec. 2, 2006

George Karl - Denver Nuggets Head Coach
"(Melo’s season high?) 38, he could have had 50. I have got to give a lot of guys credit. J.R. making shots helps us. His (Anthony) passing has improved to the point where teams have a tough option. Andre is as good as anyone I’ve coached at throwing the ball over the top. I think we’ve gotten better, the mentality of our offense is to open the middle up. Our spacing is about 100% better than last year. Our bench played well tonight which I think made it easier. Defensively we have those games where we force a lot of turnovers."

"Our offense comes from our defense which makes us better. I’m trying to emphasize to them that when we play 5 on 5 defense we are pretty good. I’m trying to figure out that home court passion. That’s what I want for Christmas, that home court passion and pride. I liked to be 18-3 (at home), that would be fine."

J.R. Smith - Nuggets Guard
"We need to establish a home stand so we can start the month off right."

"Really get the feel of playing at home because a lot of our games in the first half of the season are at home."

"It’s contagious (3-pointers as a team). Once a few people start hitting them, everybody starts hitting them. I think M.C. (Camby) could of shot a three and it would of went in."

On getting home late
"I ain’t tired. I woke up at 2:30 today, so I’m good."

On the team stepping to the next level
"People started to count us out early. I think we are proving that we belong here, we are gonna fight until the end and keep playing hard basketball. I think we really decided as a team that we need to play a certain way. We have got to keep playing fast, pushing the ball. Get the ball into Melo’s hands and let him decide our destiny for us."

Andre Miller - Nuggets Guard
"We are doing alright, we’ve got some guys playing good basketball. Anytime that happens it makes my job a little bit easier. It was a long day, we were tired, but some guys out with some energy and other guys brought a lot of energy to the game. We got a good win in Minnesota, we had a good week and we ’ve just got to prepare for the next week. We don’t play until Wednesday, so we get a couple days off and then prepare for Wednesday."

Eduardo Najera - Nuggets Forward
"I’ve got to admit we’re a little bit tired today. Some of the guys are hurting, but overall it was a great game. I thought the crowd was into it to begin with and we came out with some energy. I can’t say a lot of energy, but enough to get through this win. I think everybody was tired. Indiana was tired, they got in late. We got in late, so it was kind of like a contest to see who was going to have the most energy."

PACERS QUOTES

Rick Carlisle - Indiana Pacers Head Coach
"It was a combination of some poor decision making which led to a lot of turnovers throughout the entire game. When your offense isn’t efficient, it puts you in a terrible position defensively, to be able to stop somebody, especially Denver. They are a good offensive team. They have guys who can really push the ball, so we played from behind from the beginning of the game."

"It made it very difficult, and we didn’t help ourselves with the turnovers."

On Carmelo Anthony
"He was great. Carmelo Anthony gets better every time I see him. He’s got a great disposition on the floor. He’s a brutal match-up for any team because he can play the three, four, or two. He’s a great player. I don’t hesitate to say he is a great player. You don’t just say that about anybody."

Jermaine O’Neal - Pacers Forward
On fan heckling
"It was all in fun. It’s all part of the game, I’m gonna be me and it has no effect on me. Maybe it should have been cut off, but I had fun with it. When we get down, fans start getting on us, but I really don ’t have a problem with it. Let the fans get involved with the game, especially during the time outs. That gives them much more of a reason to come to the games.”

Jamaal Tinsley - Pacers Guard
"They made a lot of shots and we made a lot of turnovers. They just outplayed us tonight. When you go out and compete like that, it doesn’t make you happy. They just ran up and down the court and knocked down their shots. They just outplayed us tonight. They got in at the same time as us last night, and we are both used to this type of time getting in. Again, the bottom line is they just outplayed us."