Print
RSS 
Sign up for E-newsPostgame Quotes - November 23, 2008
Minnesota: Randy Wittman | Ryan Gomes | Randy Foye
Pistons Head Coach Michael Curry
(On losing on Sunday’s) “We've had about five loses, and all of them on the average of twenty points have been a six o'clock (start) on Sunday. As I just told the guys this tells me we’re not ready to play. As a professional (team) we have to get ourselves ready to play whether its an early game or whether its a normal 7:30 game. We haven't been ready to play and as the head coach of this team, I take for full responsibility for that.”
(On poor shooting of Richard Hamilton and Allen Iverson) My top three guards (Richard) Hamilton, Allen (Iverson) and (Rodney) Stuckey were 5 for 27 but they've played enough basketball you know you can’t get frustrated. You got to keep playing and play within yourself. They go 5 for 27 and then with Wallace together they are 8 for 37. You know we’re not going to win many games. The reality is we knew this was a capable young team. They just had problems finishing games. They turned the ball over towards the end a few times. Normally they are very good of taking care of the basketball and they get good shots.”
Pistons Guard Allen Iverson
(On the game) “We’ve had tough shooting games but you wouldn’t expect it tonight against a team that had won only two games. It was just a tough night. Besides Tayshaun (Prince) and Max (Jason Maxiell) nobody could throw a rock in the ocean. We just struggled defensively, and obviously when we’re not doing anything on the offensive end it only can get worst.”
(On being ready to play) “It is on us. You can’t really put a finger on it. I think a game is a game regardless what time you play. You got to prepare yourself to be able to play. You just have to be ready and I really don’t what it is but I hope we don’t have anymore.”
(On his offense) “I got some great looks tonight, they just didn’t go down. I stunk up the gym tonight. I couldn’t do anything right on the offensive end of the court. I was aggressive going to the basket. I got some wide-open looks as far as my jumper is concerned, and they just didn’t go down. It was just one of those nights that you wish you never have, but they happen. It will be tough to sleep tonight.”
Pistons Guard Rip Hamilton
(On the game) “It wasn’t a good night for us on both sides of the floor, very similar to the Boston Celtics game, so we must go back to the basics in order to figure things out. There is no consistency we need to figure it out; it’s very disappointing to lose on home court, especially coming off a long road trip.”
(On the loss at home) “It's great to be home, but it was a game that we could have definitely won, and we couldn’t pull it out, it’s very frustrating because we are not were we want to get to get as a team.” “Its tough but we have no choice but to go back to the drawing board and figure things out.”
Timberwolves Head Coach Randy Wittman
(On the game) “This is the sort of thing that will put a smile on your face. That was as good as a performance that we’ve had from start to finish. We never let our foot off the accelerator tonight and we stayed with what we were doing that was good. We also shared the ball, 32 assists on 44 field goals, I can’t ask for anything more. That is moving the ball, that is the aggression that we’ve talked about needing to finish games. Only 13 turnovers tonight, that is good against a team that uses turnovers to get themselves going.”
(On Randy Foye) “He was the guy that he can be and he hasn’t been that way. Whether he is coming off pick-and-rolls or going into seams, he needs to penetrate with the thought of scoring and if the defense takes that away then you make the pass. If you come off predetermining what you are going to do then the defense is never going to collapse on you. He forced the defense to collapse tonight, which created his assists, and he was aggressive coming off the pick-and-roll.”
(On their defense) “Our defense was pretty solid from the beginning. This is a good team we played and obviously we got them on an off-night.”
Timberwolves Forward Ryan Gomes
(On bouncing back from Friday’s loss) “We knew that they were a tough team and they stepped up defensively when they needed to on Friday to beat us, but tonight we knew we had to bounce back because it was a similar team. We knew that we had to move the ball and make them rotate and that is what we did tonight. We moved the ball, got plenty of assists and made baskets. Defensively we made them go to other guys and we loaded up on (Allen) Iverson and (Richard) Hamilton coming off screens to make them give up the ball and made other people make plays, which ended in our favor tonight.”
(On two different third quarters between Friday and tonight) “It was, but you have to learn quick in this league because games come quick. It isn’t like you have much time to remember that last game, so you have to remember the key points from Coach (Randy Wittman) and try and use them the next game.”
Timberwolves Guard Randy Foye
(On their play 48 hours apart) “We just wanted to come out tonight and play well against Detroit after losing like that to Boston. We know that they are similar to Boston in that their bigs can shoot and they are great rebounders. Coach (Randy Wittman) preached to us before the game to play our game and keep everything simple and we will make plays.”
(On his game) “Everything was simplified tonight. Coach brought me to the side a couple of times and told me to just go. Tonight there was so much energy from everyone and focused on the game plan.”
(On their ball movement) “I think the previous games before this we had plenty of assists as well, I think, ranking in the top five in the NBA. Tonight we were able to just hold the ball and if a guy has an open shot you know where he will be and you try and get it to him.”
