What They Said!!! Grizzlies at Knicks 02-05-16

POST GAME QUOTES

GRIZZLIES 91, KNICKS 85

 

Grizzlies Head Coach David Joerger

On tonight’s game:

“I thought tonight was good for us, this was a good game to win. We’re excited about this weekend, but I thought our timing was a little off after not having played for four days but we did enough to pull out the W. What made it difficult was, you know, I thought we did a good job defensively getting after them, but you know they had 14 offensive rebounds and it seemed like every loose ball they went and got. They played hard. I have to give them a lot of credit it’s a tough back-to-back, to come in here from Detroit. Without Carmelo (Anthony) they fought and did a great job and our guys we spattered together a whole bunch of different guys at different times. Mike Conley was big down the stretch again just getting us in positions to be successful. We tried to put the ball in Marc’s (Gasol) hands and let him make plays but we got really solid contributions from our whole bench. Mario (Chalmers) was good to he got gone and Jeff (Green) went in and made some energy plays. He got to the rim, attacking it hard to the rim and got a couple loose balls. For us to get beat on the boards and give up 14 offensive rebounds and we only get four, you know it’s supposed to be the other way for us that’s how we’re supposed to be. They got a couple extra possessions there but I mean all in all it was a great win for us.”

 

On the team’s defense:

“Well it was good. They got too many easy looks in the second quarter. They scored six of the first seven possessions in the second quarter. We called time out and got it back together and kind of ran it back at them after a good start. Again, we talked about getting off to a good start and we got off to a good start made a couple shots. Tony Allen led us with scoring seven of our first nine points and we tricked them. They were expected something else from us.”

 

On getting second chances on the boards:

“Porzingis, it doesn’t matter if I sit on your shoulders or not, you know he’s so tall he can see over him.P I thought Zach (Randolph) was good to him on the last one but he’s so tall and he has a great touch he can see anybody coming at him with his size. They played a little more free and loose and I think (Sasha) Vujacic broke out for two that we didn’t close in on and we didn’t get all the way out on him. After that we started harassing him a little bit more. They are willing to put them up, but you know (Jose) Calderon always puts up shots against us. He’s a good player.”

 

Grizzlies Guard Mike Conley

On guarding Kristaps Porzingis:

“We have to make adjustments.  We see how he is playing, how he is shooting, you have to adjust.  You don’t leave his body.  We have played together longer enough to know how to read the situation.”

 

On their defense:

“We have each other’s back, communicating and being there for guys.  Those are things you do not learn overnight.”

 

On his health:

“I am getting better.  I am not all the way 100%.  I am trying to adjust, get into basketball shape, get to the All-Star break and get a little bit of rest.”

 

On being underrated:

“Being underrated define me.  I know how good I am.  My teammates know how good I am.  I go out there and compete.”

 

Knicks Head Coach Derek Fisher

On coming back in the game:

“I thought it took a little bit of energy out of the guys.  We keep forcing ourselves to put that much energy to catch up.”

 

On Arron Afflalo’s last shot: 

“He got a really good look at the basket.  Robin (Lopez) sprinted down the middle.  Arron made a great move, got a great look at the basket and it went in and out.  We could have called a timeout but it is really hard to score against a set defense.  They could make substitutions.  It was as good as a look as we were going to get.”

 

On rebounding: 

“Rebounding is one or two in top priorities.  I thought we did a good job.”

 

On Jose Calderon: 

“I think guys feed off each other.  It is not easy to miss games and come back in.  The first game is not their best game.  Tonight he came out and gave us a chance to win the game.”

 

Knicks Guard Jose Calderon

On tonight’s game:

“It is a little bit (frustrating).  We were competing until the end.  It is tough.  It is a little bit of everything.  We are trying to make this push.  We competed and everyone did something positive for us.”

 

On his play:

“I was coming back from the injury.  I wanted to try myself.  I went up and down.  Without Melo (Carmelo Anthony) everyone had to be more aggressive.  I felt really good and I was trying to make plays for my teammates.”

 

More on his play:

“I think the way we were playing pick-and-roll on the sides there wasn’t any recovery so I was able to turn the corner, find my teammates or get layups.  Sometimes shots go in and sometimes you feel more comfortable out there.”

 

On the start of the game:

“We missed the first couple and they made the first couple.  It is about making sure to drive and get an easier shot…or stop their drives.  We kept fighting and we came back quick.”

 

 

Knicks Guard Arron Afflalo

On tonight’s game:

“I had some tough luck on some open shots.  Defensively we did okay outside of a few stretches.  For us to win we have to have a complete game.”

 

On his shot at the end of regulation: 

“I don’t know if we draw up a play, at the end of the day, we get a better shot.  I missed it.  It is not the first time that has happened.  I thought it was in but it is unfortunate that we were in that situation and we had to rely on that shot.”

 

On the start of the game:

“It is so hard to guarantee the way you are going to perform in the first few minutes of the game.  Unfortunately we have been on the wrong side of that.  We do know we can make some changes.  Whatever it is, we have to continue to fight throughout the game and have better shots.”

 

Knicks Center Kristaps Porzingis

On tonight’s game:

“We gave it all we had.  We were playing as a team.  We were giving 100% throughout the game.  At the end we wanted to make it a push.”

 

On playing in the fourth quarter:

“I have to be smart and not get those early fouls.  That is something I have to think about.  Not getting those early fouls, later on in the game, you can be more aggressive.  They will turn the ball over when there is more pressure.”

 

More on playing in the fourth quarter:

“It really doesn’t matter because we still lost.  I want to make sure I helped the team this team and not be on the bench.  The energy was there and I was giving everything I had…it was still frustrating.”