Postgame Quotes: Kings vs Nets
November 27, 2009 by kingsconnect
Head Coach Paul Westphal
“We feel for them. I think they have a class group of guys and I know they’ll turn it around when they get healthy. So, first of all I said that, (but) we needed that win too. I was really pleased with the performances – particularly Spencer Hawes was excellent battling (Brook) Lopez. It hurt us when Spencer had to go out of the game with a bruised knee. I thought that Kenny Thomas came off the bench along with Beno (Udrih), of course, and Omri (Casspi) to really give us great production. I think you could say Kenny was probably the difference in the game for us because Lopez is a handful. So it’s a good win for us; move on to the next game.”
“I’d been more concerned about New Jersey than our approach. I thought we would be ready to play and we were. When a team had been kicked around like New Jersey, you know that they’ve got some good performances in them and I was just hoping that tonight wasn’t the one where they came in and put it all together.”
“We have some guys that were really laying it on the line defensively. They’re not really a strong three-point shooting team, (so) our plan was to keep them out of the paint and make them take tough shots in the crowd if they did drive. We did a pretty good job of that.”
Beno Udrih
“We expected them to come back in the second half. They are very hungry for a win. We kind of expected they were going to make a run. We were just trying to play our game and move the ball, play hard on defense and that is what we did. They made a couple of easy fastbreak points and we tried to keep the lead by 10-15 points. We just didn’t want them to get very close.”
“When everyone asks me why do I not dunk and I go for the lay-up, I say a dunk is a lay-up for me. When I lay it in that is a dunk for me and when I have a jump shot, which is basically a lay-up for me. I just make fun of it. I have always been a pick and roll player and making those types of shots. I hope that I can keep doing this.”
If anything has changed coming off the bench
“No, nothing changed. Donte had a good game last game and coach told me that he was playing really good and he is going to keep him going and keep his confidence going. I totally understand it. I am just going to come off the bench and play the game and help my team win basketball games.”
Jason Thompson
On his fall
“It is feeling better than it did. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to go after halftime. I just had to stretch it out a little bit. I just had to show the dedication that I have for this team. I think some guys could have just sat out even though we were up by 20. I just told coach that I was ready to go anytime he needed me. I was able to get in there and get some key blocks and a few rebounds. I am glad I was able to help out.”
On the team this year
“I feel like we have a really talented team. Some guys get hot early on, like last game (Andres) Nocioni was really hot. Some guys are just hot early on and some guys get hot when the game is on the line. It is really good to see everyone gelling.”
On if he can relate to Nets losses
“We can relate a little bit. We didn’t have it (last year) as rough as they do (this season), but it isn’t good to lose. We don’t have the best record in the league, but we are just trying to keep going and move on and keep our streak going.”
Nets Head Coach Lawrence Frank
On the falling behind in the first half
“Defensively, if you think about what they got on run outs, dribble penetration and postups, their first 10 points were right in the paint and they made a living there. We made a point to establish that all their points were coming in the paint. We started to put effort into the in the second half, but then every missed shot at the rim is magnified, every pick and roll mistake is magnified. We had a hard time in the first half with (Tyreke) Evans and (Beno) Udrih. I think we got 23 more shots than them, but it was our inability to convert. You can’t win basketball games playing 24 minutes of basketball.”
Is the team pressing
“I don’t think we are. We had good shots that weren’t falling, but defensively we didn’t have it going.”
On Devin Harris
“In the second half he started to assert himself and attack. He got to the free throw line and tried to get himself going. He fought through some fatigue. But this is a team thing. I take full responsibility that we can’t play 48 minutes and have the intent from beginning to end.”
Nets Center Brook Lopez
“There is no sense of urgency, especially defensively. Shots weren’t falling and we were not really getting back in transition stopping the initial fastbreak. They have a lot of talent, guys who run the floor, one through five. You see Spencer (Hawes) out there getting a few easy dunks. We can’t let things like that happen.”
Why is there is no sense of urgency
“If I had the answer, it wouldn’t happen.”
Nets Guard Devin Harris
On falling behind early
“We had a pretty emotional halftime. The first half did not go the way we wanted. Defensively we were kind of lackadaisical. They could get wherever they want on the court without any resistance. We tried to come out aggressive and establish paint presence.”
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