Heat 107, Suns 92

Postgame Quotes: Suns vs. Heat, Nov. 28, 2008

Terry Porter	Amar'e Stoudemire	Shaquille O'Neal	Erik Spoelstra
Dwyane Wade	Shawn Marion

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Suns Head Coach Terry Porter

(Opening statement)
“Obviously, it was a very disappointing effort for us to come back after two games on the road. Coming out, early possessions just killed us. We had three turnovers out of the first four (possessions), and six out of the first eight. We allowed these guys to get into a rhythm. They didn’t have any resistance from our end, and we just didn’t do a good job at all reading situations. The dreaded turnovers came into a play again, as far as what we were trying to get done offensively, and just made some poor decisions. At that point, those guys had rhythm and guys started knocking down shots. Wade, started knocking down a lot of jumpers, and we just did a poor job helping Raja at times on weak side action. Any type of help and protection our paint when it came to his penetration. All in all just a very poor job, probably from start to finish it was our worst game of the year, just at both ends of the floor. We had more guys getting the ball and just going and dunking without anybody responding at all on the weak side, and I was really disappointed. Offensively, turnovers really got us into trouble, in a lot of stretches. We went through a stretch in the game when we were shooting 50 percent, but we were turning over. If you look at the free throws, we weren’t aggressive. We had 11 free throws and they had 22. We just have to go back to the drawing board. We just didn’t do a good job of doing what we wanted to get executed at both ends of the floor. Like I said, from start to finish it was probably the worst game of the year.”

(On the defense tonight)
“We have had turnovers, and we have been able to respond and recover from those turnovers. Tonight, just the way they had our paint, the way they drove it down our paint and no one was trying to react and help their teammate out. That’s the part that’s just discomforting as far as what we’re trying to get done at that end of the floor. Turnovers have been a problem for us all year along, but we have done a much better job of protecting or paint and not allowing guys to get what they want, not allowing guys to get to their sweet spot and we just didn’t have it.”

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Suns forward Amar'e Stoudemire (14 PTS, 6 REBS)

(On his feelings with the new offense)
“I really don’t know. I put in a lot of hard work this off season to really take that next step – to be in that class of (Dwayne Wade), the Lebron (James) and the Dwight (Howard). I put in that hard work this off season to be in that class and right now I’m a little frustrated, but I’m just going to keep working, keep trying to find it and being patient with the offense.

(On the game)
“They played well. They denied me the ball, they double-teamed me and so it was tough for me out there. I think as a unit they came out knowing that they needed this win. They had an embarrassing loss against Portland the other night and they wanted to come here and set the tone. And they came out and set it early. We came out with a few turnovers and they took it from there.”

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Suns center Shaquille O'Neal (12 PTS, 9 REBS)

(On turning the ball over)
“We’re still having this turnover problem and once we get rid of that and learn how to stop some people and do that on a consistent basis, then we’ll be on our way.”

(On the defense being behind where they want it)
“We’ve just got to pick it up. In the first eight possessions we had six turnovers and allowed them to really get into a groove and made us play from behind the rest of the night.”

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Heat Head Coach Erik Spoelstra

(Opening statement)
“It made a big difference that their motor wasn’t’ out there. I thought our disposition was much better. We actually had a real spirited practice yesterday and it’s one of the things about this group is they usually respond after a day of work. We brought that energy front and center right from the beginning of the game, which I thought was important.”

(On Wade)
”He was terrific tonight. Just so efficient and so aggressive You could see it right from the beginning of the game he wanted to get us off to a good start. I think his aggressiveness gave us confidence for the rest of the game.”

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Heat guard Dwyane Wade (43 PTS, 6 ASTS)

“It was a big win. It was a tough game, especially after losing by 38 last game to come back and respond and play as a team, it was good. I’m on a mission to bounce back from the last game, I have been shooting the ball well the last two games. I really focused on my shot today. And the way they were playing the pick and roll, and when Shaq was playing he was kind of falling back a little bit, my shot was there. I just focused in on that..”

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Heat forward Shawn Marion (10 PTS, 9 REBS)

(On returning the Phoenix)
“It’s a great win right now for me and my team mates, and we’re one and one on this road trip right now. (His reaction to Crowd’s ovation) It was mixed. I gave my heart and soul to this city and that team over there, I think they knew that and they felt that and they gave me a standing ovation. I love Phoenix, I had a great time here but I’m a Miami Heat player and it felt good to get this win here. ”

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