Dec. 28, 2008 at Conseco Fieldhouse
Hornets 105, Pacers 103
PACERS COACH JIM O'BRIEN
“We played a hell of a basketball game, as well as we’ve played in a long time. I’m very pleased with our effort. We did a great job defensively on the last play. We challenged the shot and Murphy (Troy) was inches away from blocking it. "
"Danny (Granger) is becoming our go to guy, obviously. If there are more people deserving to be an All-star than him, I don’t know who it is."
(On Chris Paul) "He does what great point guards do, he carries the team on his back."
"We’re growing as a basketball team, making progress. But it doesn’t always show up in the win column. I think this team has played very, very hard and persevered. When fans come, they get their money’s worth.”
PACERS CENTER ROY HIBBERT
“Down the stretch they came up good with what they had to."
(On getting frustrated) "We are a little frustrated because this is happening too much and we’ve got to find a way around it."
(On his performance) "I am still fouling too much. I know this. The coaching staff is working with me along with my teammates to try and get this corrected. My teammates have helped me in the past but my fouls come back and undo some things that I do. I’ve got to work on that and get better at it. I am still a work in progress.”
PACERS FORWARD TROY MURPHY
(On his game) "We are coming up too short on games like this. We’ve got to find a way to win some of these. When we look back on them at the end of the year, it could make a major difference in our season."
(On his playing time) "Last year when we went with big and small lineups, my playing time wasn’t up that much. This year, I am playing both sides and trying to make the most of my time out there and help this team win. It’s very frustrating.”
HORNETS COACH BYRON SCOTT
(On the Pacers) "They’re a very good basketball team. I told our guys before the game, don’t judge them by their record. Coach O’Brien has them playing very well and they have a star in Granger. Granger killed us. He made shots. Their whole front line killed us. Murphy had 16 points and 16 boards. Hibbert (Roy) had 19 points. They played a good game."
(On the Hornets) "Our star made the plays. We got lucky. I told the team that we got lucky tonight."
(On the last play) "We just ran one of our normal plays and C.P. (Chris Paul) drew a bunch of defenders and got David (West) the ball and he hit another big shot for us just like he always does."
(On Danny Granger) "He’s going to be a superstar. Every time I see him shoot, I think it’s going in and he is going to be the face of this franchise.”
HORNETS GUARD CHRIS PAUL
(On the last shot) "I was able to get in the lane but that last time Jeff Foster did a pretty good job containing me. I got on the baseline and knew the shot clock was getting low and I was about to take a bad shot. I saw D. West right there and I know that’s what he does. I tight-roped a pass through there and he knocked it down as usual."
(On him taking over the game in the fourth quarter and late in the game) "We scrimmage in practice day in and day out and work on those situations. We’re one of those teams that know what we want to do down the stretch and we usually execute it. "
(On the win) "We were lucky and sometimes you have to get lucky. I just give a lot of credit to Indiana. That team plays hard every possession. They make you guard them. They’re a lot better than their record says.”
HORNETS FORWARD DAVID WEST
(On the last shot) "We got lucky at the end to have the last possession and it was lucky for us they didn’t have any timeouts. C.P. had guys all around him and got it to me. I took a couple of steps and got a shot at the goal. I thought he was going to shoot it himself, and at the last second he kind of dumped it off to me. In that situation, there is no time to worry about outcome. You just shoot it."
(On Chris Paul’s outstanding fourth quarter) "He became real aggressive and was able to attack the basket. He and James (Posey) both made some big plays down the stretch."
(On Danny Granger) "With the kind of basketball he’s capable of, you need to prepare for him just like you are going to prepare for McGrady or somebody like that.”