Gregg Popovich | Tim Duncan | Manu Ginobili | Stephen Jackson | Tony Parker | David Robinson

GREGG POPOVICH

Q: Talk about the play of Tony tonight.
Popovich: Tony's a special young man. I mean, to be thrown in this kind of a situation as young as he is, and to try to run the club, know all the players, some of whom or most of whom he's never played with, to handle that, I think is special. Once in a while, he's going to maybe go over the line and shoot a shot that's a little errant or he might turn it over or make a decision, but even the best of players do those sorts of things.

I'm really impressed with what he can do at this young age. He's really been great and he was good for us tonight, obviously.

Q: Curious if you can explain with a kind of luxury it is as a coach to have a guy like Duncan when the Nets were double and triple teaming him, and didn't score many points but can do so many different things, what kind of luxury is that for you? Can you describe that?
Popovich: Let me just say, it would be very different without him. I don't know what else to tell you. The guy is an amazing player, because it doesn't matter what gets taken away from him; he finds another way to be involved, whether it's getting rebounds, assists, blocked shots, he's really an all-around player and a team player. He tries to figure out what he has to do to help us win, and I thought he did a fine job of that tonight.

Q: The Nets are lethal with Jason running and pushing it, he only had two rebounds tonight, what did you guys do to keep him out of the rebounding game?
Popovich: We thought in Game 2, that was something that really hurt us. Jason really put his head down and went after every loose ball, offensive boards down the stretch and made some big shots. It was one of the big challenges we hit Tony with, and, the team in general, that we had to again, rebound, and we had to have all five guys on the board all the time. For a kid like Jason, he is going to figure out a way to get it. Tony, he put a special emphasis on that, but the team had to get that done.

Q: Can you talk a little bit about the younger players on your team, what's it like having so many guys on your team having the NBA Finals be their learning experience?
Popovich: It's fun for them and it's a life-shortening experience for me. I'm being honest. I think I have about a week left. (Laughter).

Q: Are they learning from their mistakes?
Popovich: Some nights you might not think they are learning from their mistakes but I think they are. It just takes time. It doesn't happen in one season. I just really felt maybe even in January, February, I could tell our local guys and say we are going to be a lot better the next year or year after. It's going to take us time to get to know each other and get to know the system.

I think they are doing a really good job. They are going to turn it over and no, we don't like it and you're going to ask why we have turnovers and that sort of thing, but that's the way it is. Hopefully over time, those will reduce. I don't know what else to tell you.

Q: Because of the lack of flow in the game in the first half, what did you guys talk about at halftime as far as gaining control of the game?
Popovich: Well, we thought our defense was pretty good. We thought we had made enough stops and limited them enough and rebounded pretty well, but again, offensively, it looked like nobody on the perimeter had any confidence when Timmy was kicking it. If I remember the box at halftime, we had about five guys on the perimeter 0 for 4 or 1 for 5 and that kind of thing. So we just talked about the fact that that's how we scored all year long. If Timmy is going to get doubled and sacked and all that stuff and chooses to kick it, you have to be aggressive. You can't worry about whether it goes in or not. Just let it fly, it either will or it won't and just move on. That's what we talked about. We had to loosen up offensively to get some guys to knock down shots, and obviously that began with Tony.

Q: In the fourth quarter, it seemed like you guys made a concerted effort to get the ball to Tim and to have everything go through him, is that something you guys did intentionally?
Popovich: Sure. When it gets to the point where you're going to have to make shots down the stretch, we'd like to go through Timmy. He's going to take it himself in a variety of ways, or he's going to kick it. We have confidence in that perimeter; they have been there all year long, and they have got to get it done and they know that.

I think they did a good job of that in the second half.

Q: Can you discuss the future of your point guard position the next two or three years as you see it?
Popovich: Well, I think the point guard position is really important on a team and I think it's a position we are going to want to keep on the team, at least for two or three years, I think we should have a point guard. That's definitely something that I think every team should have. (Laughter) Did I answer your question? (Laughter).

Q: Who do you anticipate being your point guard?
Popovich: I think that, like any position on our team, I don't play favorites. Whoever is playing the best at that time in the position, that's who is going to get the job. Stephen Jackson is starting at 2 right now because he did that. If Tony Parker is the guy that's playing the best next year, then he'll be the point guard.

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TIM DUNCAN

Q: On the offensive rebound after Tony missed two free throws, what happened?
Duncan: I just went hard to the middle. Kenyon tried to block me out and I just kind of ducked behind him. Just a lucky bounce and I was there to get it.

Q: You led the team in assists tonight. I don't know what you are most comfortable with, but they double and triple teamed you, do you feel at this point that your game is good enough and that you can do whatever they give you?
Duncan: I've kind of changed my game just about every series throughout these playoffs. If Phoenix, I was more like I was tonight, more of a passer. In L.A. i was more of a scorer and Dallas it was a little bit of both.

So I'm just going to take whatever the defense gives me basically and just try to make my teammates better, and at the same time, continue to attack whenever I can.

Q: That high screen is the most fundamental play in basketball. What is it about the way that you guys run it that gives everybody else so much trouble?
Duncan: Tony Parker. The kid is good at that thing. With his speed and when he gets rolling a little bit, he can shoot the ball a little bit. His confidence rises. And if you go over the top of it, he's going to turn that corner and get that big fellow on his heels. He's gotten better and better over the years and that's one of his favorite plays. We love to run it, we get a piece of that guy and let him loose.

Q: Can you talk about Tony's maturity. There's been so much talk about Jason Kidd and free agency and your relationship with Jason. Have you had a talk with Tony about it or is he handling it in his usual mature fashion?
Duncan: He's been great about it. We haven't talked about it. It's not even an issue between us. Whatever is going to happen is going to happen. I'm very comfortable with Tony and I love what he's doing, obviously. It's never been an issue between us.

Q: There was one play that you were taking the rebound and just running the court and you had a no-look pass. Are you enjoying those moments?
Duncan: Absolutely. I love to be on the open court. It's fun to get up and down a little bit and not get beat out for a possession. Whenever I can get on the open court and get somebody to finish a play, it's great.

Q: But a no-look pass from a power forward?
Duncan: It was kind of like looking to the side a little bit.

Q: Can you talk about coming here and stealing their thunder and what do you anticipate in Game 4?
Duncan: Hopefully a lot of the same. Tonight offensively, we were a little bit sloppy in the first half. When you score 30 points in a half, that's not great. They stole one there. We didn't play very well at all. Defensively, they were very good. We really shot ourselves in the foot with the turnovers and missed free throws. We felt very confident coming into here that we would have an opportunity to play well, make some free throws, keep our turnovers down. We didn't do that a lot in the first half but the second half we got better and better. We just played like that the whole way through, which was a difference from the game before, where we had long stretch where we didn't really do anything.

Q: Talk about the way momentum switched, obviously coming off the game the other day and just the fact that now at least you have the home-court advantage back.
Duncan: Yeah, it's a weird series because it goes 2-3-2. It's kind of like we don't have home court yet with the two games remaining here, but it was great to get back to this point.

As I said, we gave one away at home. We would have loved to come here 2-0 and really put the pressure on them, but we are right where we want to be. We have the opportunity to go into Game 4, get another one and really put them on their backs.

So, the pressure is on them. We are right where we want to be.

Q: What is it that makes you guys such an effective road team? You have a young backcourt and it's supposed to be veteran teams that are better on the road than at home. You shoot better in every category on the road.
Duncan: I think our focus is just better on the road. We have less distractions. We come together more as a team. We don't have the opportunity to sit there and listen to fans and try to get the fans behind us. We're focusing more on what's on the court and what's at hand.

I think because we are young, that's better for us. We can kind of block everybody out. We draw energy from each other. We focus more on each other and what we are doing and let everything else go.

Q: Can you talk about the boost you got from Malik there in the fourth quarter and then Manu's play at the end of the game?
Duncan: Malik was great for us. He had not been playing well all game and hadn't had a great series so far, but when he plays with that kind of energy, it gives us such a boost. He really had that fire and once he had that dunk, he took over for a couple of minutes there and made some good plays in a row.

And then Manu made his play. That team play is what we've been playing with in the entire playoffs. That's when we are at our best, when we get different guys, like Manu getting in the passing lanes and steals, Jack hitting 3s, Malik getting to the board and making plays, David blocking shots, we get a lot of people involved in the game and a lot of people feeling great about themselves, it's good for us.

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MANU GINOBILI

Q: Can you talk about the steal late in the game?
Ginobili: I just saw a pick and roll and I tried to jump it. I knew he (Kenyon Martin) was going to try to shoot it, but I saw the hole there and tried to get it. It was a fortunate play.

Q: What about the runner you made?
Ginobili: There’s not much time to hesitate. I think that the shot clock was running down. I knew that Kenyon was coming, so I just tried to get it high.

Q: Did that shot deflate them?
Ginobili: I don’t think they expected it, especially from me. Anybody can get lucky once.

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STEPHEN JACKSON

Q: What was the difference tonight?
Jackson: We just kept our composure. We wanted to make sure we played hard for four quarters and not get caught up in their crowd and in their runs. We countered their runs and kept our composure.

Q: How were you able to get their big guys in foul trouble?
Jackson: They have to guard Tim Duncan; they’re going to get in foul trouble. We just going to keep giving the ball to Tim and hopefully the outcome will be the same.

Q: How much better are you guys when Tim is finding the right people in the halfcourt?
Jackson: We’re a totally different team, especially when Tim’s got it going. If we can get him the ball, and they’re not doubling and letting him go to work, we can be tough to beat. That’s our game. We want to play inside out. When we’re knocking down shots, we’re tough to beat.

Q: Can you talk about that zone defense tonight?
Jackson: They don’t have too many shooters that want to shoot from that zone. I think Kerry (Kittles) is their best shooter. I think the zone worked well for us. We tried to make them shoot, so we could get our running game going.

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TONY PARKER

Q: Tony Parker talk about the way you've handled the situation, three games into the NBA Finals and having another big game tonight.
Parker: I try to not put too much pressure on myself. I think about my matchup against Jason Kidd, the main thing is, it's the Spurs against the New Jersey Nets and just try to run my team and try to be aggressive. Coach Pop wants me to be aggressive and that's what I'm trying to do.

Q: Talk about you and Manu, international guys, young guys, come in here and make most of the crucial plays of the game.
Parker: Well, Manu, he's a very good player. All season long he made some big shots. In Europe he played some big games, won the Euro League and some MVPs, so the NBA Finals is the same thing for him, a lot of pressure, a lot of attention, all of the media so I don't think it's going to affect him.

For me, it doesn't affect me at all. I'm still concentrating on the game.

Q: What has Pop told you and talked to you about this season, especially going into the Finals, about free agency and how to handle that uncertainty?
Parker: Well, he never talked to me, not much about free agency. A lot of things can happen in the summer. I read everything he said in the newspaper, and he just told me that I was mature and he needed to talk to me. He didn't tell me nothing.

Q: He's not giving you any assurances?
Parker: No, not at all. You know, the NBA is a business and I can't let that affect me. I still have to play my game and the only thing I control is to try to make my team win. I can't control what the Spurs are going to do this summer if they are going to take Jason Kidd or if I'm going to play with them.

Q: Timmy led you guys in assists, tonight they double and triple teamed him and obviously he found a way to help you win. How do you stop him?
Parker: He did that all in the Playoffs. He's our quarterback. They can't stop him so they try to double and triple team him. He's got a lot of confidence in me and Jack and Manu, so we have to be ready to knock those shots, those big shots. Timmy, he's a great player, he's our MVP and he's very smart. He knows when to shoot the ball and when to pass it.

Q: The high screens is one of most fundamental and oldest plays in basketball. What is the way that you run it that gives all of these other teams fits?
Parker: I don't know. I just try to read how they are going to play me, because they are going to stay on Timmy, because Timmy is very dangerous. Obviously, he can hit the outside shot and that can hurt you if he rolls to the basket. I try to play out of it, that's it.

Q: You said you try not to get caught up with the Kidd matchup, but do you see it as whoever gets the better of the matchup between you two, that team is going to win the game?
Parker: Not really because you've got some other matchups that are key, too. Kenyon against Tim, our bench against their bench. It's a team, team basketball, and you can't say that our matchup is going to win the series.

Q: Did Pop tell you guys anything right before the game? What did he want you to do?
Parker: He didn't say nothing special. Just to play our game, and that we worked hard to be there all season long, and just to be aggressive. He didn't say nothing special.

Q: You're obviously quicker than Jason. Is it a combination of that, and also the fact that they are trying to dig back on Tim that's giving you a little more space to operate?
Parker: It's definitely helping to have Tim Duncan on my team. It helps definitely because he draws so much attention. It helps me to try to penetrate and get some easy baskets, some open shots. It's like Kobe with Shaq, or Magic with Jabbar; it helps.

Q: Were you looking at the score wondering if it was an NBA game, and why were you so you successful if everyone else was struggling in the first half?
Parker: It was like a European game. Everyone was struggling. It was all defense. In the second half, you know, everybody made a couple shots and I think that we made a pretty good run in the fourth quarter and got a hold on our lead.

Q: Jason has shot poorly in two of the three games. What are you doing that's making him shoot poorly?
Parker: I don't know. I don't know. Just try to play aggressive defense and try to pressure him, try to get inside. That's it.

Q: How do you feel about playing the entire second half?
Parker: I'm happy. If I'm on the court, I'm happy. They didn't change nothing at all. Pop played me a lot of the second half against Dallas, against the Lakers. It doesn't bother me at all.

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DAVID ROBINSON

Q: You guys seem to attack their big people more tonight. Was that an adjustment you guys made?
Robinson: Well, after seeing last game and how they wanted to play bigger, I think we did a good job of attacking. Tim (Duncan) made some great moves in there and a lot of times he doesn’t get those calls, but he got some tonight and that helped us a lot in the second half. In the first half, it kind of seemed like it was going the other way. For us to settle down and get the shots we wanted was important.

Q: Why so ugly tonight?
Robinson: It was really ugly. We had a rhythm for about five minutes and then we kind of held on. It was an ugly game. Both teams missed a lot of shots. We turned the ball over again a lot. It was just an ugly game. It’s always a lot better when you’re making shots and things are going your way, but it’s good too when you can grind it out and get a win on a bad night.

Q: Do you think that you grabbed some momentum back?
Robinson: A little bit. Obviously, winning the game was important. We definitely want to play a lot better than we did, but this was a big win. But we still need to get back to what we’ve been doing. This isn’t close to what we’ve been doing all playoffs long. We don’t have that good groove, that good rhythm. We’ve got to get back to it.

Q: How much better are you guys when Tim’s finding the right people?
Robinson: It makes a huge difference. But it’s not just Tim. It’s the other guys getting good movement and making the right cuts. Manu’s a great cutter, Bruce is a great cutter. Usually we can get some of that stuff. Over the last two games, I don’t think we’ve gotten the motion we like to have. I thought it got better in the second half and we had better activity. But Tim is so good down there, he knows how to find guys and knows how to be patient and take his shots. We have to take advantage of that and make the game easier for all of us.

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