Detroit: Lawrence Frank | Tayshaun Prince | Jonas Jerebko Magic Stan Van Gundy | Jason RichardsonPistons Head Coach Lawrence Frank
(On Dwight Howard’s absence making a difference) – “Yes, it definitely helps. Obviously Dwight is one of the elite paint protectors, but you play with the guys that you have. Either way I thought our guys gave a tremendous effort. There were some great effort plays that came out, like (Jason) Maxiell saving that loose ball that winds up coming back to him. At the start of the fourth quarter we were able to get some mileage out of Greg, and Jonas. I thought that second unit plus with Brandon on the floor really gave us great separation; really put together some super multiple effort defensive plays. Overall, a lot of guys stepped up and played well. We got great production from our four spot, they made some late threes to get it but we were doing a pretty decent job in the second half with that. I think we did a lot of good things. Even though they did not have three of their main guys, we recognize that and yet at the same time they still have quality players, and tonight we were able to do enough good things to get a win.”
(On Ben Gordon) – “I thought Ben was great, not only his ability to score but obviously his ability to move the ball. I think he did a very good job coming off of base line screens, and finding people. I thought his huge plays tonight were his passes to Greg. Greg will end up catching it and finishing it. I thought Ben was very good, I thought his stamina was good and he fought hard. J.J. Reddick is an outstanding catch and shoot player and I thought Ben did a very good job, as well as Brandon, trying to make things as difficult as possible (on Reddick’s game). Overall Ben was very good.”
(On shot distribution) – “That is the way that we want to play. I think that the games, at least from a coaching and a playing standpoint, when everyone is involved there is just a deeper seated commitment opposed to just watching one guy play and four guys standing. I was glad to see our assist total. Turnovers need to be cut down, especially the turnovers that directly relate to leading to their points. Outside of our turnovers and maybe a couple missed shots I thought offensively we had a very good flow and rhythm.”
(On Controlling the game) “We got off to a good start at the start of the third quarter, but we kind of slowed it down a bit. They (Orlando) made plays. The one thing about when they have guys out, others step up and play. Especially, they have some good veteran players. (Chris) Duhon is great at controlling the tempo and making plays with the guys out there. Even though (Jameer) Nelson and (Dwight) Howard are out they’re still an experienced enough team to be able to withstand some pressure and put on a good performance. Our second unit was great there at the start of the fourth quarter. We picked up the defensive energy and that’s what was able to get us through the game.”
(On tip back off Brandon Knight missed shot) “We were just spreading them out a bit, moving the ball. A lot of the time I don’t go to the offensive glass when I am at the three because it is about getting back in transition. So, I was able to get to the boards and the ball came off right. We had good shots, whether we made them or missed them. We had the shots that we wanted.”
(On playing against an injured Orlando team) “Everyone in the NBA can play, so you can’t just think like that. I think it was either last year or two years ago, they played without Dwight and couple other players or they ended up winning by 20. You can’t take any team light in the NBA. Anybody can beat anybody on any given night. Tayshaun brought it up before the game saying that we could not take this game light, just because Dwight isn’t playing.
(On game) "Well, we don't play any defense and obviously Dwight (Howard) would help with that but it’s not the whole thing. Offensively, I thought we played with good energy and tried to move the ball and tried to do some good things but we just don't guard.
(On Ben Gordon): "Everybody hurt us. We don't guard. They played well, I give them credit but we're easy to score on. We do not guard."
(On Dwight Howard not playing): "We don't guard very well when Dwight (Howard) isn’t there. We're better because he's (Dwight Howard) there protecting the basket but we don't guard very well when he isn’t there. We don't guard."
(On Glen Davis): "I think actually for the way we played, he's actually more effective as a center than he is as a four. He's played extremely well in the two games he's tried to play exactly the way we need to play."
(On fourth quarter):"We did kind of relax a little bit on the defensive end. We have to do a better job, you know we're missing Dwight (Howard) down there on that end of the floor but it's going to be times where he might be in foul trouble and we have to learn to play without him."
(On defense): "We have to man up and do a better job of defending players one on one. I don't think our team defense is great, I think it's just when the play breaks down and its several seconds on the clock. We ended up giving up a lot of baskets that way with one-on-one defenders."