Postgame Quotes-at Indiana 12/11

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http://www.nba.com/kings/news/Postgame_Quotesat_Indiana_12-125535-58.html
Postgame Quotes-at Indiana 12/11

Kings Coach Rick Adelman
“It’s a win. It was quite a battle. We knew they would play with a lot of energy. Brad made four big free throws down the stretch. (On turnovers) We were terrible. There were hardly any forced. You don’t have to make the home run play. I think it was a lack of concentration. We were lucky to win down the stretch. Any win on the road is a good win, even a team that is in trouble with suspensions, I’ll take the win. (On Peja Stojakovic) He just got so sore. I really don’t know what he did. He just couldn’t go. It looked like they hit knees. (On arguing with officials) Tonight I was arguing with them. They called one pick and that was it. It was being called a lot. A game like this is frustrating, going back and forth. The moving picks frustrated me the most. (On players arguing) Tonight they were arguing a lot. You just have to let it go. Tonight we played offensive like we did last night. These are two good games to check the film on.”

Chris Webber
“Definitely it was a nice win. But I will say one thing right now, we respect the hell out of the Indiana Pacers. For them to be depleted the way they are and to be playing with that group of guys the way they are says a lot about what this organization is about. I was nervous, really nervous going into tonight’s game. Not only with all the guys they have suspended; but also the ones that are hurt like Pollard and Bender. I wouldn’t want to play them when Jermaine gets back. (On sluggish play) You know you’ve got to give the Pacers credit for that. I don’t want to blame a lot of it on us because a lot of it was them. They made us take quick shots and we played a little selfish at times; but we as a team have to play on a more consistent level in order to be as good as we can be.”

Mike Bibby
“(On the game) You take the good with the bad sometimes. I would have rather gotten the win in regulation; but we were able to get some defensive stops when we needed it in overtime and pull out the victory. (On how they are playing) Every game is important. We are trying to position ourselves for the playoffs so it’s important to try and get every game, regardless of who is out there. We made them take some tough shots in overtime and we got a lot of loose balls. Preparing for them (Indiana) is the same as any other team. Regardless of who they’ve got, you have to prepare the same way.”



INDIANA PACERS

Coach Rick Carlisle:
“That was a tough loss. There isn’t much to say. Our guys put out what they had. The effort was great. We have to keep playing at that level and we’ll win our share of games. I’m disappointed for these guys that their efforts aren’t being rewarded with wins. The three point shot is a part of our game; but we don’t want to live or die with it. If you get them within the context of our offense you’ve got to take it. Usually we make more than 12.5%. (On Jeff Foster) This is tough for Jeff. He’s in the process of getting in shape. He’s demonstrated these three games that his energy is great. He gave just a fantastic effort.”

Pacers’ David Harrison
“We finally got a few things right tonight. Last time (against Sacramento) we got blown out. Tonight we took them to overtime. Our team put forth a great effort tonight. It’s frustrating to lose; but you have to keep your head up and keep playing. Every game is a big game to me. We just have to go out and keep playing the game.”

Fred Jones
“We didn’t get away with the win tonight; but we must continue to scratch, claw, bite and play with a sense of urgency to stop the streak. As far as Jeff Foster is concerned, he had a great game tonight, although it will not be recognized too much because we didn’t win. We must continue to collect our thoughts and get the necessary win.”

Austin Croshere
“Shooting, there is no explanation as to why we are missing three pointers. It could be because of the lack of our post game which does not allow us to kick the ball back out and give our guys good open looks. Tonight we were so close and could have very well won this game. We thought from start to finish that we could win; but we didn’t. A loss is a loss and we’ve got to shake this.”

 

[LMM]

http://www.nba.com/kings/news/The_Inside_Dishat_Indiana-125534-58.html

by Devin Blankenship--December 11, 2004
Kings @ Indiana

Ugly…
Saturday was one of those games the Kings seem to play a couple of times a year that just really makes you want to pull your hair out as a fan.

They were out of sync and sloppy all night long against an undermanned Indiana Pacers team that really shouldn’t have been in the game. Sacramento looked tentative and was slow to box out, making Jeff Foster look like the second coming of Dennis Rodman. And at times they looked like they were playing together for the first time ever, unsure of where what their teammates might do away from the ball.

I’m sure there were more than a few Kings fans screaming at their TV’s, “HOLD ON TO THE FRIGGEN BALL!”

The whole thing was ugly—the Kings, the Pacers, and the referees.

Even the Kings final possession in regulation was bad—a turnover on a pass by Mike Bibby with when he should have shot the ball. Now how often do you see Mike Bibby pass up a wide-open shot with the game on the line?

The bottom line is that Sacramento won and it goes in the win column just like the most beautiful of blowouts, but it’s not something anyone is going to brag about.

Big Non-Loss…
Did I mention how big of a loss that would have been if the Pacers had pulled it out? Wow.

Credit…
You really have to give Rick Carlisle and his coaching staff a lot of credit.

Indiana is without its top three scorers in Jermaine O’Neal, Ron Artest, and Stephen Jackson, while its starting point guard, Jamaal Tinsley, is out with a sprained ankle. Yet the Pacers keep playing hard night in and night out with what is basically their second unit.

They scrap and they hustle and they play hard. Guys like Fred Jones, Jeff Foster and Croshere are trying to keep the Pacers in the hunt until the reinforcements arrive later this season.

If Indiana is able to make the playoffs and do some damage, Carlisle should be a consideration for coach of the year.

Random Thoughts...

**I’m still waiting for that moon shot Mike Bibby threw up in the fourth quarter to come down. That thing went straight up like a rocket and came down about five seconds later, nothing but net.

**On the injury front, Peja Stojakovic took a tough spill with under a minute to go in overtime and did not play the rest of the way. It was initially diagnosed as a bruised muscle above his right knee, but he will be evaluated further. Just when things couldn’t get worse for Indiana, Austin Croshere sprained his ankle late in the game. Even though he did play the rest of the game, he appeared to be in pain a lot of the time.

**If that was the Reggie Miller of at least five years ago, the Kings probably go home with a loss. Miller had a lot of good looks coming off screens late in the game that he missed.

 

[LMM]

TOP PERFORMER

Brad Miller

Chris Webber played his heart out and was probably the reason the Kings won, but Brad Miller’s four free throws at the end were huge.

“But I will say one thing right now, we respect the hell out of the Indiana Pacers. For them to be depleted the way they are and to be playing with that group of guys the way they are says a lot about what this organization is about. I was nervous, really nervous going into tonight’s game.”
-Chris Webber

Got to go with Mike Bibby’s fastbreak layup off a steal that gave the Kings an 89-87 lead with two minutes to go in overtime.

Assists: Sacramento 28, Indiana 14 </B>