POSTGAME QUOTESMike Brown: Lakers coach Mike Brown on his expectations leading into tonight’s game:
“We talked about this for the last few days that Ty Lawson was going to come out aggressive and he did. Not only did he come out aggressive, but we thought that the team was really trying to get it out in the transition game.” Lakers coach Mike Brown on what the Lakers need to do moving forward in this series:
“The game in the series is going to be how well we get back in transition. That’s the biggest thing. We definitely have to clean up the offensive glass part. You’re not going to stop Ty Lawson, you just hope you make him work for his shots.” Lakers coach Mike Brown on the Nuggets single coverage on Kobe tonight:
“They’ve tried to double team us randomly picking and choosing their spots and we made them pay a couple of times when they have come or come to quick. I think they probably said “Hey, let’s try something else. Let’s see if they can beat us in single coverage.” And, Kobe did a nice job of scoring the basketball.” Pau Gasol: Lakers’ Pau Gasol on his passing:
“Just trying to find my open teammates, trying to see what’s going on and give easy looks to Andrew [Bynum] most of the time. And then Kobe is such a good cutter and holds his position so well in the paint, so he’s a definer for me. I’m just trying to make our offense work, get a little movement and get guys easy shots.” Lakers’ Pau Gasol on the key to succeeding in the Playoffs:
“I think you have to make sure you do things the right way—that you’re disciplined and try to improve defensively, especially as games go along. I think that’s how you get yourself far and deep into the Playoffs. When you’re solid defensively, and you take away the strength of the opponent, and no matter what adjustments they make, you’re ready for them because you stick to your principles and you’re just consistent. I think that’s what gives teams the opportunity to win games.” Lakers’ Pau Gasol on his role with the team:
“I’m trying to fulfill my role as best I can. Whatever’s needed out there, I’m trying to do it. I don’t get as many looks as I used to, especially down the post because Andrew [Bynum] is taking up a lot of that and being effective. So, I try and take advantage of my opportunities and then also use my skills and my talent to get guys involved and facilitate. That’s what I’ve been trying to do. And also, I think being aggressive gets me going and gets me more involved and gets me more active on both ends of the floor. So, I have to balance it out.” Andrew Bynum: Lakers’ Andrew Bynum on being defensive in Game 1 and changing to playing offensive in Game 2:
“I think they relaxed a little bit on the double teaming and I was able to take advantage.” Lakers’ Andrew Bynum on the importance of winning while in Denver:
“I don’t think we want to go back to Denver so it’s important and Game 3 is going to be big.” Lakers’ Andrew Bynum on how his mentality has changed being in the playoffs:
“I think everyone’s first game they’re a bit nervous and then after that it just turns to energy.” Lakers’ Andrew Bynum on what the team needs to do for Game 3:
“We need to play with desperation. I understand what that game could mean if we win it, so just go and play aggressive.” Lakers’ Andrew Bynum on playing Game 3:
“I think they’re going to try to run, they might go small, they might make adjustments but for us we need to keep pounding the ball inside and try to slow the game down. Defensively, keep doing what we’re doing, playing hard, and locking them up.” Kobe Bryant: Lakers’ Kobe Bryant on whether there is a difference between the energy and intensity this year compared to last year’s playoffs:
“I don’t think there is a difference. I think we’re playing much better. Last year was so much of a broken season with injuries and myself not being able to practice and a few things like that so it was tough to build a rhythm. This year, we’re done a great job of that.” Lakers’ Kobe Bryant on getting more open looks while Andrew gets double teamed:
“It’s tough when you play against us because there is legitimately 3 guys on the post that you have to double team. For Andrew, he’s continuing to get better at it and making great reads which is going to help us tremendously as he gets better at it.” Lakers’ Kobe Bryant on Andrew Bynum’s rising expectations for himself:
“He expects greatness out of himself. He believes he can have monster games on a consistent basis like he did last game. So it’s a great thing to hear.” Lakers’ Kobe Bryant on how he feels after having a few weeks to rest:
“They helped tremendously. I feel great. We’re doing fine, playing well, we just have to continue to focus.” George Karl: Nuggets coach George Karl on the Lakers’ offensive rebounds:
“My only thought basically is that we have some priorities that I still don’t think we’re taking good care of and one of them is rebounding. I don’t know what they shot on their first attempt in the second half but it had to be poor. I don’t how many rebounds they had but they must have had 10 or 15 offensive rebounds. They’re bigger than we are, they’re heavier than we are, and we just have got to rebound the ball. I thought that was why we lost the game probably in the second half.” Nuggets coach George Karl on the fight his team showed tonight:
“I wish the fight we showed tonight would have happened in game one. Because of that I think we’re down 2-0. If we would have fought like this in game one, maybe we would have found a way to win game two. We’re young and we’re learning. I thought you saw us play a lot of good Nuggets’ basketball today, but we just didn’t make many shots. We’re not shooting the ball very well but the hunger and the anger of the team is very good.” Nuggets coach George Karl on whether it’s the Lakers’ talent or experience that’s most valuable:
“I think it’s the experience of their stars between Gasol and Kobe. Gasol doesn’t put great numbers up but he’s probably their best passer out there on the court, and he just understands what’s going on as well as anyone on the court. For a 7’1” guy to do that is pretty incredible stuff. I guess Kobe’s will to win the game falls under experience. It’s a mental talent. Our players have to understand we need five, maybe six guys playing at a high level to win. They might only need two or three.” Nuggets coach George Karl on the differences between the two teams:
“There’s a combination of talent and team that wins championships. We were successful during the season because of our team-ness, and they were successful because their stars had great years. Sessions came in and played really well but it was basically Bynum’s showcase season, and Kobe playing with an incredibly energized body that we didn’t think was there last year. Gasol orchestrates it all as a playmaker at 7’1” who can put a double-double on any team he plays against. The other guys just fill in the blanks and they do it pretty well.” Nuggets coach George Karl on the next game:
“I’m looking very much forward to Friday night. I think my team made a big step tonight; I just wish it would have been in game one.” Ty Lawson: Nuggets’ Ty Lawson on how his approach was different in this game compared to Game 1:
“Last game, I missed a couple shots early and I started to defer and pass the ball. This game, coach told me to be aggressive and try to make things happen.” Nuggets’ Ty Lawson on what the team needs to do differently in Game 3 to get a win:
“We were closer, but we can’t go down 19 or 20 points and chop off that. It takes a lot of energy. We need to help each other on the boards and help the bigs because that’s where they got a lot offensive rebounds and second chances. With this team, you can’t do that because that’s where they thrive and get their momentum.” Nuggets’ Ty Lawson on how important controlling the tempo is for them:
“Pace is huge, but we have to get stops. You can’t run after they make a dunk or a three. It’s easier to run when you get a rebound. The main thing is we have to get stops.” Nuggets’ Ty Lawson on defending Kobe Bryant:
“He was hitting a lot of tough shots. In the first game, he was getting a lot of layups and getting to the basket. This game, he was hitting tough shots. Like the coaches said, we played better defense but he was on fire, and sometimes you can’t do anything about it when he’s hitting shots like that.” Arron Afflalo: Nuggets’ Arron Afflalo opening thoughts on tonight’s game:
“The score was closer. This is a very good team. Their better players had very good games today and our only hope now is to take care of our home court.” Nuggets’ Arron Afflalo on defending Kobe Bryant:
“He’s good. He hit some tough shots when I was on him and when I wasn’t on him. He had a pretty good rhythm all game long. He gets a lot of looks, so for scorers, the more shots you get at the basket, the more of a feel you get for the game.” Nuggets’ Arron Afflalo on how the Lakers have been able to play at their pace:
“They’ve controlled Game 1 and Game 2 from start to finish. Until we get an opportunity to push that pace and force them to become a part of our game, they’re going to continue what they want to do as they lead this series and as they lead the games.” Kenneth Faried: Nuggets’ Kenneth Faried on what was different in tonight’s contest compared to Game 1:
“We played better. We kept fighting, never gave up and believed in each other. But when it came down to the wire, we have to execute better. Guys had more fight in them today and guys didn’t want to quit.” | /esi:vars)
