Postgame Quotes: Rockets vs Heat

It's just amazing how Francis and Mobely start to talk like JVG? Last year they would be talking trash to Dallas even thought they whipped Rockets in all 4 games. I love JVG!



POSTGAME QUOTES
NOVEMBER 11, 2003


ROCKETS COACH JEFF VAN GUNDY

On finding ways to win when things don’t go according to plan:
"We didn’t play particularly well in spurts because of Miami. I thought for the most part tonight we got outworked. They were quicker to the ball … they have no size … they out-rebounded us by six, that was a huge talent discrepancy win. We’re happy about winning, but we know we’re going to have to play better.”

On things that can be done so shooting isn’t relied on to win:
"They did a great job fronting the post. I really thought they did a great job. Only one time in the fourth quarter did we do a good job; Scott Padgett did a great job … he made a great high-low pass. We can’t allow defensive intensity to take away what we want to do, regardless of what it is in that particular situation.”

On whether the victories to date show if the team is where he wants it to be:
"I think what we want to do is we want to win and improve. That’s the goal every game. Tonight we won. I’ll know more, if we can learn, as we win instead of waiting to lose, to adjust, to make corrections. There’s going to be critics. If you beat some teams, people are going to look at you and say, ‘Oh, look who you beat,’ so you don’t even try to think about that.”

On whether he’s happy to step up in terms of opponents the next couple of games:
"You guys look at games differently than I do. Every game presents challenges. Dallas presents challenges, a lot of challenges.”

On how tough it was to watch his brother lose:
"Tonight the difference had nothing to do with intensity or effort. I thought in many ways they outworked us. But we outsized them and we out-talented them. It wasn’t even close. I just objectively look at them. They don’t have much size, they have no true point, and they don’t have enough shooting. We’ve got size and we’ve got shooting. I thought they did everything they could. I thought they started great, I thought they fought hard, but when you’re undersized like that and undermanned, you have to give something, so obviously you go 7-6 against 6-8, they’re going to protect the paint.
"I thought we did a better job after the first quarte, in moving the ball quickly and getting it out to our three-point shooting. Cuttino (Mobley) really got us on that roll. I think you could assemble a staff of Red Auerbach, Red Holzman, Phil Jackson and you could talk all you want, but that’s a small, small team. They’re going to have to improve in those areas; this is not a new thing. Certainly last year they struggled … they struggled badly last year. If they don’t get some size, or improve their shooting, it’s going to be tough for them.”

On Yao Ming's defensive transition:
"Yep, he needs to learn it.”

On any point in the game that he thought of the brother angle:
"The last three days. Any time I tried to think about the game, you guys brought me right back to ping pong and childhood and things like that. But I don’t think it’s easy, frankly, to have such a superior team. That’s hard because you almost feel guilty, like why were you blessed with a really talented team and that was difficult.”




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YAO MING

On the meeting between the Van Gundy brothers:
"They (the coaches) are not on the court. We are on the court. An old Chinese expression is that even though we had the younger brother, we were still able to defeat the older."

On the Rockets victory:
"I was just out there working my hardest. They’re (the Heat) a real physical team. They’re a great defensive team and they work hard all the time. I think (tonight) was the most blocks I’ve had. Winning the game makes me feel good, and resting tomorrow makes me feel good."

On the Rockets’ progress this year as a team:
"We can’t underestimate any team at all. We have to play the same against every team. These are all steps for us on the road to making the playoffs. For us to make the playoffs, we have to try to lay the foundation for our future’s journey."


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STEVE FRANCIS

On the win:
"It was a win. I thought everybody was really focused on what we had to do, even though it was kind of sloppy. At times I thought we played together as a team and we were able to come out with a victory."

On the next game at Dallas:
"We pretty much know their game, but we’re going to prepare the same way as we prepared the first six6 games and stay focused. They are going to get us to match up against them, but I think the best thing is for us to have them match up against us because I don’t think we’re going to go small. We’ll pretty much still play our same rotation and try to take advantage of our inside presence. They whipped our (tails) last year four times, straight up and down. There are no excuses. They made a lot of changes just as we did. We just want to take it one game at a time and not think about the four games they beat us last year. We need to focus just on this one game."


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CUTTINO MOBLEY

On the game:
"We needed this win. Last year, these were the types of games that we lost. You have to go hard. We just took what the defense gave to us. My first couple of shots were good shots. They felt good. I knew sooner or later that if I keep playing aggressive, they would go in."

On the upcoming game at Dallas:
"It’s a huge challenge. They beat us four times last year. We have to go out there and do something. It’s going to be a tough game."


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HEAT COACH STAN VAN GUNDY

On the game:
"We came out of the locker room early, and played the way I wanted. We had good energy and focus. Their three-point shooting really bothered us. We didn’t make good decisions when we got the ball into the basket and we wanted to, but couldn’t, make the plays. We got absolutely nothing. The way we attacked the basket and our post defense was great.”

On Lamar Odom’s play:
"I liked Lamar’s demeanor and the way he attacked the basket. It was a better night for him. He played with a lot of energy.”

On coaching against his brother:
"I really didn’t think about that at all during the game. He really caught me by surprise when he came down to shake hands before the game and I was just sitting on the bench. It was a shock because I didn’t expect it at all.”

On his team’s early season play:
"Our guys bring a great energy and focus every game. I can’t question the effort our players have put in. When the deficit hits 10, it seems to draw out a lot of our energy. They have not quit or given up at all.”


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LAMAR ODOM

On the Heat’s early season play:
"We’re playing well, but shooting 30 percent from the field just doesn’t cut it. We’re playing hard and smart, but just making the plays. We have to make the plays and get the ball to go into the hoop."

On Yao Ming:
"Yao is a really good player with a lot of skills and he really knows what he’s doing on the court.”

On the team’s attempt to get the win for the coach:
"Stan has been a part of this system for a long time and, hell yes, it would have been sweet to get the win for him.”

On his offseason workout sessions:
"I worked the hardest in my life this offseason to be ready and I’m really disappointed with our slow start, but I look forward to things getting better.”


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BRIAN GRANT

On playing against Yao Ming:
"Every night is not going to be like this, thank goodness. He (Yao) is a lot more solid than last year. I’m always going to go at him. I like challenges. I like being the underdog.”

On comments from Yao last year that Grant was toughest player on him physically:
"He (Yao) is very smart and, obviously, if he thought that, then tonight he had payback on his mind. I am really beat up. We bumped bodies out there. He held his ground a lot more and is figuring out how not to let us smaller guys get underneath him. His court sense is amazing and his passing ability is incredible. He is really something for a 7-6 player.”


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DWYANE WADE

On Miami’s early season play:
"You see a lot of positives. We’re starting with a lot of energy and now we have to learn out to focus and make smarter plays as the game progresses. Every night I have a real tough challenge defending the point guards. I’m still learning how to play the point.”

On playing against Yao Ming:
"Yao makes their team so much better because of all the shots he affects and not only blocks. A couple of times I went in on him and he got me once and I got him once.”


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