http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/Game_Quotes_Rockets_109_Clip-215700-34.html They Said It ... Game Quotes: Rockets 109, Clippers 105 ROCKETS HEAD COACH JEFF VAN GUNDY (on finding a way to win after losing the lead) "I thought we started great. I was disappointed with the looseness in the 2nd quarter. I was disappointed in our defense and rebounding and happy with the last minute." (on whether the Rockets played like they had a big lead) "I don't know. I know we played a loose 2nd quarter. We weren't tight defensively. Some of our shots were questionable in transition. Our reaction to the ball was non-existent rebounding-wise. Our bigs are playing small on the boards, as well as our smalls playing small on the boards." (on the difference in the rebounding with Dikembe Mutombo not starting) "The first 3 weeks. After the 1st 3 weeks, he, too, had not rebounded particularly well minus Denver. So I have to rethink. We have some problem areas that need to be addressed certainly." TRACY McGRADY (on his assist on Luther Head's late-game go-ahead 3-pointer) "He's been knocking those shots down pretty much all season. He is one guy who seems to always be open in situations like that. I just have to stay aggressive, draw the attention and find the open guys. When those guys are just sitting out there by themselves, you've got to be confident enough to knock down those shots. Luther (Head) and Shane (Battier) are pretty much the main guys in clutch situations when teams do like to collapse. They've hit some big shots for us and tonight was a prime example." KIRK SNYDER (on Rafer Alston's win-preserving steal late in the game) "We had a key steal with Rafer (Alston) and that kind of put us in a good position to win the ball game. We are fortunate enough that we stayed the course, we didn't get down on ourselves and we made some big plays down the stretch." (on his role in the Rockets' offense) "Tonight I didn't feel as comfortable as I can feel, I guess, with knocking down shots and being able to have the mentality to take them. I think with time I will become more aggressive and, hopefully, the sky is the limit for me." CHUCK HAYES (on the win) "We let up a bit. We led big early, but you've got to give them (Clippers) credit to keep fighting especially on a back-to-back. But we will take it, we need it. It's great momentum for us to get on the road here and to try to win 2 on the road. We're just happy that we got the W." (on the Rockets' 4th quarter difficulties) "(Elton) Brand getting to the free throw line and getting a lay-up here and there got them going. And once he's hitting that pull-up, he's a tough load to stop. Rafer (Alston) did a great job at the end, digging in there and making him (Elton Brand) become a passer and we were able to finish the game." YAO MING (on the win) "Maybe I should say how lucky we are (to get the win). In the last couple of minutes, we found ourselves. We were playing strong defense and aggressive defense. And on the offensive side, we were playing our basketball." (on the play of Elton Brand) "In the 3rd quarter and early 4th quarter, he was unstoppable. I was just trying to use my size to try to stop him and I was trying to block his shots, but he was shooting over me. He had a great game." LUTHER HEAD (on his crucial 3-point shot that put the Rockets' ahead in the waning minutes of the game) "Actually, I didn't think they (Clippers) were going to leave me, but you know Tracy (McGrady). He has eyes. I don't know how he sees what he sees. He can get me the ball in the right places and he found me today. I was able to knock the shot down." LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS HEAD COACH MIKE DUNLEAVY (on the game) "Again, a hard fought effort on the road. We got off to a terrible start. Our guys kept battling and we came back and gave us a chance to win. Unfortunately, we had 4 turnovers late in the game and we can't afford that. All the turnovers are big at the end of the game. I like our effort and the guys seem to be getting in a good groove." (on the Rockets' last 3-pointer) "The last three they really stretched us out and banged out a big shot from the corner." (on his team's play) "You can't come in and waste this kind of effort and not come up with a win. We kept playing hard and were relentless and a lot of teams would have given up but we didn't." (on Elton Brand's season high) "We were riding E.B. (Elton Brand) After back-to-back games I thought he had a bounce back in his step and we rode him. When he's got his mid-range jumper going he can get you in a lot of tough situations." COREY MAGGETTE (on the game) "I look at the stat sheet on what we did and we did a lot of great things but the turnovers at the end killed us. Elton (Brand) was on fire. We have to stay positive as a team. We had several opportunities to win the game and let it get away." ELTON BRAND (on his play) "It was falling (his shot), but I am very disappointed we couldn't get the win. We had too many turnovers late in the game." (on the team's play) "It's satisfying to play well but we have to get victories. We had opportunities and we just didn't finish and they hit some big shots. We just wanted to win this game so bad and we let it slip away. It was a tough loss." CHRIS KAMAN (on defending Yao Ming) "It's always fun. He's so big and heavy and he has a good touch but I thought we did a good job against him tonight. We tried to make him work as hard as we could and make him run the floor." CUTTINO MOBLEY (on the loss) "It's tough when you don't get a road kill. If we play like that and give the effort then I don't get upset afterwards. We'll win our share of games if we keep playing like this." (on the Rockets) "I love the Rockets. Tracy (McGrady) and Yao (Ming) are phenomenal players and they have great role guys that play well along side them. Jeff (Van Gundy) lets them run with Tracy (McGrady) handling the offense and Yao defending the post. And they are a very tough team. They are very strong. They have perimeter players and a good low-post game. They should do very well in the playoffs."
mobley wants to come back. he can take rafer's spot anytime. he can handle the ball up and give it to tracy w/ ease. and he can create his own shot. cmon mobley, come back.
Cat Mobley would be the perfect third scorer on a team like ours. Creates his own shot, good defender, high 3 pt. %, energy, effort. Oh how i would love to have him on this team. Great game tonight though, I liked the leadership and aggressiveness of T-Mac during the last 4 mins.
Sounds like Cat would love to come back and be a Rocket. I love Cat but I am not sure he would be a difference maker here, he really hasn't made the Clips much better since he signed with them. Now SF for the MLE when the Knicks buy him out is another story. We need to get a roster like the Suns and Mavs where their 6 and 7 guys could start for any other NBA team.
Great point. Rafer's help defense on Brand made all the difference in the last couple of minutes. Brand had been killing Yao with that 15-footer, until JVG had Rafer start to double him every time he touched the ball. Brand had to start passing, but nobody else on the Clips was on a roll at the time.
Actually, Cat would make an amazing 6th man. In fact, there's nothing that would please me more than to be able to get Mobley and Cassell to come off the bench for us next season. But Luther's doing a great job and there's really no way anyone will become a starting swingman on this team as long as Battier and T-Mac are here. Would you trade Head in a package for Mobley?
Not even close. Clips locked him up on a full (5-year I believe) MLE deal before last season. It may have even been more than the MLE, don't recall.
Cat's owed 8mil and change next year, 9+ the year after and @10 in 09/10. Mobley is good, has Rox 'cred', but is absolutely/positively not worth his contract IMHO.
With his contract the clips might trade him and he is a solid player who won't hog the ball. We need to make it happen.
I like him, but his contract is semi-problematic on a team with already two max players. Now Maggette I would love to have. Head or some of our backcourt depth and a few picks might get it done.
I love Cat... but that's just one more player clouding the Bonzi/Snyder situation. Great quote though. I also like Hayes quote on Rafer's defense -- I hate his shot but Rafer's defense recieves way too much hate. He's a great team defender.
he receives much too much hate period. Look at the front page right now. Guy gets kicked in the teeth when he sucks and kicked in the teeth when he does well. No win situation...
