Tuesday, June 14, 2005
LARRY BROWN
Q. What changed tonight from the first two games?
COACH LARRY BROWN: Well, I think we figured out how hard we have to play. You know, their energy has been incredible, and I don't think we realized we were in the Finals against a great team that's unbelievably well coached. I really believe Ben started us off, he gets a dunk and a three point play and a steal and he had five blocks in the first quarter. I think that really gave us a lift.
And then, you know, just before the end of the third quarter we got an unbelievable run, McDyess and Lindsey, and from then on, we just played at an unbelievably high level.
You know, it's one game. Now that game is over. I think our guys have unbelievable respect for them and realize it's going to take our very best to make this a competitive series.
Q. Talk about the job your guys did on Ginobli, holding him to just six or seven field goal attempts.
COACH LARRY BROWN: Well, I don't know if it was holding Ginobli. I think as a whole, you know, we defended great. We got 23 points off turnovers, we did a great job on the boards. You know, I think for the most part, our defense was set a lot better. You know, I think if you noticed in the two ballgames there, they controlled everything. We didn't get to the line very much. We didn't shoot a good enough percentage to keep them out of a running game and, you know, they really spread us out tonight. You know, we got back defensively. We were set a lot better. Then by us having some shots blocking, you know, maybe dribble penetration is not as evident as it was in the other games.
Q. It seemed that there was a stretch there tonight where Chauncey Billups really got his offense going. How important is it to get Chauncey Billups going and to get your team back in this thing?
COACH LARRY BROWN: Well, you know, I think anybody that's watched us all year, we do best when we have pretty good balance and I think obviously, he's a huge part of that.
He plays off of other people, I think, and we were able to get Rip off a little bit, which is pretty tough because Bruce is such an incredible defender. McDyess came in and scored a little bit, which opened things up, I think for Chauncey. Rasheed early, I thought we forgot about him the way we started. But we have balance he has a tendency to get high percentage shots and he's as good a stand still shooter as there is.
Q. You talked about Rip earlier, he maintained his confidence even with Bowen's defense on him, because he was getting good shots. Any difference tonight, simply knocking down shots or did you do something to get him in a rhythm?
COACH LARRY BROWN: Well, I told him that I think the worst thing you can do against Bruce is pump fake and pump fake, I think you have to come off the screen and shoot it or deliver it, because he never gives up. He gets into you with his body. He fights through every screen, and I think Rip is a rhythm kind of shooter. And I think the most important thing we wanted him to understand is to get his shots in that kind of situation.
Then, you know, he got a few off the break, which gave him a little confidence. Early on I thought he was trying a little too hard. But when Chauncey is scoring or other people are scoring, I think it opens it up for him. You know, Pop even put Bruce on Chauncey a little bit. But we can't exist without getting good shots, and most of our good shots come off the screen situations or making the extra pass. We're not a dribble drive or post up team, so to speak like them, and that's where Rip is at his best.
Q. Is this another case of your offensive execution, got 47 percent tonight, helping your defense?
COACH LARRY BROWN: Yeah, I think, you know, since I've been here and I've said this over and over again, we defend better when we have good shot selection, with a chance to get an offense usually if you get good shot selection, you have a chance to get an offensive rebound, you have a chance to get fouled, but certainly a chance to get back and set our defense.
The only chance we have against San Antonio is not allowing them to get numbers on us, so I think that our offensive execution by far was the best tonight. Or maybe it's the best it's been in the playoffs because of the quality of opponent.
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CHAUNCEY BILLUPS
Q. Chauncey, why was it much easier running the offense tonight than it was in San Antonio for you?
CHAUNCEY BILLUPS: Well, I mean, we've said it all year long that our best offense is our defense. I thought we came out very aggressive. Ben Wallace set the tone for us. He won the game. I mean, he really did. He was unbelievable tonight. He set the tone for us and he kept it, he kept it going.
So our defense, when our defense is aggressive, and we're forcing turnovers and we're taking, you know, taking away people's sweet spots, then our offense is going to be a little better.
Q. What was the message pregame that Rasheed, Ben, Lindsey delivered to you guys about this being a must win?
CHAUNCEY BILLUPS: There really wasn't no message. We've just been the same way we've always been in the locker room before the game. We all knew how big this game was, and so we've been in a lot of situations before, we've never been down 0 2, but in a situation like that, you've got a lot of professionals, a lot of veterans, a lot of experience and you know how big this game is, you know what it means and you know the kind of, you know, desperation; you've got to play without fear.
It really wasn't a message. It was really just a silent, a silent message going around, but we all knew how big this game was.
Q. I'm sure you're familiar with McDyess at his peak years, his healthy years. How close do you think he is now to that and what are the things that he did tonight that was reminiscent of those years?
CHAUNCEY BILLUPS: I mean, he's very close. He's very close. I think the biggest thing is athletically, he's probably, you know, right where he used to be. His strength and everything is right where it used to be. I think the best thing for McDyess is that he doesn't have to play those 40 minutes and have to carry a team like he used to all the time. He can come in and do what he's got to do and take that pressure off of his self. That's why he's so good for this team, because we have guys that are great low post players and there's not a lot of pressure on him.
I mean, if you look at the plays that he's making, the play that he made in San Antonio, it was like vertical, windmill dunk in traffic and tip dunks and stuff that he had today, everybody knows he's an unbelievable shooter. So I'm just glad that he's back at this level and he has a chance to play for a championship and be in The Finals. And it's just, I mean, it makes me very proud of him.
Q. Specifically, can you talk about what did Ben did do tonight that he did not or could not do in San Antonio? What made tonight so special for him?
CHAUNCEY BILLUPS: You know, I don't know if it was a home cooked meal or sleeping in his own bed, but his energy level, it was like night and day. It was like night and day. I think those first two games came too quick.
I mean, you've got to understand, this guy has come off of playing seven games of battling Shaq, you know what I mean. Who is going to have some energy, you know, at that point, and the flights that we made and such a quick turnaround to get to San Antonio, I think maybe it wore on him a little bit.
But getting back home, these fans, his energy level is what set the tone for us. First play of the game, he gets a steal, three point play, dunk it, four or five blocks in that first quarter, six, seven rebounds, I mean, that's the Ben Wallace that we all know and love. There's nobody like him in this league. I mean, he's the best at what he does.
Q. Did the fro have anything to do with it?
CHAUNCEY BILLUPS: (Laughing) I don't know, but we'll have to make sure that thing will be out on Thursday, definitely.
Q. Talk about the surge that you had, the main run that you had. You strive on being Mr. Big Shot, the 3 pointer and then the shakedown on Tim.
CHAUNCEY BILLUPS: I've got to pick my spots really when to be aggressive and when not to. That was a point where I wanted to be aggressive and I wanted to be aggressive during that little spurt. I thought our offense kind of got, you know, a little stagnant. So when our offense does get a little stagnant, I a lot of times kind of take it on my shoulders to get us out of those ruts. You know, Tim switched out and the shot clock was going down and I knocked it down. It was a big shot and one on one play in transition, it was a big shot. So it was just, you know, some energy plays. It got some energy in the building and when we get energy in our building, we respond very well most of the time.
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TAYSHAUN PRINCE
Q: You guys where tied at 63 and then your team went on a pretty big run. Can you talk about what happened from then on?
Prince: I don’t really know who was in the game at the time. But when Lindsey (Hunter) and (Antonio) McDyess were in the game everything just clicked. Lindsey started putting pressure up, we got a couple of turnovers, got the crowd in the game, got a couple of dunks and kind of got the crowd in it from that point. But in the fourth, we kept the defense up but it all started with Ben (Wallace) at the start of the game. We got a steal, we got a dunk and started blocking some shot early and obviously when things start with our captain then everybody follows his lead. The energy from our part was great tonight after being down 0-2.
Q: How much of a relief was a win tonight?
Prince: We just knew we had to leave it all on the line. It’s amazing when you’re down in a series how much better you play as far as the energy and the effort. We knew that was what it was going to take to win tonight. Energy and effort plays. That’s what it took them to win the first two games and then they started making shots. So when you do the energy and effort plays then shots fall for you and that was the case tonight.
Q: Can you talk about your work on the offensive boards?
Prince: It’s something they killed us in the first two games but Ben did a great job attacking and McDyess did a great job. When we didn’t get it, we did a good job of keeping some ball alive by tipping them out and things like that. Just attacking, attacking, attacking. That’s something we did great tonight and the defense was great. And whenever our defense is great it carries over to the offensive end.
Q: How big a difference was your defense tonight?
Prince: The difference tonight defensively was like I said, we were down 2-0. When your down 2-0 and you come back home, the energy is going to come from the crowd the atmosphere is going to be great, which it was tonight and we were in a situation where you have to leave it all on the floor. When you’re down 2-0 you really have nothing to lose. You have to go out there and play hard and see what happens after that.
Q: How important is it to have the next two games here at home?
Prince: We just have to keep playing the way we played tonight, bringing that energy. When you’re down 2-0 you can come out and that energy and that effort is going to be there. The difference is that now it’s 2-1 and Game 4 might be the most important game out of this series right now. But we have to take it possession by possession and that’s what we did tonight and hopefully we can do it Thursday.
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BEN WALLACE
Q: You really set the tone tonight in the first quarter with those five blocks. Was that the lift that this team needed?
Wallace: We needed to do something. We had a sellout crowd here waiting to cheer for something. We knew we had to come out early and give them something to cheer for and get them excited, and also get everybody else motivated and ready to play. Once we got the crowd into it, we were able to play off of them.
Q: What did you guys do differently tonight?
Wallace: Well, for the most part, we didn’t overreact every time they tried to penetrate to the basket. We tried to protect the basket.
Q: Now that it’s 2-1, do you guys feel that you’re really back in the series now?
Wallace: I never felt like I was out of the series. In the first two games, we really didn’t show up playing the kind of basketball that we’re accustomed to playing. Tonight, we came out and played a little bit better. I still think we’re a better team than the way we played tonight. We could still go out there and play better basketball.
Q: A lot of people were worried before tonight that something was wrong with you, physically or emotionally. Do you think you proved tonight that there isn’t?
Wallace: There was nothing wrong with me. It was just a matter of me not being aggressive enough. I just wasn’t playing as active as I should be playing. I just went out tonight and played better basketball than I played in those first two games.
Q: Did your wife choose to let the afro fly tonight?
Wallace: Yep. That’s what she said. She said let your hair down and go out there and play some basketball, or else you can’t eat.
Q: It’s good to see you’re talking again.
Wallace: I’m always talking. I’m not always talking about much, but I’m always talking.
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RICHARD HAMILTON
Q. Is the home court such an overriding factor in this series?
RICHARD HAMILTON: I think, you know, the one thing they did is come out and take care of home on their court. You know, I think that tonight, we wanted to do the same thing. We wanted to come out and play good with our fans and play with a lot of energy and things like and get the win.
Q. Rasheed, Ben and I think Lindsey talked to you pregame about how this was a must win. What was their message to you and how was that delivered?
RICHARD HAMILTON: Energy. We have to come out here and help each other out. We have to come out and hit first. We can't come out and allow them to hit us and react to it. We have to be the ones that are aggressive, and I think we did that tonight.
Q. What did you guys do to slow Ginobli down tonight?
RICHARD HAMILTON: Well, I mean, we just tried to pressure him. We just didn't want him to get out front, allow him to dribble, you know, allow him to make plays for his teammates. We wanted to keep the pressure on him, because if we keep the pressure on him it gives guys the opportunities to take charges and guys the opportunity to get in the way.
Q. Ben Wallace was seen by the opening tip to provide a huge spark for you guys and set the tone and gave you the energy in shutting down Duncan and you missed him in San Antonio?
RICHARD HAMILTON: He was great. In the first play, he got a steal and a dunk. He was unbelievable. He showed tonight why he was the Defensive Player of the Year. He showed a lot of energy and blocked shots and definitely played inside for us.
Q. Did you guys feel like you fed off him and what he was doing?
RICHARD HAMILTON: I definitely believe so, right from the beginning, because we didn't allow, you know, them to hit us first. We went out there with the first hit.
Q. How big was the lift you guys got from Antonio and Lindsey off the bench in the second half?
RICHARD HAMILTON: Oh, man, it was great. You know, I think in order for us to be successful, we need a big help from our bench. Them guys came in there with a lot of energy, Lindsey did it defensively and Antonio did it offensively and they did everything possible to put us in a situation where we can get a lead and win a basketball game.
Q. Chauncey Billups, like yourself, seemed to be very offensive minded tonight. How much did you think that your team needed his energy to get your team going tonight?
RICHARD HAMILTON: Like I said, Chauncey is our floor general. We ask him to do so much, sometimes he needs to score, sometimes he needs to get everybody involved and he can definitely go out there and play defense.
Chauncey is great for us, because he picked and chooses when he needed to score, when he needed to slow down and things like that, and that's what great point guards do.
Q. The way you guys played Manu tonight, was that kind of like the way you played Kobe in The Finals last year, Tayshaun playing him and everybody else watching him?
RICHARD HAMILTON: I think the one thing we try to do is pressure him. We can't allow him, just sometimes you know, we think that we want to turn him into a jump shooter and we just keep backing off of him, backing off of him. Tonight we kept the pressure on him. We tried to make plays toward the basket and when he drove to the basket, guys tried to step up and take charges.
Q. Talk about the spurt that Chauncey got on to keep the key the initial spreading of the score for you guys.
RICHARD HAMILTON: Chauncey was great. I love him to death. I would not rather have any backcourt mate than him. He's an aggressive point guard. Like I said, he picks and chooses when he's going to step up and things like that. He hit a couple big baskets, a couple big threes, made our fast break when he scooped it up left hand, that was a great energy play for us and he played great basketball.
Q. Talk about the lift that Ben gave you guys at the beginning of the game, and did you know that he was going to have a big game?
RICHARD HAMILTON: Ben is going to be Ben. You know, I think like I said, he made a statement from the first play, when he got past, got the dunk and really got the crowd into the game.
That's our emotional leader out there. You know, he doesn't say a lot, but he goes out there and plays hard. He gives it his all and he was up there rebounding, like I said, blocking shots, defending. When he got the ball underneath, he dunked in or made a great play, and that's what Ben Wallace does.
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ANTONIO MCDYESS
Q. Antonio, it's hard to tell I guess, but how close are you to what you were physically and if you could just summarize what an ordeal this has been to get back to this point?
ANTONIO MCDYESS: It's hard to tell. You know, I played this season sometimes when my knee was bothering me and sometimes it wasn't. But tonight, I kind of felt like my old self.
But to have this opportunity, just to have the opportunity to play with this team, defending champions, has just been a blessing for me. Stepping out on the court I just want to leave everything out there when I get out there.
Q. Game is tied 63, late third, you guys went on a 21 6 run, what keyed that run for you guys?
ANTONIO MCDYESS: I think defense. Definitely pressing up on guys. I think tonight we did a great job on pick and rolls, not letting Ginobli, Parker get to the basket and we got our hands up to contest shots and I think that was a key for us, getting turnovers and just converting off of them.
Q. After one of your baskets in the fourth quarter you had a big smile on your face. Going back last year when you had to decide where to go, why did you pick Detroit?
ANTONIO MCDYESS: You know, for many reasons. I think one was, you know, Chauncey called me a lot. (Smiling). And to have an opportunity and I had the opportunity to play with Larry in the Olympics and that was a main reason.
When I came to the interview with him them, Joe Dumars was the GM, he said he stayed up late night and watched my last 18 games kind of touched me a little bit because who is going to sit up late nights on the East Coast and watch the last 18 games? He and Chauncey were telling me about how the team was, how close they were and I just trusted them and felt like it was the best place to go.
Q. Talk about the last two games where it seems as though the confidence has just been there.
ANTONIO MCDYESS: First of all, I come off the bench, for either Rasheed or Ben, they play with so much intensity that I just want to go out there and play with the same intensity they played with. When I step out on the court, I just want to do all I can, to do everything I can. So far, it's just been a real relaxing confidence when I get out, in the last two games, actually, with my shot and I just want to go out there and make a difference when I step on the court.
Q. How close were you to quitting after your third knee surgery? And two, how did you mentally get it in your head that you had to change your game and not be the dominating, physical player you used to be?
ANTONIO MCDYESS: Well, actually, it's pretty tough for me, especially like the third surgery. I thought my agent had told them, you know, tell Phoenix to cut me, after I got traded from New York. Mentally, it was a mental breakdown for me. I was talking to a lot of people former players and recent players that, you know, really talked to me and kind of told me to stay at it and work hard. I kind of got it in my mind that I was going to work hard at it.
So when I got on the court, it was definitely frustrating because I wasn't able to do the things that I normally do, you know, jump over people, use my quickness. You know, my game adjusted, just trying to step out on the floor and work on things like that. I think that's kind of pretty much helped me, so I just kept at it.
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