Postgame Quotes: Kings vs. Clippers

KINGS HEAD COACH PAUL WESTPHAL

“On a night that we didn’t shoot the ball particularly well, I thought our defense won the game for us. I thought that we played 48 minutes of first class defense, really for the second game in a row. When our offense let us down a little bit and our free throw shooting let us down a little bit, we still hung on because of the defense until we were able to make the shots we needed to win the game. So I view this as a big step forward in our progression as a team – to be able to get a defensive win against a team that just handled us pretty easily last week. I thought Ime (Udoka) probably made the play of the game when we missed a shot and we had a one-point lead and then he stole it and we ended up scoring and it gave us a little bit of breathing room. I thought that Carl (Landry) was huge for us down the stretch and of course Tyreke (Evans) started making some of those shots he was missing to put the game away for us. So I feel great about our effort. I thought Spencer (Hawes) played a good complete game. Even though in the second half he didn’t score, I still thought that he was a big part of the win. It’s great to not shoot the ball very well and still get a win.”

“Even though we weren’t really able to score that much, the fact that we only turned it over nine times (shows that) our offense didn’t beat us. If we would have had 20 turnovers and shot 43.2% percent, we would be talking about a loss. It’s been two games in a row where we’ve done a good job of taking care of the ball and we didn’t do anything to beat ourselves.”

“It always puts smiles on people’s faces when you win. We’ve tried to maintain confidence in the players, and have them feel our confidence, because we know that a lot of the tough breaks that come in this league aren’t because of lack of effort. We need more experience, we need more experience together, and so because you don’t have those things, there’s no reason to be mad. I think our team has done a pretty good job of keeping the focus on continued improvement and I think that’s probably why we’re smiling as much as the wins in a lot of ways.”

“I’ve got great confidence in Ime. He’s a player that the other guys respect for his knowledge and his toughness and his experience. We lean on him at both ends of the floor in pressure situations.”

“We’ve made strides. We understand the need to become a good defensive team. We’ve had two good defensive performances in row, and I think three out of the last five we’ve played 48 minutes of good defense. If we can have that be our calling card as well as to be an offensive team that’s tough to guard – which I think we’re a lot more balanced now with Carl to be able to go into the low post and get some big fourth quarter hoops, get to the line – I think that we’re taking some good steps toward becoming a legitimate NBA team that can expect to win whenever we play, at least hope to win whenever we play.”

“Well we view every game as important. We want to win any time we play. We want to learn from whatever the lesson is from that day, every time we play, and at the same time we want to develop our young players. We won’t give young players playing time – they have to earn it. But if it’s a situation where we can develop them, I think it’s in the best interest of the franchise. We’re counting our wins; we want to get as many as we possibly can and build on that next year.”

Tyreke Evans

“It felt pretty good. We played good defense. Spencer (Hawes) came out and gave us a good start. I think that is what carried us on from there.”

On playing better defense tonight
“Coach told me to keep attacking, and when I attack I put the pressure on the defense. I was trying to attack and find the open guys and Beno (Udrih) and Omri (Casspi).”

On the Clippers winning the previous match up
“I wasn’t thinking about the loss (to the Clippers last game) but I knew I wanted to get them back. They beat us and then they came into our house and we just wanted to get a win.”

On Baron Davis
“I have known Baron since I was coming up in basketball. We played AAU basketball. I talk to him a lot and we were just talking about if I fouled him or not. We know each other pretty well.”

Spencer Hawes

“We have a tough road trip ahead, but we have some good momentum of basketball going into it.”

On setting the tone early
“I think that it was key not only for myself, but for the team. We came out and were being aggressive and assertive early. We were trying to put the pressure on the defense and also trying to open up for the other guys.”

On Chris Kaman
“He is an All-Star, there are no bones about it. He is so skilled down there and for me it is kind of like playing against myself. He goes left or right, and can really create so many problems when he gets rolling. I think our team did a great job of containing him.”

“It is good to have the fans out here and supporting us. It is good to have that swagger back at ARCO.”

Beno Udrih

On if the team is feeling looser and not so tense
“Coach was trying to tell us all year long to push the ball up the court faster and to get some easy buckets if we can. We have been getting into our offensive sets faster lately. Before, we were fighting against the shot clock. Now, we fight maybe one or two times. We are just playing a lot faster and we have been moving the ball much better. We also are not turning over the ball as much anymore and we are learning. It is a long process.”

On putting in hard work
“This year we have been working really hard. We had two good practices. We beat Utah, we beat the Clippers now, and we all feel good about ourselves. We are making steps forward and we need to keep making steps forward so we can get better everyday.”

Los Angeles Clippers Kim Hughes

On how they lost the game

“I thought we took that first half off. I don’t believe we are a good enough team to play the first half like that with poor energy, a little bit selfish at times. I thought we competed in the second half. I was disappointed in our bigs. I thought we turned the ball over way too many times. All of them, collectively, were really loose with the ball. I think we gave up 25 points off turnovers and we only got six from them. That is a 19-point differential. That is the game.”

On the communication between Rasual Butler and Baron Davis

“No, they got into it. We want guys to talk. We are not a very verbal team and we plea and cajole for that all the time. I like the bantering in the second half and telling each other what to do. But, we are not a one half team. We have to play like that out of the gate. Losing Craig Smith hurt, but I think DeAndre came in and gave us valuable minutes. It is tough as well when you shoot 37 percent from the field. I don’t really know how to explain it because Sacramento is not a very good defensive team.”

On Tyreke Evans’ play

“He attacked the hoop. He had a nice lay-up. He is a tremendous talent. I thought we did a good defensive job on him. The primary focus of our defense was to stop him. He is virtually impossible to guard one-on-one. He has great size, speed and quickness. He broke out at the end. He is going to hit some shots. The time he made the lay-up down the stretch, our bigs did not help out enough in pick-and-roll coverage and that happens with fatigue or a poor decision. We are going to give up some lay-ups, but I thought, in the second half, we were much more solid defensively.”

Los Angeles Clippers Forward Drew Gooden

On play of Tyreke Evans

“He put a lot of pressure on us defensively attacking the basket and on pick-and-roll and being in the teeth of our defense.”

On falling behind early

“First half we started out sluggish down 12, 14 or whatever it was at halftime. We clawed our way back towards the end but we just didn’t have enough pressure. I don’t think we had enough poise to close that game out. It was still anyone’s game towards the end.”

On not making enough shots

“You got to make shots. They shot 43 (percent). You hit a few more shots and the game changes. It was a tough night for us.”

Los Angeles Clippers Center Chris Kaman

On not being able to put together two good halves

“It was a tale of two halves. The first half wasn’t ours. We did a great job in the second half of fighting back and keeping the game close. We just didn’t have enough to win it.”

Quotes, Links and Tweets

Quotes:

Tyreke Evans on MS&E’s Season of Giving:
“It’s fun going out there with the fans. They tell you how much they love us, so it’s always a pleasure to go out there and speak to the fans, sign a couple autographs for them and take pictures with them. I think it’s a big blessing for us to go out there and show them that we care about our fans.”

Tyreke on national TV exposure with Kings-Wizards game on ESPN Wednesday at ARCO Arena:
“I’m looking forward to it a lot. We just want to go in there and try to take care of home court like we’ve been doing all year and stay focused.”

Links:

Sports Illustrated

SBNation

Sports Illustrated-Rookie Rankings

NBA.com Rookie Rankings

ESPN Power Rankings

Tweets:

jtthekid: Got practice in a few preparing for the blazers who we play tomm nite in portland. Got to get Road Wins to b good in this league. Yessir

MrJonBrockman: Rise and shine, it’s butt kicking time!!!

Quotes, Links and Tweets

Quotes:
“Bring the flavor back that we always used to see when we were kids and just establish ourselves in this league. We knew that Sac needed to have some changes and we just wanted to bring some energy and some of the success we had from college over here.” – Jason Thompson, on he and Donté Greene’s goal for the Kings

“My love for Sacramento has grown, especially with us winning and us having our true fans come back out. Even the people that were there with us through the tough times, they’re bringing people back out. The community is just coming together and we just (have to) keep winning and do big things for Sacramento.” - Donté Greene

“Every time I start it’s a matchup problem. Whether it’s me at (shooting guard), I’m 6-foot-10 sticking a 6-foot-3, 6-foot-4 guy, that’s a mismatch right there. A lot of the (small forwards), I’m either bigger than them or I’m quicker than them. At (power forward), definitely, just being able to hold down like I’ve been doing on defense and offense, I’m able to drive by them and get to the rack and also find my teammates.” - Donté Greene

“I’m not as focused on getting the crowd into the game with cheering as with making good plays. I like to get the crowd into the game with making really good plays.” – Head Coach Paul Westphal, on Greene’s towel-waving ways

“When you come into ARCO, the music is loud, the fans are loud — trying to be louder than the music — and (when) 17,317 people are in there screaming ‘GO KINGS!’ Or, ‘DEFENSE!’ It just gets under your skin,” Greene said grinning as he began rubbing his arms. “You get goose bumps. Your hair stands up. You get a little burst of energy… It’s an amazing feeling.” - Donté Greene

“The Kings are so good! They really put it all on ya! I really like it in Sacramento. Let’s talk about the Kings! It’s all about the Kings!” - Donté Greene

“Ooh, I can’t believe it! I’m in Sacramento. I’m in the NBA, playing for the Kings! Yeah!” - Donté Greene

“The guys understood we were not going to take this team lightly. We have watched them closely. They are an exciting team. When you watch them on film, you can see why management is excited about this young group. They have a lot of talent. For young guys they play extremely hard. They are unselfish and they make plays for each other as well. And this is one of the toughest places to play this year with their home court advantage at 8-2.” – Miami Heat Head Coach Erik Spoelstra, on not taking the Kings lightly

“He reminds me of Dwyane (Wade)… He has a great deal of poise for someone so young. I think it is unique. It is becoming less unique, this hybrid position, the two/one. More guys seem to be coming into the league that have those type of skills. He does a great job of creating his own offense but also setting up guys.” – Miami Heat Head Coach Erik Spoelstra, on whom Kings guard Tyreke Evans reminds him of

“It’s becoming less unique – this hybrid position – the (shooting/point guard). Guys seem to be coming in the league that have those skills. (Evans) does a great job of creating his own offense and offense for other guys.” – Miami Heat Head Coach Erik Spoelstra

“(Evans has) got a great deal of poise for somebody so young.” – Miami Heat Head Coach Erik Spoelstra

“He’s a good young player. He has the most complete game, as a rookie, in the league. When you talk about the best rookies, he has the most complete game. He can do it all. He’s a great player. They have a good pick in him.” – Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade on Tyreke Evans

“He’s always looking to go penetrate. He’s very strong. He can finish at the basket as well.” – Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade

“Just the way he puts pressure on the defense. He is always looking to penetrate and is very strong and he can finish at the basket as well.” – Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade on how Tyreke Evans reminds him of himself

Links:
ESPN Power Rankings
DG Show Bringing the Flavor Back to Sac

Tweets:
MrJonBrockman: Just had a good chat with the “rise guys” on the radio in Sacramento. Headed to New Orleans this afternoon. Time to get some road wins!

Quotes, Links and Tweets

Quotes:
“Oh man, it feels good. We’re now satisfied, but just keep things rolling and the sky’s the limit for this team.”
-Jason Thompson on reaching .500 again (during 11/29 post game interview with Grant Napear and Jerry Reynolds)

“Spirit is great, man. We’re tough and it’s good watching TV and seeing what people are saying about us. They’re saying ‘You’re going to Sacramento, those boys are playing hard. That’s a tough place to play.’ Last year everybody used to pass up Sacramento (and think) oh, we’ve got a win. It’s a different story when you’re coming into our building. Our guys are playing hard. It starts with our young, sensational rookie, Tyreke. You’ve got Noc out there, you’ve got Ime, you’ve got Donté, you’ve got guys with a little swagger and toughness and you see it on the floor.”
- Kings assistant coach Mario Elie

“I’m really enjoying playing. We know every night it’s going to be tough, but we are enjoying fighting for the win every night. ARCO Arena has been a very tough place to play against us. I wish the next game will be sold out and that will help us a lot more.”
- Sergio Rodriguez

On how gratifying it is being in Sacramento:
“The most important thing, and what makes me so happy, is when I get to play. That is all that I ask. When I didn’t play a few games ago, it was tough. I knew that when I got in (Coach Westphal) would let me play and that is the whole thing. I am enjoying playing here and I am enjoying playing for him.”
– Sergio Rodriguez (11/29 postgame)

“They have the Lakers and Dallas (next) and they’re facing the Kings (on Friday),” rookie Omri Casspi said smiling, a day after tallying a career-high 18 points. “They probably thought they were going to come in here and win, and we proved them wrong. So maybe they’re going to win in STAPLES Center, but not in ARCO.”

“We just want to prove everybody wrong, basically. We know we are a good team and we can win games, especially at home. We have to defend our home court. I’m not saying we’re going to win all of them, but if we win most of them and maybe a couple on the road, we can be a .500 team easily, especially with the home crowd, the 6th man, it’s much easier to win.”
- Beno Udrih

Links:
Weekend Dime: Latest NBA Chatter
NBA Power Ranking

Tweet:
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