What They Said!!! Grizzlies at Spurs 11-21-2015

Grizzlies Head Coach David Joerger:

On the loss…

“We didn’t play with enough force at both ends of the floor. Three different times we shot a floater, we had a turnover, and missed the lay up. Difference in the game. Too much Manu Ginobili. Too much Tony Parker. Discrepancy in 3s. We made that three with under a minute left to go in the game but for us we turned the basketball over too many times, especially on the second back-to-back. You have to get what you’re trying to get offensively and right now we are a little scattered. This isn’t how we play. Running Marc [Gasol] into the ground. He probably should have sat out tonight to be honest, on a consecutive back-to-back. It’s a tough deal, and it’s difficult to even practice. We could be better, not turn the basketball over. But if we are going to struggle as much as we have been this season, offensively, we can’t take possessions off defensively, and they had too many times where it was just a straight line, walk in, shoot, lay up. That was the first half. Second half, I thought we played with a lot more force. We played a lot harder. We won both quarters. Great players make great plays. And he hits a big shot at the end. Steps back. [Tim] Duncan did what he does. It’s tough.”

 

Grizzlies Center Marc Gasol:

On the Spurs pulling away in the second quarter…

“This is a team you can’t beat with one action. Sometimes when we have an advantage on a drive or a pick-and-roll, we’re not making the next pass or the next play for the next guy. We took tough shots. That’s what they forced us to do.”

On if the team played too fast…

“I don’t think so. I think we took tougher shots than we should have. Instead of moving the ball and passing, we fell into some traps. The paint seems like it’s open, but you’re falling into right what they want, which is taking a tougher shot over two defenders.”

On the Spurs hitting big shots…

“I didn’t expect [Tim Duncan] to hit some of those bank shots. Tony [Parker] especially, was very effective in the first half. I made sure he wasn’t going around me, but he was able to get the ball to Timmy [Duncan] and he made two big plays. The next man up has to help him out.”

On the Grizzlies winning close games…

“We usually win games like this, but we tried taking way too many tough shots.”

 

Grizzlies Guard Courtney Lee:

On tonight’s loss…

“We couldn’t get over the hump. We’d come down and get a good look on the offensive end, but on the defensive end we couldn’t get stops at the right time. Kawhi [Leonard] hit a big shot, Kyle Anderson hit some big shots and Tim Duncan hit some big shots down the stretch. We can do everything we’re supposed to on one end, but if it doesn’t match up with the other end, it’s going to be tough.”

On the team’s different line-up combinations…

“We all know the offense and the defensive schemes, so it shouldn’t matter who’s out there. It all comes down to executing and getting it done.”

 

 

Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich:

On David West this season…

“I am really pleased. He’s doing a good job of trying to figure out the system. He shoots the ball well, passes, he is a good player. He’s been in the league a long time.”

On how Kyle Anderson fits in with the starters…

“Very well. He did a good job. He’s a young player who has got a good basketball mind, and he did good work.”

On turnovers in the third quarter being a sign of a team trying to figure itself out…

“No it was a sign of a team playing poorly.”

 

Spurs Forward Kawhi Leonard:

On the fourth quarter…

“They played pretty good in the fourth quarter. They brought the lead back to single digits. We just kept fighting on the defensive end and we made some good plays down the stretch.”
On Kyle Anderson’s performance…

“He did a good job. He came in played aggressive, played good defense, boxed out well. And he knocked down some big shots. ”

On Tony Parker…

“Whether he’s getting into the paint or taking shots, the defense focuses on him. He just opens stuff up for everybody and he makes the game easier for us.”

On Manu Ginobili…

“He’s a forager on that second unit. He’s playing well coming off pick-and-rolls. He played great defense tonight as well, getting in the passing lanes. He leads that second unit, so he’s very good for us.”

Spurs Forward David West:

On starting tonight…

“It wasn’t a big difference. Just getting a little bit more familiar with the packages, play calls. Just tried to step in and fill a role.”

On if Spurs are playing poorly…

“As long as we are winning. We are not sharp. I think we can be sharper. We are able to pick up wins, so we’ll take it. But we can sharpen up a little bit. We’re still growing, guys are still getting comfortable. We are not shooting the ball great, which we know will come. Just got to keep giving consistent effort on defense.”

On looking comfortable with the starting unit…

“I’ve always believed in that next man up sort of deal. Just keep yourself ready and prepared. This team is a great bunch of guys, guys who have been here for a while. So it’s not that hard when you get out there. Guys communicate and make sure you are in the right spot. Just got to get out there and do your job.”

On the second half…

“They upped their pressure and got a little bit more aggressive. We didn’t handle it well in moments. But we made enough plays to come out with a win.”