- Joined
- Oct 5, 2008
- Messages
- 127,016
- Likes
- 147,624
- Points
- 115
HEAD COACH TERRY STOTTS
“It was certainly good to get a win. I was really pleased with our defense in the first and third quarters particularly. I liked the attitude that we came out with. I was disappointed that we kind of got into exchanging baskets there a little bit in the second quarter, but offensively it was a really good game. 29 assists is pretty impressive. We did a lot of good things.”
When was the last time you had a half like first half offensively?
“I don’t know, you tell me. The offense was really good. Then CJ got it going in the third quarter. I think he had 15 in the third quarter, so there were a lot of good things offensively obviously.”
You mentioned the attitude you played with in 1st and third, how would you describe that?
“Kind of determined. Just the task of playing better defense. I just thought their mindset was they knew how important it was that we made strides defensively. It seemed like that’s where their minds were at.”
What have you liked from Harkless offensively lately?
“Well, a little bit of everything. Obviously he’s shooting the three well, he’s taking the ball to the basket, he gets offensive rebounds. He’s an opportunistic player. I don’t run a lot of plays for him, he just finds his way and finds opportunities for himself.”
Is this the type of performance you expect from this team?
“I don’t know, I mean I don’t want to go overboard on this game because I think after two days of practice, it was good to come out and shoot like that and have a first quarter. It’s not a sigh of relief right now, we still have work to do. Our challenge is to be a consistent team and that’s been our challenge from the beginning.”
Pacers force a lot of turnovers but just 7 tonight, did you do anything to get ready for their defense?
“No, I thought we made really good decisions. You could see in the fourth quarter when they made a little run that they got into us a little bit more and to have four turnovers in the first half and three in the second was a big part of it. That was our biggest concern probably coming into a game where their steals and the turnovers that they force – we took very good care of the ball.”
MASON PLUMLEE
How would you describe the defense?
“Better. Better, still working obviously. I thought initially, our first quarter defense was good and then you know, we just have to continue to get better possession by possession and game by game.”
On offense tonight:
“When our defense was good enough to force turnovers or get long rebounds, we really got out and ran and just had a good flow to the offense. I think anytime you get layups, it helps everybody’s confidence, so the offense was free flowing tonight and that felt good.”
On scoring balance:
“I think we should trend toward this. I mean, the game looked easier for the guys who score a lot regularly, it looked easier for guys who play off of them, and I thought Evan came in and played great tonight. He just gave us a huge lift and A.C. did as well. So the starters, the bench – it was a collective effort and for us to be a good team, it’s going to have to be that way.”
What did you like in particular about the defense?
“I think we just were solid for the most part. We didn’t gamble. We did what we said we were going to do in shoot around. As long as we do that, I think the other four guys expect you to do that, the staff expects it, then there’s a little trust between the guys on the floor, the bench and all that.”
“It was certainly good to get a win. I was really pleased with our defense in the first and third quarters particularly. I liked the attitude that we came out with. I was disappointed that we kind of got into exchanging baskets there a little bit in the second quarter, but offensively it was a really good game. 29 assists is pretty impressive. We did a lot of good things.”
When was the last time you had a half like first half offensively?
“I don’t know, you tell me. The offense was really good. Then CJ got it going in the third quarter. I think he had 15 in the third quarter, so there were a lot of good things offensively obviously.”
You mentioned the attitude you played with in 1st and third, how would you describe that?
“Kind of determined. Just the task of playing better defense. I just thought their mindset was they knew how important it was that we made strides defensively. It seemed like that’s where their minds were at.”
What have you liked from Harkless offensively lately?
“Well, a little bit of everything. Obviously he’s shooting the three well, he’s taking the ball to the basket, he gets offensive rebounds. He’s an opportunistic player. I don’t run a lot of plays for him, he just finds his way and finds opportunities for himself.”
Is this the type of performance you expect from this team?
“I don’t know, I mean I don’t want to go overboard on this game because I think after two days of practice, it was good to come out and shoot like that and have a first quarter. It’s not a sigh of relief right now, we still have work to do. Our challenge is to be a consistent team and that’s been our challenge from the beginning.”
Pacers force a lot of turnovers but just 7 tonight, did you do anything to get ready for their defense?
“No, I thought we made really good decisions. You could see in the fourth quarter when they made a little run that they got into us a little bit more and to have four turnovers in the first half and three in the second was a big part of it. That was our biggest concern probably coming into a game where their steals and the turnovers that they force – we took very good care of the ball.”
MASON PLUMLEE
How would you describe the defense?
“Better. Better, still working obviously. I thought initially, our first quarter defense was good and then you know, we just have to continue to get better possession by possession and game by game.”
On offense tonight:
“When our defense was good enough to force turnovers or get long rebounds, we really got out and ran and just had a good flow to the offense. I think anytime you get layups, it helps everybody’s confidence, so the offense was free flowing tonight and that felt good.”
On scoring balance:
“I think we should trend toward this. I mean, the game looked easier for the guys who score a lot regularly, it looked easier for guys who play off of them, and I thought Evan came in and played great tonight. He just gave us a huge lift and A.C. did as well. So the starters, the bench – it was a collective effort and for us to be a good team, it’s going to have to be that way.”
What did you like in particular about the defense?
“I think we just were solid for the most part. We didn’t gamble. We did what we said we were going to do in shoot around. As long as we do that, I think the other four guys expect you to do that, the staff expects it, then there’s a little trust between the guys on the floor, the bench and all that.”
