Postgame Quotes-vs. Charlotte

KingKong

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http://www.nba.com/kings/news/Postgame_Quotesvs_Charlotte-125095-58.html

Postgame Quotes-vs. Charlotte

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Kings Coach Rick Adelman
“It was really a different game because of the people they had out and they went small so much of the game. We have been watching them on tape and they play hard, they compete. I think the first half we got a lot of looks that wouldn’t be missed but Darius came in and did a great job. When they went small he was able to stay in front of people and Peja got it going. Overall we were glad to get this win before we go on the trip.”

Regarding Greg Ostertag:
“I didn’t know the other guy wasn’t going to play either. With Brezek, I didn’t know he was going to play. We were going to start Darius if he was going to start because Darius matched up better with him and when they went with the two big guys it was just a better match up because I knew as soon as they substituted they were going to go small and I wanted to use Darius in that regard. I felt it was much better to play Greg early against their two big guys because I knew they were going to go small with the people they had out.”


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Peja Stojakovic
On Songaila:
“He’s been playing great lately. He’s been doing everything – rebounding, scoring, passing the ball. Darius really stepped up tonight, he was excellent. Greg did a good job. It was a good game for us. Charlotte never gave up, they are a young team and they kept fighting. I don’t know how many games they lost, but they are an up and coming team and they play hard.”

“I just tried to be aggressive, coming off the screens and getting open looks. I was able to a make them in the third quarter. And I think it was our defense, we did a pretty good job on defensive boards and it got ourselves in a good position on the offensive end. We really moved the ball, and executed.”


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Darius Songaila
“Chris got a chance to rest, and at the same time, it gave everyone else a chance to be on the floor a little bit more.”

On the Bobcats playing small ball:
“Well you have to make it an advantage. Everyone good team takes advantages of the mismatches and that’s what we tried to do today.”

“In the first half we struggled with it [the pick and roll], but in the second half, we made some adjustments and I think we did a better job.”


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Greg Ostertag
"I was excited. I think Darius was supposed to start. When something like that happens, you just have to be ready to go. I was excited and pumped to get the start and get into the game, and just do the things I’m supposed to do.”



CHARLOTTE BOBCATS

Bernie Bickerstaff
“That was the best we could do in that situation, we ended up playing really small ball and there was just no bodies. You’re playing against a quality basketball team so we just move on.”

“We tried to keep it close and then I think when it came out in the second half, it got up to 10 and 12 and we knew we were in trouble. But the guys again, even with that, they never surrendered and just kept playing, kept fighting, kept playing. You know they kept their starters in there for a long time…till two minutes.”

Omeka Okafor
"At times I was tired, but I put it behind my brain and kept going.”

Struggles on the road:
“It just comes with the territory. We just go out there and try to battle, try to win games, it’s not always going to be easy so I don’t know – we’re trying.”

“My shots were short, that last free throw had nothing on it.”

Steve Smith
“You know we’re young and we’re an expansion team, but we’ve been in games, but not this one. We were short handed and we didn’t have but nine guys. We put up a good fight, but other than that, every other road game we’ve been playing pretty good; double overtime, another overtime game, we lost two or three of them by two points at the buzzer, so we’re playing hard.”

“We have to keep doing what we do. We play hard as an expansion team and nobody is dropping there heads. We’ve been in every game, but not this one. We just have to get one to see how it feels. After that, the young fellas can learn how to win. Once (they) get the taste, it might change.”
 
The Inside Dish vs Bobcats

http://www.nba.com/kings/news/The_Inside_Dishvs_Charlotte-125098-58.html

The Inside Dish
by Devin Blankenship--December 7, 2004
Kings vs. Bobcats

Old vs. New…
Despite the fact that the Kings were running away with Tuesday’s game, the third quarter was really a blast to watch. Two great shooters were going at it, mano e mano, matching each other shot for shot every time down the floor.

In some ways it was old versus new, the future versus the present—it was Peja Stojakovic versus Steve Smith.

Smith has been one of the best shooters in the NBA for some time, capable of getting on a hot streak at any time. He has been playing a lot this season for the injury-plagued Bobcats and he definitely got it going after halftime, scoring 10 points in the third quarter on a variety of jumpers with people in his face.

Unfortunately for Smith he was overshadowed by Stojakovic, who scored 16 points in the quarter on an even more impressive set of baskets. Peja was bombing from all over, and was aggressive taking it to the basket as well. It was just two guys going at it, and it was fun to watch.

Greg & Darius…
With the expansion Bobcats in town and the team about to hit the road for three games against plus .500 teams while riding a five-game winning streak, Tuesday turned out to be the perfect time to rest Chris Webber.

There should be no reason to be overly concerned with the move—it was probably more preventative than anything. It also gave Greg Ostertag and Darius Songaila a chance to get more minutes than usual, and they responded well.

“Chris got a chance to rest, and at the same time, it gave everyone else a chance to be on the floor a little bit more,” said Darius afterwards.

Locker Room Love…
It was nice to see Gerald Wallace in the Kings locker room after the game, sharing hugs with his old teammates and laughing with everyone.

Wallace has a great sense of humor and was a big part of the Kings’ great locker room chemistry over the past few seasons. He missed Tuesday’s game due to a concussion he suffered last week in practice, but he looked sharp sitting on the Bobcats bench, a fact not missed by Bobby Jackson after the game.

With the media crowded around Jackson’s locker as the two reminisced, Jackson looked at Wallace’s nice dress clothes and yelled, “He used to only dress like this for a funeral.”

Wallace was probably one of the leading throwback jersey wearers when he was on the Kings, next to Jackson of course, so it was a bit odd to see him in anything other than an old football jersey.

Random Thoughts...

It looked like the Kings were surprised a bit when the Bobcats went small in the first half. Steve Smith was guarding the much bigger Darius Songaila at times, but the Kings were unable to take advantage. Songaila was much more aggressive in the second half though, and made Charlotte pay when it guarded him small.
If Emeka Okafor ever finds a jump shot, he will be deadly.
The soft spot on the Kings schedule now ends. Sacramento’s road gets tougher this month and should present a tough run for the team.

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Peja Stojakovic

Peja scored a season-high 30 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, picking up the slack for a missing Chris Webber


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“We tried to keep it close and then I think when it came out in the second half, it got up to 10 and 12 and we knew we were in trouble.”

-Bernie Bickerstaff


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Peja’s jumper to start the second half got the Kings off to the right start, sparking the Kings on a 8-0 run to take control of the game.


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Rebounds: Sacramento 53, Charlotte 45
 
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Thanks, KingKong! Enjoyed the game and enjoyed reading the quotes and inside dish as well... esp that bit about Bobby and GWallace. :)
 
Will there be one interview when Pedja will not say "I was just trying to be more aggressive" ?
 
fishgirl said:
Thanks, KingKong! Enjoyed the game and enjoyed reading the quotes and inside dish as well... esp that bit about Bobby and GWallace. :)

No problem, just a bit of "Ctrl C & Ctrl V" really. :)
 
sloter said:
Will there be one interview when Pedja will not say "I was just trying to be more aggressive" ?
but he's actually getting better.
he can continue to say that and keep getting better for all i care.
 
sloter said:
Will there be one interview when Pedja will not say "I was just trying to be more aggressive" ?
Maybe not -- its always a good motto for him. But tonight he actually meant it and played like it.
 
Bricklayer said:
Maybe not -- its always a good motto for him. But tonight he actually meant it and played like it.
I agree. I mean, I don't really mind if it can maybe help his mental approach to each game and maybe play with that kind of aggression on a more consistent level.
 
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