SONICS COACH NATE MCMILLAN:

On the game:
It was nice to see the shots fall tonight. It was all business from the start. We had to be that way. Our defense was sharp and we were able to knock down some shots. I like our defensive intensity the last two nights. It’s been there for 48 minutes. We were aggressive on the ball. Any time you play aggressive defense, you get stops and you’re going to get rebounds.

On matching last season's wins total:
We’re at 37 now. Our approach is to take it one game at a time. We’re not focused on last year’s record or the past. We definitely have been focused on the road. Defense has been a part of it as well as our execution.

On what the Sonics did defensively:
We did a good job taking away (Dan) Dickau. He’s a big part in what they do. He has shown that he can be a starting point guard in the league. He’s a young point guard with a lot of potential.

FORWARD RASHARD LEWIS:

On the difference between the two games on this road trip:
I think there was a difference because the Rockets are definitely a better team than the Hornets. Tonight was one of those tests, like the game before the All-Star break against the Golden State Warriors. These are the games that we have to win because we have a lot of tough games coming up, and these games we have to get out of the way. Come toward playoff time, we need to be in place to win our division.

On the Sonics offense:
Last night we didn’t shoot the ball well, but tonight we knocked down some shots and think that was the difference between last night and tonight. We were moving the ball around and finding the open guy and knocking down some threes. That makes it a lot easier to score a lot more points and win the game.

NEW ORLEANS COACH BYRON SCOTT:

On what the Hornets can take from this game:
They have to see on tape some of the mistakes that we’re making. I don’t think that they are understanding or comprehending everything that I am saying, especially on the defensive end. Tomorrow is going to be a lengthy film session. The one thing about watching tape is that it doesn’t lie.

GUARD BARON DAVIS:

On returning from injury:
Physically, I was out of shape tonight. It was obvious. We didn’t play well as a team, but, personally, it was a day of conditioning, a day of treatment, a day of therapy, a day of practice for me to try and get a rhythm. When I first came into the game, we played with a little bit more energy and that’s the way we have to play. We have to play a lot harder than the other team.

On the possibility of being traded before tomorrow's deadline:
My gut feeling is I don’t know. I have no idea. But I do know that we have practice at 11 o’clock tomorrow. I will be there.

On hearing trade rumors:
It’s hard to not know what the next 24 hours are going to dictate. It’s hurtful to not know. At the same time, this is why we’re here … this is the profession, it’s a business and you have to carry yourself accordingly.

FORWARD LEE NAILON:

On returning from injury:
It felt good to get my feet wet. I’m disappointed we didn’t get the win. All in all, I wouldn’t say it was a great effort. It was a tough loss to swallow, but we have plenty more games.

2004-05 Postgame Quotes/Notes Archive