(Thoughts on what your team showed in how they responded to Toronto’s run):
Toronto is a very good basketball team and very well coached. Coach Casey does a great job and they do not quit, nor did we expect them to. It’s a game of momentum. We’re playing in Toronto, not an easy place to play, we’re playing a back-to-back, Toronto’s been practicing and working and getting ready for us even though they’re missing Kyle Lowry. We expected a hard game. We made it easy for a while but they came back in great fashion, and then we showed poise and maturity when we had to because that game easily could have gotten away from us, but we didn’t allow it to, so good result for us.
(On how LeBron handled himself tonight after being hard on himself after the Houston loss):
First of all, that’s a man who takes responsibility. I think it’s unfair because he didn’t lose that game. We win and we lose as a team but he made a lot of plays to put us in position to win the game. It’s never one shot or one play that wins or loses games, a lot of things go into winning and losing and lot of plays during the course of the game make a difference. We lost that game as a team. We could have won that game, the fact that he said and did that is his way of motivating himself to continue to be the greatest player that we know.
(Were you guys a little more locked in today?):
We understand what point of the season that we are in, how important every game is and understanding that our process is a lot different from a lot of other teams because we are a first year unit. It starts with me and I have to be locked in from the time I walk in the arena and just try and make plays and help our team win.
(How important was it to leave here with a win after building a 19 point lead?):
Every team makes a run and you have to be able to withstand it and be resilient. I think tonight was another moment for our team. We need those going down the stretch run in the regular season. We need those moments where it is great, it is good, and it is not so great. It is how you come back from those adverse moments defines the team you are or what it could be. To be able to come out with a win in a building that is very electric, they played well in second half and for us to close out the game like we did was a good thing.
(Is there a point where a hard foul like that should be returned?):
You can’t. You understand that the game is more important than trying to deliver a hard foul. At that point we know that everyone is looking for the reaction. It is the old elementary school house rule, the second guy always gets caught so you just relax and play the game.
(It seemed like you had pre-determined that you were going to look for guys tonight?):
I don’t play pre-determined basketball I read and react. When I see my guys and my guys put themselves in position I just try to get the ball on time, on target to them and they just have to catch, shoot and drive or whatever the case may be. For me to be out there with our guys they space the floor, they make shots, on the defensive end they compete too. That just adds to the excitement.
(They made their run and you guys didn’t buckle):
As you can tell we stayed with it. We just stayed focused and kept our composure. They are good team even without their awesome point guard. We just had to keep our composure, try and get stops and execute.
(Thoughts on playing with Cleveland):
It’s enjoyable because with the team that we have I know I don’t have to do that much scoring. I don’t have to score 15 or 20 points for us to win. I can focus on other areas especially my defense and rebounding.
(How much has that team changed from a defensive standpoint since you’ve last played them?):
They are a good team. They’re one of the best teams we have played against this year. We have to give them credit. I was disappointed we went down 19, but I was proud in the way our team fought and scrapped. Like I told them, the more we can build on that and have more minutes played the way we played in desperation mode in the second half, we are going to be okay. That team right there is probably one of the best in the league right now and 23 (LeBron James) makes everything go. I was proud the way our team fought and put themselves back in a position to win. We needed one more stop, one more rotation. That’s one of those games we shouldn’t have dug ourselves such a big hole, but again, the fight and the scrap we had is something to build on.
(What happened in the second quarter that caused you guys to go down 19?):
Well for one, they made shots. We missed some rotations and some rotations weren’t there. They put us in a position where we couldn’t x-out to (Kevin) Love in the corner and we missed the rotation. Any good team like that when you make a mistake they make you pay, and they made us pay every single time we had a breakdown.
(On the energy in the building tonight):
Huge, the fans were great. It should be a reminder. The way guys got back in the game against one of the top teams in the league and competed, that’s what you’re playing for, the fans. It’s about playing with that type of emotion and desperation. They deserve that type of play, but for longer periods of time. We’re undermanned but that’s no excuse in this league, no one is going to feel sorry for us. I don’t think our guys felt sorry for themselves. They fought and scrapped and did what they can do against one of the top teams in the league. That’s what we need to build on and go from there.
(Thoughts on the fourth quarter):
We can use it just carrying on understanding the schedule that we have. It's a tough one at this point in the schedule, 60 games in. It's going to take a lot of fight when fatigue starts to jump on you and the games are coming really fast. You have to have guys willing to step up on the court and fight to the end.
(Thoughts on the Jonas Valanciunas foul on LeBron James):
I think a play like that sends a message to the other team that we aren't going to just allow you to keep laying the ball up. I think that's the only thing we can really get out of it, us guys with the uniforms on.
(Thoughts on the fourth quarter):
We fought and got back in the game, especially being down 19. We just couldn't get some critical stops. LeBron (James) picks and chooses his spots and they knocked down shots.
(What does it take to get those critical stops?):
Everybody is different. Playing against a player like LeBron (James) who really sets up and orchestrates the moves out there, you really have to be aware of that. Not too many other teams do that like they did tonight. You can see LeBron setting up guys, who to put in the pick and roll, where to get the rotation and we have to understand all that. No matter what position. If a big is in a guard position you have to be ready to x-out and close out those threes.