NBA Post-Game Quotes
Minnesota vs. Portland
December 7, 2005 @ Rose Garden

Portland 74
MINNESOTA 84

Minnesota Coach Dwane Casey:

“We couldn’t get anything going for the first three quarters. The Blazers played well. They came out very prepared. The way they played the first half was amazing for being so young. The fourth quarter was definitely the difference. The Blazers were the aggressor the entire game until the fourth quarter.” (On the Fourth Quarter)
“We got a lot of defensive stops with our small lineup. We became the aggressor.”

(On Wally Szczberiak’s slow start)
“Ruben ran him off the three-point line. They took him out of his sweet spot on the floor. They had a good game plan for him and Ruben took him out of his game.”

Minnesota Center Michael Olowokandi:

“I think we had a sense of urgency. We were able to keep their penetration down late and that combined with our sense or urgency did it for us. We communicated, that’s what makes a good basketball team, doing the X’s and O’s and communicating out there.”

Minnesota Guard Marko Jaric:

“We didn’t give up. It was a very tough game for us. They played really good for three quarters. For the last four games we’ve played excellent in the fourth quarters. No disrespect to Portland but tonight going out in the fourth quarter I was very frustrated because if we want to be a playoff team this is a game we needed. I had a big fourth quarter.”

Portland Coach Nate McMillan:

“We felt like we had that game under control. Entering the fourth quarter though, when you have a lead like that, you’ve got to defend. We didn’t do either one. We turned the ball over six times and you can’t do that and win a game like this. We’ve got to learn how to win games and how to play in the fourth quarter of games when you are down or when you are up."

“I thought we defended real well for three quarters and for the most part we executed well for three quarters. But when they made their comeback and we got into foul trouble (with Przybilla and Ratliff) we got a little shaken when they got their first two-point lead."

“When the put their smalls on Joel and Theo we tried to take advantage of that. but we didn’t make the reads and didn’t get the ball to them. The whole game plan was to get the ball inside but in the fourth quarter we didn’t execute that and settled too much for perimeter shots.”

Portland Forward Zach Randolph:

“They executed; they got stops. We had a lot of key turnovers and they finished game out and hit big shots. We didn’t get any stops. They scored, hit threes. Our defense broke down. Its hard to finish out a game like that. We should have won this game.”

Portland Guard Jarrett Jack:

“Five straight plays with five straight turnovers against a team like that. All they do is capitalize against you mistakes. It will be tough bounce back. But you can always try to look at the positives. We went down to the wire with the top team in our division. We were up 10 on them with about six minutes to go. The next time we have to know how to close out game.”

Portland Center Joel Przybilla:

“It’s a learning process. I’ve been the league six years and it seems like I still don’t get any respect. Just keep my mouth shut and keep on working. We just got to come out and find a way to win. Like I said we just didn’t execute down the stretch and they wanted it more than us. No, we’re not going to blame it on the youth. We’re all professionals here and we have a job to do.”