Toronto Raptors vs. Golden State Warriors
Sunday, November 18, 2007 – Air Canada Centre
Mitchell |
SAM MITCHELL
What happened in the fourth quarter?
You have to give them credit, obviously we didn’t score. We didn’t make shots and we need to look at the tapes and see. We took a few bad ones. We didn’t make any shots and we didn’t play with any pressure on defense, or driving to the basket. They gave the ball to Baron Davis and Kelenna Azubuike was getting to the basket. At the last minute they made some shots.
22 shot attempts, was that too much?
22 threes are not too may shots. That’s not too bad against this team. They have to collapse and stop our penetration. 22 shots is not too much.
Ford |
T.J. FORD
What happened in the fourth quarter?
I don’t know. I knew it was going to be a battle throughout the whole game with the style of game they play. They stayed with it, they out-hustled us, made shots and we didn’t ... Teams are coming in here (Toronto) with the confidence that they are going to win, so we have to find a way to eliminate that thought process when teams are traveling.
Did Golden State change they way they played in the fourth quarter?
I don’t think so. I think they played us the same way the whole game. We didn’t make shots and we didn’t get stops.
Bargnani |
ANDREA BARGNANI
Thoughts on the game today, especially the fourth quarter when the team seemed to get out of sync…
We missed a lot of shots at the end of the game. They shot better and they were better getting rebounds. They were better on defence and we didn’t do as much on defence.
Nelson |
DON NELSON
On Stephen Jackson…
Well, it’s good to have Stephen Jackson back in our lineup. We sure missed him. He played over 40 minutes, but I guess he’s well rested.
On the last six minutes of the game where you went on a tear…
Sometimes the momentum changes like that. Sometimes it goes against you, sometimes it goes with you. We stuck to our game plan. We were in the game the whole time, but then things started going well for us and then they missed some shots, pretty simple.
On your defensive plan for the Raptors…
We followed the defensive plan that I think was good for us against this team. We stayed with it for the most part, and when we did make a mistake, we got lucky and they missed the shot. So, luck had something to do with it but the game plan was very solid and we just hung in there. Even when we weren’t playing well, they never increased the lead too much. I can remember being down six, I think that might be as bad as it got, so we were always right there, hanging in there, hanging in there, and we made the spurt at the right time and they didn’t.
Davis |
BARON DAVIS
This is a big win to pull out…
We knew that it was going to be a tough game against a tough team. They spread the court and they really share the ball, we are in a catch-22, either we let T.J. Ford get off or let (Chris) Bosh get off. T.J. Ford had a wonderful game, he did all that he could to keep them in it. We just beared down at the end of game and got some stops, hit some shots.
You seemed really determined in the fourth quarter to lead the way…
I was struggling all game to find my rhythm and I just kept telling myself to keep pushing, pushing until you get tired and I hit a couple of shots in a row and got tired. I knew that my rhythm was there and I was in the game.
How important was the win?
It was huge, every win for us is important at this point to climb back to .500 and that is where we want to be. It is great to have Stephen Jackson back, he brings a lot of energy and a lot of leadership out there on the floor that we were missing. He really kept us in the ball game, his poise, his veteran leadership really kept us close and I was able to get some rest and rest up for the fourth quarter push.
Jackson |
STEPHEN JACKSON
How did it feel to finally be back?
First of all I want to thank god for bringing me back and giving me the strength to make it through this game, it was fun. Just to get back with my team, not only getting the win, but being back with my family. It felt real good. I am not in the best shape yet, but getting the win is definitely a great start.
You guys really took the game over in fourth quarter…
That is what we have to get better at, we are a front running team and I think we have to get better at finishing the fourth quarter. We showed that we could do that tonight, we have got to jump on Baron’s (Davis) back and knock down shots and continue to get better on free throws, and we still missed a lot. Coming out with a win is all that matters.
Were you winded out there tonight?
Definitely, first game back and I am not going to lie to you and say that I wasn’t. I am good at pushing through stuff, so I just fought through it and I really used all my energy on defence tonight. I just took nine shots and I wanted to give Chris Bosh the hardest time I could and I was able to do that.
