TIMBERWOLVES: Wolves - Rockets Postgame

Wolves - Rockets Postgame

NBA Postgame Quotes
Minnesota at Houston
March 26, 2008 @ Toyota Center

HOUSTON 97
Minnesota 86

Timberwolves Coach Randy Wittman:
On the game...
"They beat us up pretty good on the boards and that is not a surprise since they are second in the league in rebounding. Our defense wasn't too bad but we gave up too many second chance baskets."

On the key to the game...
"They back-doored us on layups when we got close in the fourth quarter and that was pretty much the difference. We fought and played hard but consistently we needed to play the right way and we didn't. Our whole effort was good. In the first half we did some good things but we need to learn to play for a full 48 minutes."

On Battier's defense...
"He is a glue guy for their team. He does all the dirty work and is always in the right place and is a very intelligent player. Those are the kind of players as a coach, you want on your team."

Timberwolves Forward Kirk Snyder:
On returning to Houston...
"I tried to come out and play within our team concept. I had a lot of emotions coming back and I wanted to stay away from that. I've mastered the art of dunking on Deke (Mutombo) from all my practice against him. I know how to play against their team."

On the Rockets play...
"They played very hard and just out-hustled us. They are the second leading rebounding team for a reason. That's the make-up of their team."

On Scola's play...
"He's like Rambo. He never backs down from anything. He's so aggressive and he hustles all over the place. I think that nickname is perfect for him. They should start calling him the Rambo Man."

Timberwolves Guard Marko Jaric:
On the game...
"We were kind of close but definitely we didn't deserve to win the game. They played smarter than we did and they wanted it more. We lost the game on the rebounding end of the court."

Timberwolves Center Al Jefferson:
On his defensive play...
"There was a game in Seattle where coach took me out because of my defense and I don't like sitting on the bench. I have been working on my defense and my shot blocking comes along with it. I'm trying to work hard and do the things the coaches want."

On the key to the game...
"Our mistakes. We turned the ball over too much and Houston is one of the best defensive teams in the NBA. Rebounding hurt us a lot."

Rockets Coach Rick Adelman:
On the game...
"It was a tough game. We just never could open the game up against them. They did a good job. They did a nice job of penetrating and finding people all night long. Tracy came up big in the second half and Luis was great the whole game. Eighteen and eighteen. Heck of a night but one we needed to get. We had a little break down before we go on the road and we had to get this game at home and that's what we talked about this morning and before the game. It was definitely a lot tougher than we wanted but you have to give Minnesota credit, they kept hanging in there."

On the long break before the road trip...
"I think it is going to help us a lot. It gives us a chance to kinda regroup before we go on the road. We're going to be on the road eight days and five games so I think it's going to help us a lot. We'll be able to cover some things in practice and take tomorrow off and Friday and Saturday have a chance to go through some things and prepare for that trip. First game is a tough one with San Antonio but we have ten left and we have to win on the road. So, I think it is going to help us to get refreshed."

Rockets Guard Tracy McGrady:
On taking over in the fourth quarter...
"I've been struggling with my shots in the first half. maybe I need to focus like I do in the fourth quarter. I don't know, I just can't seem to find the rhythm but the fourth quarter is usually when the best player has to step up and lead the team. I couldn't afford for us to lose this game, so I had to impose my will on it."

On imposing their will on the other team...
"Absolutely, those guys are playing to win the ball game. We weren't making shots and we were struggling a little bit. I think what kept us in the game but our second chances on the offensive end. In the fourth quarter, I wanted to insert myself. I got a little rhythm going and I took over the ball game."

On his shoulder...
"It bothered me a little bit. I got a shot before the game. In the second half I didn't feel it as much as I did the first half so I was fine the second half."

Rockets Forward Luis Scola:
On the importance of the win...
"Right now, every game is important. You win one game then you go up to the two spot. You lose one and you go back down to seven. That's the way it is and that's the way it's going to be from now on until the season ends. We have to be ready, we have to play hard and we have to win as many games as we can because if we don't, then we're going down."

On his 18 rebounds tonight...
"Sometimes games go like that where you get more (rebounds) than usual. It was nothing special today that I don't do any other day."

Rockets Center Dikembe Mutombo:
On the ceremony in his honor...
"I was a little bit nervous. I was very emotional seeing all my family members, my friends, my fans and the owner. You don't get too many special nights like this. I'm just so happy and I'm very lucky."

On how he wants to be remembered...
"I would like my fans to appreciate all the things that I've been able to do on the court and off the court and I think the things I do off the court, I have to do with all the blessings that I've received while at the same time having the ability to play basketball. On the court I try to play this game to be remembered, especially defensively. Even though today people look at me as a humanitarian, I enjoy both. I would like to be remembered as someone who made a difference in the game."

Rockets Guard Rafer Alston:
On the win...
"It took us until the second half to really find our defensive energy that was needed to win the game. We got an all around night from Tracy and Scola and we had great bench play. In the second half we really found ourselves defensively."