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http://www.nba.com/kings/news/Postgame_Quotesvs_LA_Lakers-138276-58.html
Postgame Quotes-vs. LA Lakers
Kings Coach Rick Adelman
“I thought it was a real solid game for us. The way they were playing small, we really wanted to concentrate on going to the boards against them. Moving the ball, moving people we thought we could attack the boards and we did that. The 24 offensive rebounds was key. Kenny (Thomas) obviously really played terrific the whole game. It was a solid, solid game. Our bench came in, in the second quarter, and played well and in third quarter we came out and we got a surge. We talk about trying to be consistent as we go down these last stretch of games here before the playoffs.”
“We talked about that in the first time-out. They had a time-out and we were up twelve to three and they came out and scored like eleven straight points. The same thing with the time-out in the start of the third quarter I think we got seventeen. I said that’s the same thing we did in the first quarter, we came out of the time-out and they just came roaring at us. That has been our tendency to relax and not stay with the same effort all the time. I really felt that if we concentrated offensively and really made them guard us they would have a hard time playing us. I think that held up, but our energy level at the other end has to be there.”
“Well, that’s because we have had a lot of first halves that are awful. Our guys realize they have to come out in the third quarter and play, but this teams tendencies on the road lately is not to come out very well. At home, even with Minnesota we had great effort the first half, we couldn’t make a shot but what I am trying to find out now is to get a consistency on both ends of the court and I am trying to play people. I told Kevin (Martin) he was going to play these last games and I was going to play Greg (Ostertag) whenever I can because we have to get these guys on the floor too. When you get to the playoffs you have to know who you have and who can help you in case someone gets hurt.
Mike Bibby:
“We need this win – you know, we’re still trying to get to 50 wins. We rebounded good today, we played good help defense, shared the ball, and had fun at the same time. We played good – we played good throughout the whole game. We had a good third quarter.”
“They were missing shots, we were making them. That’s how it goes sometimes. It was just an all-around good game – rebounds, runs, and steals – just an all-around good game.”
Peja Stojakovic:
“We started good and then kind of relaxed at the end of the first quarter. We all played good, the bench played good, especially Darius. It was just a great win.”
“I wouldn’t say that, just because it (the rivalry between the Lakers and the Kings) is in the past. We are a different team; they have a bunch of different guys. It was important for us before the game but because they are out of the playoff picture I don’t know about them.”
Kenny Thomas:
“The opportunity to come back and play against the Lakers on national TV, and play well, is always great. I’m going to come out and play hard like that every night.”
“I was going to play, I was fine, especially having a day off. I just felt real good; I was real aggressive going to the boards and stuff. I was getting points off going to the penalty and going to the free throw line.”
“That was crazy. 62 to thirty-something? I don’t think I’ve ever seen that before. They’re pretty small, so me, Brian, and Darius were just trying to rebound the ball.”
LA Lakers
Coach Frank Hamblen:
“The 62-32 rebounding difference kind of says it all. I thought the Kings played very well. We didn’t.”
“They just whipped us really badly on the boards. They’re going somewhere (the playoffs) and we aren’t. It’s not an excuse but it happens that way a lot. The other night we played terrific.”
“We play them (the Kings) one more time and we’ve just got to file this one away and how badly we were beat up on the boards. We need to come out much more aggressively the next time we play them, however, we do have a game tomorrow night against Phoenix and we certainly can’t play like this in our building against the Phoenix Suns who were beat last game and they’re ‘jocking’ for position for best record.”
On missing Lamar Odom and Chris Mihm:
“They’re our two leading rebounders. That certainly doesn’t help. But we talked before the game about ‘gang’ rebounding – that means all five guys rebounding and guards getting in there around the free throw line helping us rebound. We just didn’t get the job done.”
On the new Kings team:
“They look sensational today. They’re playing very well. I think Mobley was a great addition – another shooter. And the other guys are effort players. Brian Skinner has always been a good player in this league, effort-wise. They’re playing very well. They’re certainly missing Chris Webber who’s a double-double guy. I can’t talk about why they did it, those are decisions they had to make.”
Center Vlade Divac:
“I’m happy to be in this building again. Personally (this time rather than last time), felt much better. Right now I’m very confident with my back. The first time when I was back here I was questioning whether I could move around. We’re just trying to finish this season strong. Tonight was a bad game. They killed us on the boards and they played very well.”
On whether the standing ovation was emotional:
“Always. When I walk into this building it’s always going to be emotional for me. I had a lot of good years. I played my best basketball in front of those fans.”
Guard Kobe Bryant:
On whether the Lakers-Kings rivalry is still there:
“No, it’s completely different now. Now you have Kenny Thomas and Brian Skinner out there playing. The only one(s) that are there from the rivalry days are Mike Bibby and Peja. You’re talking about (Doug) Christie, Chris (Webber), and Vlade plays for us now. It’s not much of a rivalry.”
“Games that we struggle defensively are games that we don’t give ourselves a chance to win. Games that we play well defensively are games that we have an opportunity to win.”
“That’s our goal. We’re trying to improve and get better any game.”
On whether the team would have been different with a healthy Vlade Divac all season:
“It would have made it a lot easier for everybody. His basketball IQ is at such a high level. His understanding, feel for the game, and his passing. It just opens the floor for everybody. I love playing with him. A couple of practices ago I switched myself to the second unit just to play with him. It’s fun playing with him.”
Postgame Quotes-vs. LA Lakers
Kings Coach Rick Adelman
“I thought it was a real solid game for us. The way they were playing small, we really wanted to concentrate on going to the boards against them. Moving the ball, moving people we thought we could attack the boards and we did that. The 24 offensive rebounds was key. Kenny (Thomas) obviously really played terrific the whole game. It was a solid, solid game. Our bench came in, in the second quarter, and played well and in third quarter we came out and we got a surge. We talk about trying to be consistent as we go down these last stretch of games here before the playoffs.”
“We talked about that in the first time-out. They had a time-out and we were up twelve to three and they came out and scored like eleven straight points. The same thing with the time-out in the start of the third quarter I think we got seventeen. I said that’s the same thing we did in the first quarter, we came out of the time-out and they just came roaring at us. That has been our tendency to relax and not stay with the same effort all the time. I really felt that if we concentrated offensively and really made them guard us they would have a hard time playing us. I think that held up, but our energy level at the other end has to be there.”
“Well, that’s because we have had a lot of first halves that are awful. Our guys realize they have to come out in the third quarter and play, but this teams tendencies on the road lately is not to come out very well. At home, even with Minnesota we had great effort the first half, we couldn’t make a shot but what I am trying to find out now is to get a consistency on both ends of the court and I am trying to play people. I told Kevin (Martin) he was going to play these last games and I was going to play Greg (Ostertag) whenever I can because we have to get these guys on the floor too. When you get to the playoffs you have to know who you have and who can help you in case someone gets hurt.
“We need this win – you know, we’re still trying to get to 50 wins. We rebounded good today, we played good help defense, shared the ball, and had fun at the same time. We played good – we played good throughout the whole game. We had a good third quarter.”
“They were missing shots, we were making them. That’s how it goes sometimes. It was just an all-around good game – rebounds, runs, and steals – just an all-around good game.”
“We started good and then kind of relaxed at the end of the first quarter. We all played good, the bench played good, especially Darius. It was just a great win.”
“I wouldn’t say that, just because it (the rivalry between the Lakers and the Kings) is in the past. We are a different team; they have a bunch of different guys. It was important for us before the game but because they are out of the playoff picture I don’t know about them.”
“The opportunity to come back and play against the Lakers on national TV, and play well, is always great. I’m going to come out and play hard like that every night.”
“I was going to play, I was fine, especially having a day off. I just felt real good; I was real aggressive going to the boards and stuff. I was getting points off going to the penalty and going to the free throw line.”
“That was crazy. 62 to thirty-something? I don’t think I’ve ever seen that before. They’re pretty small, so me, Brian, and Darius were just trying to rebound the ball.”
LA Lakers
Coach Frank Hamblen:
“The 62-32 rebounding difference kind of says it all. I thought the Kings played very well. We didn’t.”
“They just whipped us really badly on the boards. They’re going somewhere (the playoffs) and we aren’t. It’s not an excuse but it happens that way a lot. The other night we played terrific.”
“We play them (the Kings) one more time and we’ve just got to file this one away and how badly we were beat up on the boards. We need to come out much more aggressively the next time we play them, however, we do have a game tomorrow night against Phoenix and we certainly can’t play like this in our building against the Phoenix Suns who were beat last game and they’re ‘jocking’ for position for best record.”
On missing Lamar Odom and Chris Mihm:
“They’re our two leading rebounders. That certainly doesn’t help. But we talked before the game about ‘gang’ rebounding – that means all five guys rebounding and guards getting in there around the free throw line helping us rebound. We just didn’t get the job done.”
On the new Kings team:
“They look sensational today. They’re playing very well. I think Mobley was a great addition – another shooter. And the other guys are effort players. Brian Skinner has always been a good player in this league, effort-wise. They’re playing very well. They’re certainly missing Chris Webber who’s a double-double guy. I can’t talk about why they did it, those are decisions they had to make.”
Center Vlade Divac:
“I’m happy to be in this building again. Personally (this time rather than last time), felt much better. Right now I’m very confident with my back. The first time when I was back here I was questioning whether I could move around. We’re just trying to finish this season strong. Tonight was a bad game. They killed us on the boards and they played very well.”
On whether the standing ovation was emotional:
“Always. When I walk into this building it’s always going to be emotional for me. I had a lot of good years. I played my best basketball in front of those fans.”
Guard Kobe Bryant:
On whether the Lakers-Kings rivalry is still there:
“No, it’s completely different now. Now you have Kenny Thomas and Brian Skinner out there playing. The only one(s) that are there from the rivalry days are Mike Bibby and Peja. You’re talking about (Doug) Christie, Chris (Webber), and Vlade plays for us now. It’s not much of a rivalry.”
“Games that we struggle defensively are games that we don’t give ourselves a chance to win. Games that we play well defensively are games that we have an opportunity to win.”
“That’s our goal. We’re trying to improve and get better any game.”
On whether the team would have been different with a healthy Vlade Divac all season:
“It would have made it a lot easier for everybody. His basketball IQ is at such a high level. His understanding, feel for the game, and his passing. It just opens the floor for everybody. I love playing with him. A couple of practices ago I switched myself to the second unit just to play with him. It’s fun playing with him.”
