Pistons Head Coach Stan Van Gundy
(On defensive effort and intensity) Oh, we were terrible defensively. We defended for four minutes in a 48 minute game. We defended the last four minutes of the first half and that was it. They shot 72 percent in the second half with virtually no resistance what so ever. We lost at Toronto scoring 110, we lost tonight scoring 109, and it’s nice we’ve made offensive improvement, but we have no collective defensive mentality at all right now. If we want to be good, we’ve gotten a lot better, but if we want to be good we’re going to have to develop some intensity on the defensive end. Virtually everybody in the locker room judges themselves on how they play offensively. Everyone cares about their offense, and I didn’t see anybody out there tonight who cared about getting stops. (On the difference between this week’s game and the game on January 16) They made a lot of shots. Fresh team, George Hill back, three days off before the game, fresh legs, and they made a lot of shots.
Pistons Forward Caron Butler
(On their lack of defense tonight at the expense of their offense) That’s what it boiled down to. We did a good job with our tempo on offense, moving the ball side to side, but our Achilles heel tonight was our defense. We had a bad disposition from the beginning of the game to the end. We were never able to turn it on, now we have another challenge on Friday night. (On the difference in the Pacers’ with George Hill) They are a lot different. He stretches the floor for them and he can also post up and create mismatches for them. He’s also able to facilitate out of it. They are going to be good but we have to do a better job of stopping them.
Pistons Guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
(On his injury tonight) I feel sore. I overstretched it in our last game. It’s just really sore right now and I can’t push off of it. I just wanted to be on the safe side and decided to sit the rest of this game out. I didn’t want to reinjure it. I tried to loosen it up before the game and it felt good, but then it tightened up again. I’m just going to get treatment tonight and tomorrow and then we’ll try it again on Friday.
Pacers Head Coach Frank Vogel
“George Hill makes a difference, but it wasn’t just him. Our guys worked hard in practice the last couple days on offensive fundamentals. I think George makes a difference for us. He creates for others and keeps us organized. He still has a long way to go with conditioning. We’re managing that. We did a great job closing out, made a couple key defensive stops. (On going with Damjan Rudez) I anticipate closing games with Rodney (Stuckey) but it was a gut thing to have another shooter out there with Damo and he (Rudez) had a good defensive match up. (On Shayne Whittington) I like the physicality and toughness Shayne brings to the table. He plays with a good IQ, didn’t force things too much and made solid plays at the offensive end.”
Pacers Forward Luis Scola
“We had a little better energy to start the game, and we were able to maintain it throughout the game. We made a run, they made their run, but we were able to hold the lead and close the game. (On the Pacers’ improved ball movement) I believe it was the energy. When you (have energy) there are open spaces and the ball moves easier. (On gaining confidence from a close win) It’s a good thing. We are close to where we want to be and will keep fighting. (On Cleveland coming in on Friday) It doesn’t matter who we play. Right now we have to focus on ourselves and find a way to keep the energy we had today, the movement we had today.”
Pacers Forward David West
“We just wanted to win a game, that was our objective. Coach changed the starting lineup and we just tried to come out and win the game. I thought we were decisive, guys were engaged and we took away some of the things they wanted to do early. We made open shots, we made extra passes when they were there and obviously we were able to score inside. I thought all the guys shot the ball with confidence. (On having George Hill in the starting lineup) George has been in the battles with us the last few years, so we have a certain level of confidence in him. We know what type of pressure he can deliver defensively and he’s got the length to stay in front of his guy and guard, which I think is key for our defense.”
Pacers Guard George Hill
“Before the game, Coach really challenged us to play for each other. Have the mentality when you get the ball to create for your teammate and our teammates need to reward us for looking for them and have confidence in shot-making. I think every guy did that tonight. (On playing with the projected starting lineup for the first time) This is our first time really being together all year. It’s still going to take us time to gel and learn each other but I think what you saw tonight is something that can possibly work, but you have to build off it. (On taking advantage of his offense working inside) I knew I had an advantage with my height and size, so I tried to take him in the post and not waste my legs, just trying to do what works and what’s logical.”