Postgame Quotes

ROCKETS COACH JEFF VAN GUNDY

On the Rockets’ first half defense:
"I’m sure they missed some shots that they could normally make, but I thought our defense in the first half was very, very good. We realize that they were missing some guys due to injury, but I thought we started very well. I thought our intensity was where it should be."

On allowing only four second-chance scoring opportunities:
"We got overwhelmed on the boards in Minnesota and I thought that we responded well. They played small a lot in the second half, which obviously contributed to that, but I thought we were really right and ready. Realizing the roll that they’ve been on, everybody realizes that they’re playing better than anybody in the league, so I thought our guys did a great job."

On whether this game was the most legitimate sign of progress:
"I think real progress is if we play another great game Monday (against Memphis). That’s what I think real progress would be. When you can take a great win, learn from it, put it in the rearview mirror, then move on."

On the difference in Yao Ming’s play over the last three games:
"I thought he was very active to start and I think our passing has been better. We still had 18 turnovers, but I thought he did some good things. Whenever he gets some offensive rebounds that’ll help, some open shots that’ll help, he can score in a number of ways. I think he’s played really well; he had a little bit of a lull there for about 4-5 games, but recently he’s played really well."

On whether the specific problems he’s pointed out previously have been solved:
"I think that for the most part this year, we’ve played hard enough to win. I think offensively we haven’t played well enough. I think our unselfishness is good, I think the turnovers really, really sap you sometimes. I thought we handled the turnovers better today in that they did not lead to more mistakes. I think that’s progress. I just think that when Steve (Francis) plays up to that level, minus some turnovers, playing hard and what I think he could be every night getting close to those triple-double type numbers, I think we’re a good team."


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JIM JACKSON

On Yao Ming:
"When he comes out and plays aggressively, we are a different kind of team. I think he realizes that. When he comes out early in the game and forces teams to double team him, it gives us a lot more options."


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STEVE FRANCIS

On the Rockets’ effectiveness today:
"I thought we were all pretty much on the same page (as a team) for the most part, as far as finding the open guy and our defense really strapped down against the No. 1 field goal percentage team in the NBA. I think that within ourselves if we can continue to gain our confidence and shut down the best teams and best players, then I think we’ll do pretty good. You can’t take anything away from Minnesota. They’re definitely one of the hottest teams and they have won 17 of their last 21."

On the key to the Rockets’ first half success:
"I think that we played pretty good defense out there. We were challenging just about every shot and guys were boxing out and rebounding. Yao (Ming) had a double-double and (Kelvin) Cato had a double-double. It seemed like Minnesota was very hungry and wanted to score after we got off to the big lead and we had to maintain our composure. Minnesota is a very good team and they haven’t won this many games for nothing. I definitely have to give our team credit today."


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MAURICE TAYLOR

On the Rockets’ first half success:
"The first half was probably the best defensive performance we have put together all year. In the first half our defense is what really helped us win the game. I felt like we won the game in the first half."

On the T'Wolves:
"Minnesota is a great team. We knew that they were going to make a run in the second half, but the way we played defensively is what won the game for us."

On Yao Ming:
"The last few games he has been more assertive as far as being in position and not letting guys push him out. He’s been working hard on positioning in the post, so it is easier to get him the ball. When the ball moves like that, we are able to get it in to him and that is when we are a better team."


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YAO MING

On his play:
"Everything is going a lot more smoothly right now. Some of the problems that I had been having, I’ve worked it out in my mind how to get around them."

On the key to the Rockets’ great start today:
"We had a great attitude coming into the game and our preparation was very complete."

On the Rockets’ rebounding:
"I think they (Minnesota) out rebounded us by 11 the last time we played them so we knew that we had to get on the boards."

On facing Kevin Garnett:
"It’s impossible to completely limit a player like that. The best you can hope to do is to go out there and stop him somewhat; for instance, if he is definitely going to score 10 points, you can go out there and hold him to eight instead. And I think we did that out there today."


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T'WOLVES COACH FLIP SAUNDERS

On the game:
"We got our ass kicked and that’s all you can say about it. They came out and dominated us from the beginning to the end. They were very aggressive and they contested us on every shot we took. This was a game we have to shower it off and get ready for the next game. We didn’t make our shots and didn’t have the sharpness to start the game."

On the Rockets:
"Jeff (Van Gundy) is a very solid defensive coach and with Yao (Ming), when he packs it inside and their other guys play it tough defensively, Houston is a very tough team to beat."

On his team's play:
"I thought our big 3 were searching too much offensively and our other guys didn’t get into the flow of the game. We’re not going to quit because that’s the character of our team."


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SAM CASSELL

On the game:
"Today’s game we just want to forget about it. This game wasn’t us. We didn’t accomplish anything. We never gave up and that is what I’m proud of. It shows the character of our team."

On the Rockets:
"Houston was more aggressive and they hit us, hit us, and hit us before we even started to play."


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ERVIN JOHNSON

On the game:
"We got disrupted early and they came out very aggressive on us. They were ready to play and we weren’t."

On Yao Ming:
"Yao did a good job. He was aggressive and came out ready to play. He rebounded, scored, and did exactly what they asked him to do."


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KEVIN GARNETT

On the game:
"We didn’t hit any shots. We couldn’t have thrown a beach ball into the ocean. It was not a pretty game."

On the Rockets:
"Houston was a lot more in-tune than the last time we played them. Yao (Ming) played very tough. They definitely have improved defensively and that starts with Yao inside."

On his play:
"I’m very disappointed with the way I shot and rebounded and I’m not happy with the way I played. I’m very upset because I didn’t feel like I was making our other players better."