Detroit: Maurice Cheeks | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Minnesota: Rick Adelman | Kevin Love | Ricky Rubio
(On the game getting away): “Even when we were hanging around, they were scoring pretty good. We couldn’t get any defensive stops and that’s a good offensive team. All Rick Adelman teams usually are pretty good offensively. They were scoring. We were scoring. Then we had those turnovers and they continued to score and we couldn’t put ourselves in such a hole.”
(On defense and giving up 121 points tonight): “We got to get better. We got to get better at pick-and-roll defense. Like I said, they are a pretty good offensive team and all Rick Adelman teams are usually pretty good offensively. When they get on a roll, they can continue scoring. I think they average 104-105 anyway. When they were scoring, we were scoring. For us to continue scoring like that, it was going to be a huge task for us. If we could get some stops early which we didn’t and they stayed in their rhythm of scoring, it was going to be tough. Kevin Love, the way he played was pretty good.
(On losing): “We have to go back to the drawing board, we have a game tomorrow so we have to get ready for that one. We have to just let this one go and get ready for the next game.”
(On Minnesota’s play): “It was kind of tough to slow them down at first, they had us so spread out so they were getting in but once we closed that out they were getting threes so it was kind of tough to play both parts.”
(On Kevin Martin): “He’s tricky, the way his shot is, the way he fakes, he is a tricky guard.”
(On Game): "We played with a lot of energy. We played very well and shot it very well.”
(On ball movement): "We had a lot of energy though. We had a good tempo to the game. Early in the game I thought they made a lot of shots. We were not playing that bad defensively but kept the same routine all the way through the game. I think we had 31 assists which means you are moving the ball."
(On defense): "We were trying to make them shoot outside shots and they made a lot in the first quarter. Our whole point is transition defense, getting back, and trying not to give them anything near the basket."
(On getting to the free throw line in the first half): "That is what happens when you move the ball. We moved the ball, we had good patience, and we were cutting harder. Everything was just a little bit more in our step tonight."
(On game): "They (Pistons) won four out of their last five, so for us to come out and jump on them in the first half, and not let up in the second no matter what defense they threw at us, shows what this team is made of. We have another game and we have to respond tomorrow. Throughout the month of December we have a very tough schedule. We just have to get through this time and win as many games as we can.”
(On first half): "It was a great first half for us. We went on that run, kept it to double digits, and never really looked back. When we can do that, show our maturity and our leadership throughout the entire line-up, that's really big for us. We were happy we were able to do that, but we have to have a short memory, whether we win or lose.”
(On offense): "We did a great job of running, of pushing the ball. We had fun out there. We were aggressive and it took us to the line."
(On Kevin Love): "He can shoot. He does all of the things for us. He spreads the floor and he does a great job."