Postgame Report: Pacers 107, Bucks 99 090128

Jan. 28, 2009 at Conseco Fieldhouse
Pacers 107, Bucks 99

PACERS COACH JIM O'BRIEN

(On T.J. Ford) "Up to the last couple of minutes, he played very well. He kept us in the game. We needed every one of his points. Neither he nor I were happy with the turnovers at the end. Anytime you turn it over 23 times, you’re not making good decisions with the basketball. We need to keep the turnovers down."

" I think we’re starting to get a home court advantage. We’re in a battle with a number of teams in the East for the last two playoff spots. This stretch of five games in seven nights and six more games before the all-star break, we will find out if we have a legitimate chance of making the playoffs before the all star break."

(Danny Granger’s injury) "There is no guarantee he’ll be back Friday. But it’s something that should get better with rest.”

PACERS FORWARD TROY MURPHY

“This was not only a good win, it was an important win and we reacted the way that we had to, to get it. These are the ones that we’re supposed to win because we’re at home and we’ve got to take care of our home court, play tough and capitalize on these home games that we have right."

"The schedule was not good to us the first part. This is a new part and a new beginning.”

PACERS GUARD T.J. FORD

(On his play) "Toward the end of the game, I made some bad decisions but it didn’t end out costing us badly."

" Charlie (Villanueva) was a very key player and really got at it and got it done."

"Danny was not on the floor but he’s the team leader and was an energizer for us all night long. We hope to get him back Friday."

"Having more games at home the second half of the year will definitely help us. We just have to protect our home court and get the wins while we can.”

BUCKS COACH SCOTT SKILES

“(On the game) We didn’t come ready. We were very sluggish. Right before halftime we started to play and we carried that over into the second half. But we couldn’t get it done. How could we not be ready for a game like this? We don’t yet understand the intensity we have to play with all game long."

(On T.J. Ford) "He’s very quick. He can break down defenses and we had trouble defending the pick and roll. He broke us down tonight.”

BUCKS FORWARD CHARLIE VILLANUEVA

(On trying to come back and falling short) "After getting down big in the first half, we fought to try to come back, but we just couldn’t get enough stops at the end. We need to be more aggressive in the beginning. We have to step up more; I have to take it upon my self to step up more."

(On their bad start) "I just think we came out not focused. It’s all mental. We came out with no defensive pressure. We didn’t dictate anything on the floor to them and we just dug ourselves too big of a hole that we couldn’t crawl out of."

(On overlooking the Pacers without Danny Granger) "Not at all. This is the NBA. We don’t take anyone lightly. We can’t afford to do that.”

BUCKS FORWARD MUC MBAH A MOUTE

(On the Bucks’ rally not being enough) "We just couldn’t get stops at the end. It seems like every time we came down and made a (offensive) play. But they also came back down and hit something off the backboard or something. I guess it was just one of those nights where once they got going, they could never stop."

(On the injury to Luke Ridnour and other injuries this year) "It’s kind of been the story of the year. It’s up to the team to fight back and respond. Other guys have to step up and respond to those injuries.”

BUCKS FORWARD RICHARD JEFFERSON

(On the slow start) "We didn’t do a good job starting the game, and that’s pretty much the starters’ fault. We fought our way back. But when you spot them 15 or 20 points at times, it’s tough to come back from that.”