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POSTGAME QUOTES
DECEMBER 3, 2002
ROCKETS COACH RUDY TOMJANOVICH
On the keys to the win:
"Obviously, a very good game. Defense carried us. We did a good job of going one-on-one with those guys, making them work and sort of breaking their rhythm and defending the three-point line. Our big guys, Mo (Maurice Taylor), Kenny (Thomas) and Eddie (Griffin) did a great job of hanging in there with Duncan.”
On improvements needed:
“This was a big, big win. Especially with two days off, to have our practices now. We need practice badly. We need to fine-tune, get the ball inside. We’re going to put in a couple new plays and angles to get the ball inside."
YAO MING
On his confidence:
"The biggest difference between the first game and this game is that my confidence is much, much higher. And I have to thank my teammates for their faith in me."
On going against San Antonio:
"I knew that I was going against one of the great centers today. They play very strong inside so I had to fight a little harder for rebounds."
MOOCHIE NORRIS
On his recent play:
"I’ve been taking pretty much the same shots. The last four or five games my rhythm has been coming back. Early on when I hurt my finger I was worrying about being on the floor too long and there were a lot of things I hadn’t worried about before. I’m trying to create more for myself like when I first got here."
STEVE FRANCIS
On playing San Antonio:
"I think if you really look at the past, when we have played against San Antonio, I think Kenny has done a good job against Tim Duncan. Tim is also an All-Star and when you double-team him he is a smart enough player to know when to pass the ball out of the double-team. Yao is doing a great job of scoring when we get the ball to him."
On the win:
"It doesn’t really make a difference who you win against. A win in this league is a win. San Antonio will say the same thing. Bottom half, top half, it doesn’t make a difference. To play a team like San Antonio who we haven’t had success against them the last couple of years…I’m definitely glad we were able to come out and win tonight."
SPURS COACH GREGG POPOVICH
On Yao Ming's play:
"I thought he played very well, obviously. He played a complete basketball game. He’s a natural. He is going to be a big-time force in this league."
On the Spurs' play:
"We shot poorly but in a lot of ways we played very well. The 34 percent shooting for the game isn’t going to get it done."
On the Rockets-Spurs rivalry:
"These guys have always had a big rivalry going. Yao is going to make Houston a better basketball team. He is a hell of a player."
DAVID ROBINSON
On the Spurs:
"The fourth quarters have really hurt us a lot. We are not as sharp at the end of games and defensively we are breaking down."
On Yao Ming:
"He played great. He was on the boards, shot well and he was a big handful. He can shoot the ball real well. He moved around well and he was the difference in the game. He is big and talented and he is just learning."
TIM DUNCAN
On Yao Ming:
"He was very impressive tonight. He has a great touch and he is bigger than you think he is in person. He shot the ball better than I thought he could. We had a hand in his face and it didn’t matter. He played great tonight."
STEVE SMITH
On Yao Ming:
"He played great. He’s settled in and he was very solid. He’s come a long way since the exhibition and held his own against a very good frontline."
