Wolves - Suns Postgame

BOX SCORE

Wolves-Suns Recap

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NBA Postgame Quotes
Minnesota @ Phoenix
April 4, 2008 @ U.S. Airways Center

Phoenix 117
Minnesota 88

Minnesota Head Coach Randy Wittman:
“We didn’t have anybody that shot the ball particularly well tonight but then we didn’t have anybody attack the basket. When shots aren’t falling, which is going to happen, we still only go to the line 13 times. They go 30. We didn’t have the attack to the basket that could change that, we were just settling for jump shots.

Then we come out in the third and we get it to 13 and had 4 straight possessions to knock it 11 or 10, and we got stops at the other end. But we just had horrible possessions. I mean, we had a 1 on 4 and we took a three! You just can’t do those types of things. I thought we came out and scrapped in the third quarter to set ourselves up to get back into the game, but you’ve got to convert.”

Minnesota Guard Marko Jaric:
“They play really fast, everybody knows that. You have to be mentally strong playing them, going up and down because they’re going to go up 20, but they’re going to let you back in the game. Our biggest mistake is when we went down, we just kind of gave up and the whole game, they were in control.

(On adding Shaq) I like them with Shaq. He’s trying to adjust to the way they’re playing and he’s doing a pretty good job. Having a guy like that going down the stretch, when things aren’t going good for them and run and gun doesn’t work, it’s great that they have a guy like that to go to.”

Minnesota Forward Al Jefferson:
“Shaq will be Shaq, he’s going to bring a lot of help to a team. He’s very difficult to guard and he changes them up. I just missed a lot of shots. He’s a big guy and he’s long and he does change shots up, but the shots that I missed I normally make them and they just didn’t fall for me.”

Phoenix Head Coach Mike D’Antoni:
“We did our job – I thought we played well, especially in the first, got up and took care of business. We had a bit of a lapse in the third, but we regrouped really quickly and I thought everybody played well and did a good job and so we’ll go on to the next one.”

“We struggled against them because we were a different team back then – and that was not with Shaq. It makes a big difference that we’re not doubling-down every time we’re running around all over the place. Shaq’s presence in there, especially with guys like (Al) Jefferson and (Craig) Smith, people that beat you up inside, he just kind of negates all that and makes it a little bit easier.”

“I’m encouraged by the way we’re playing – the ball is moving pretty nicely and our defense is getting pretty solid and I just think overall this is a pretty good basketball team. We’re getting better and I expect us to finish up strong.”

“If we win all the games, somebody will have to match that, so that’s what we’re going to try and do. It’s going to be tough, we’ve got some good games coming up – all these games are tough. But we could run the table and we’ll see where we are.”

Phoenix Guard Steve Nash:
“I thought we played well. We had good intensity defensively and sustained it. So much of our success is just being tuned in and active and aggressive defensively and being on the same page.”

(On taking care of business early): “They’ve been a tough match-up for us, but with Shaq we were able to move down a spot and I think we’re a tough match-up for them.”

(On being able to rest): “It’s great, we play early on Sunday so it’s nice not having a huge night with a huge workload I think was important for us. It’s late in the season so as many of these games we can have the better.”

Phoenix Forward Amaré Stoudemire:
“We came out very focused. We knew it was a game that we definitely wanted to win and win big and go ahead and rest in the fourth and we did that tonight.”

“They kind of took advantage of me when it was just me out there in the paint. But now I have a bodyguard with me with Shaq. Tonight they had a hard time with us and we got a win. We played well defensively, active, and we won by a pretty big margin.”

(On getting a rest): “Perfect. Job well done tonight. Myself playing 28 minutes was perfect for me. We have a big game Sunday so we get a chance to really get a lot of rest here and get ready for Sunday’s game.”