Postgame Quotes: Spurs @ Lakers 5/23/08

On the team’s poor shooting - “Absolutely, that’s basketball for you. You put yourself in a situation where, I feel that we got some pretty good looks at it, and shots just didn’t go down for us and on the other end they seemed to make some really tough ones. Defensively I thought we were pretty solid but they kept making tough ones, they got some “and ones”, some whistles that whether it was a foul or not it kind of gives them momentum and everything just seemed to stack up against us.”

On coming back from being down 0-2 before this post season - “No comfort being down 0-2 ever. Were going home and one of two things is going to happen, either we’re going to turn it around and make this thing into a series or we’re not. We’re confident that we are a very good home team, but you hate to put yourself in a position where you are down 0-2. It is what it is, we are, and we are going to go home and try and change the tide of it.”

On Manu Ginobili’s health - "I think its going to be a team effort. We just can’t depend on Manu, can’t depend on Tim, and can’t depend on Tony. We just got to do it as a team. If he’s hurt, then somebody has to step-up and play a bigger role but I know Manu is a competitor, I think he’s not going to let this bother him, he’s going to go home, recoup and be alright.”

On the Spurs being a “tired basketball team” - “I just think we played poorly tonight. I think the last three minutes of the second quarter when we dug ourselves in a hole, we just came out in the second half and didn’t execute the way we needed and didn’t play any defense.”

On matchup issues - “I don’t think it was a match-up problem. (It was) 37-37 right there, to the final three minutes of the second quarter and we just committed turnovers and missed shots.”

On being down 0-2 again - “I can’t take that as something to make me feel better. We are 0-2, we should of at least been 1-1, but it’s how it is. So we got to really step up, especially starting with me, and try to get those two games at home. It’s going to be really difficult because now they built confidence, they’re playing great, so it’s going to be even harder now, but we still believe.”

On his ankle - “Today I actually felt better than two days ago, so I’m not taking it as the ankle is limiting me. I’m just playing bad, I got to step up, got to do things better, got to be more aggressive, that’s it. I got to forget the ankle. It’s not an issue now.”

On Popovich’s comment - “I know I played terrible. I believe that I can perform better, really help the team, and be more ‘me’. Today, I was just not aggressive enough. I didn’t make anything happen. So (it’s) something I’m going to work on and try to come strong in Game 3.”

On feeling superior to the Spurs at this point - “We’re playing great here at home especially, and we’ve done well on the road also in this postseason, so we have to go up there and win a couple of games.”

On this being the most complete game the Lakers have had in the postseason - “Perhaps. I think everyone got to contribute a little bit, everybody felt really comfortable, the energy was high the whole game, so I’m happy with it.”

On attributing the Spurs 30% shooting percentage to good defense or just poor shooting - “Both. We focused a lot on defense and pick and rolls, and tonight we did a very good job of making those plays, and our rotations. When teams get hot they’re going to hit those shots, but as a defense you try to stay solid and contest the jumpshooters and make it into a numbers game, and in the long run that normally works out for the team.”

On going into game 3 up 2-0 - “We haven’t done anything yet. As we’ve been saying all playoffs, take care of business at home but the series doesn’t start until you beat someone on their home court. New Orleans did the same thing to them in the last round, and San Antonio came back and won both their games at home, and ended up winning in seven. So this isn’t close to being over yet.”

On the fact that the Lakers haven’t really achieved anything yet - “Yes, absolutely. Like they say, the series doesn’t really take one side or the other until one of the teams wins a road game. So, our intention is to go to San Antonio and make sure we get something positive accomplished and we get a nice win there.”

On this being the most complete game the Lakers have played in the postseason - “I think defensively we did. I think defensively it definitely was the best game that we have had so far. From beginning to end, we really did an excellent job. Offensively, I think we were a little hesitant in the first 20 minutes of the game, and then we were able to finish up the second quarter and keep it going in the 3rd and 4th.”

On the frustration of the Spurs - “Obviously they would have liked to come here and win one of the two games, and losing the two games in a row is something that isn’t pleasant for any team, especially for the team that is the defending champs.”

On defending Manu - “It’s a team defense. It’s a challenge and I’m just doing what I’m told and what I like to do; I like to play defense and it’s a team win, team defense, team offense and we’re doing really good.”

On energy of second unit - “A little bit. Especially with the second unit, one guy pushed, we changed it up a little bit and we know we can win with them. This is just Game 2 and we are going to San Antonio right now, Game 3, and we have to stay focused and try to get a win there.”

On bringing in different skill sets - “I definitely think so. I bring a different aspect than other guys, and we do have a lot (ofskill sets) on our team , and I’m happy to be a part of it.”

on Spurs’ 44 percent fg% - “A little bit of both. Like I’ve said before, at this level, there is really not any defense that’s really going to completely take you out of a game. It’s just something when you don’t shoot the ball well. Particularly on the roll, sometimes it happens more often than not. But our defense was active, we did try to make some things happen, make it difficult for them, but they missed some shots that they are very capable of making and we can expect all of those shots to go in on Sunday.”

“We won our first two games against the Jazz and then lost two games up in salt Lake City and had to come back and win Game 5, and then were able to win the sixth game. These guys are the defending Champions, and there isn’t any reason for us to think that their time is up and that they’ll just step aside for us. It’s going to take a lot of work to eliminate this basketball team, and we have to be willing to continue to raise our bar to make sure that happens."