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Portland: Nate McMillan | Brandon Roy | LaMarcus Aldridge
Pistons Head Coach Michael Curry
(On changing to reserves in first quarter) “I'm not trying to send a message. They (the starters) weren't playing well, take them out and try to put someone else in. Our starters put us in a hole. We battled back from the entire night. When we did battle back there were times where we had to give our guys that had came of the bench a blow. This game is on our starters. When we put them back in we never got great things going. I thought our guys came off the bench and gave us a chance to compete and win the game."
(On the energy level and execution) “Normally it’s all combined. If your energy level is low you’re not going to execute as well, you’re not going to make shots and you’re not going to get stops.”
(On figuring out a substitution pattern) “That's just when you're on the floor. I don't have a problem with a substitution pattern. The substitution pattern is - you sub guys, you bring guys in to play. When it seems like you’re trying to search for something, as a coach, I shouldn't have to search for where I'm going to find my energy. I coach the game. I can't coach the energy.”
Pistons Guard Allen Iverson
(On Sunday game struggles) “I can’t speak for everybody. All you can do is stick with it and realize it is early in the season, and we have to get better.”
(On frustrating losses) “It is frustrating losing just one game. It’s just frustrating to me. I was frustrated from the first one we lost, so obviously I am now. All you can do is stay positive, stay focused, and try and get done what we need to get done, and that is to win the ball game.”
(On first quarter slump) “We just weren’t making shots and they were. We got some good looks but we just didn’t knock them down. LaMarcus Aldridge started off extremely hot and he got them into a rhythm, and they just followed his lead.”
(On his struggles) “My rhythm is not there, and this is kind of a different situation for me. I’m finally sitting more than I usually do. I think that just my rhythm is not where I want it to be. I’m positive and I have a lot of confidence it my game, and I know how to come back.”
Pistons Guard Richard Hamilton
(On the win) “Well, they played well tonight and we had several opportunities to get it done, we just didn’t. Its tough because you want to win and its very hard to win when your learning on the fly, I hate to lose.”
(On the rotations) “Well its different. It’s something you’re not used. It’s sometimes you have to get accustomed to different line-ups and playing less minutes. I just hope we just get it going soon.”
(On the San Antonio Spurs) “Well I just want to go and get a win. They have a tough crowd and they always do well in front of their home crowd”
Trail Blazers Head Coach Nate McMillan
(On the game) “It was a gritty effort tonight. When you talk about going into Detroit and beating a team like this it’s going to be a gritty effort on anyone's part. I thought our guys stayed calm, especially since we knew that Detroit’s second unit would bring a lot of energy and aggression and we also stuck to our game plan and pull a very good win.”
(On LaMarcus Aldridge) “He had his jump-shot going tonight and when it is falling it is tough to guard us. It is nice to see him get in a rhythm since both he and Brandon (Roy) are the guys we are going through. Those are our go-to guys and Aldridge had his shot falling tonight.”
(On the difference of being at home and on the road) “Tonight we were able to finish, teams have made runs like that before and we have given into the pressure. Tonight our guys came out after Detroit made that run and they were calm. They didn’t panic, executed offensively, defensively we needed to get stops and were able to do it, which is why we pulled away.”
Trail Blazers Guard Brandon Roy
(On game) “It was a good win for us. We’ve really struggled on the road against good teams this year but tonight we had a really good focus and we’re able to close the game. Even when they made a run to get the game close, we did a good job of staying together and getting what we wanted offensively. I think that is a sign of us maturing offensively, not a lot yet, but we are getting better.
(On closing the game) “I think it was about us executing offensively. We were picking-and-rolling, Lamarcus (Aldridge) was making shots all game long. He had his rhythm and I was just doing my best being aggressive in the paint. So really that is our game, but we did a good job of executing all game.
Trail Blazers Forward LaMarcus Aldridge
(On his game) “I was able to establish an inside presence early. I was going to the basket and getting to the line and I think that as the game went on I was able to go to my jump shot more. My jumper has felt better these past few games and I’ve been shooting it with great confidence.”
(On the gritty win) “That is a really good team over there and we knew that they were going to make runs and they made them. We were able to weather those runs tonight to win the game tonight though.”
(On starting road trip) “It's a good way to get the road trip started. We have some pretty good teams on this trip, so I think this win will get us on the right track.”
