Postgame quotes: Warriors-Blazers
Official postgame quotes following the Portland Trail Blazers’ 105-89 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Saturday at the Rose Garden.
BLAZERS POST GAME QUOTES
Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010 – Final Score: Portland 105, Golden State 89
COACH NATE McMILLAN
“I thought we got up and played. We got closer to these guys. We did a better job of squaring up and containing and not giving them penetration. Our transition defense was pretty good throughout but half court, we just acted like we couldn’t guard these guys. It was a challenge offensively. We scored 31 in the first, so we knew we could score. We just had to start playing defense. We started doing that – containing and contesting and they started missing some shots.
“We give up 41 in the first and then for the second, third, and fourth, we give up 48. The defense tightened up.”
“Offensively, great job of playing off of Brandon and Miller in the post and getting to the free throw line. Just another solid effort by our guys.”
“…I think early in the year, we were concerned about minutes and rotation and shot attempts and combinations. This team is just playing. They’re playing free and guys, whatever minutes they play with or get, they’re going out and making the most of it. We’re rotating them in and they’re executing down the stretch on both ends of the floor. I think you see a team now that’s free as far as their thinking and how they’re playing. They’ve been able to come up with some big wins.”
“[Martell Webster] was great tonight. I thought he did a nice job of filling in at that 4. We started out big and they jumped on us really quick. We went with Bayless and moved Martell to the 4. He’s been rebounding all season long. I feel like he’s been doing that but tonight, he had a couple big blocks. When he’s knocking down his shot and we have that lineup, that’s a hard team to defend.”
On Roy:
“I thought it was great. This guy has stepped up… What he is doing for this team right now, by example, is MVP type of stuff. You talk about a player who’s most valuable for his team, what he’s doing – not only is he scoring, but he’s trusting his teammates. That’s big when you have young guys like Bayless and Martell. When they’re taking big shots, if they miss he’s telling them to continue to shoot. When the game is on the line, he’s stepping up and making the play.”
On Dante Cunningham
“DC started doing a nice job of rebounding and defending so I stayed with him late in the game against Corey. He did a nice job – I think he came up with a steal, a stop. He was knocking down his shot and got some big rebounds.”
BRANDON ROY
Playing through injuries as a team:
“We’re coming out and giving a lot of effort. We come into games and it seems like every day, it’s another blow but our effort out there on the court is just fun to be a part of. That’s the thing that I’m most proud of – just continue to fight. Whenever you have two guys doing it and a third guy steps up – tonight, I think everybody played well. When you see one guy trying so hard, you want to be a part of it. That’s the thing that I’m most proud of. Dre was out there scrapping and Martell and young guys like DC coming in, he did a great job guarding Corey. I was just happy to be out there and be a part of it. Everybody is fighting for one another.”
