Pat Riley Men Quotations

We're a winning team. Right now, that's all we are. And for us to get to another level, then there's going to have to be a tremendous amount of improvement in the overall commitment to a greater effort for 48 minutes.

The argument is they know what they're supposed to do. At least they tell you, 'We know what we're supposed to do.' So you back off a little bit on the real big muscle work that could cause them injury.

I would highly recommend you keep criticizing him heavily. It might help a little bit.

I don't think I ever had any enjoyment in the playoffs until you won.

There are only two options regarding commitment; you’re either in or you’re out.

I would recommend the NBA show it to all of its young players. These Texas Western guys paved the way, and a lot of these guys don't even know it.

I think they've turned the corner. They've acquired a tremendous amount of talent.

I think they've turned the corner. They've accumulated a tremendous amount of talent. Ever since (Thomas) has come here, the talent level has gone through the roof. That's all I know.

We've got a couple of good games with this lineup. But what this lineup has yet to really prove to me is they haven't brought a whole lot of energy at the beginning of the game. I think that's a mental thing more than anything else.

That was obviously another one of those games. They (Boston Celtics) played extremely well. They were focused and they had a tremendous approach to the game. They executed in the first quarter flawlessly. They did not feel our defense and they did not feel our presence. We were waiting for them to miss and they just didn't.

That's two games in a row that we showed, at a time when we need to show it, a real lockdown mentality defensively. It's not surprising to me if they're committed on doing it. They've done it off and on. Not consistent. It's when the mood strikes them.

He might get 100. If you can get 81 . . . absolutely. He has the mentality to do that and conditioning. He's one of the best conditioned athletes in the world.

We played at a real high level again. Tremendous amount of energy, spirit and ball movement, but we didn't finish. That disturbs me and it should disturb our players after working so hard and playing so well.

They (Boston Celtics) played extremely well in the first half. They were focused and they had a tremendous approach to the game.

Our guys had tremendous energy to start the game. I hate to say it: Then the game got stopped -- whistle after whistle after whistle.

Half of the guys were asking, 'What is this about? This is just about a hoop game, right?' I said, 'No, no it's not. You'll find out. It's a lot more than that. I would recommend the NBA show it to all of its young players. These Texas Western guys paved the way, and a lot of these guys don't even know it.

We had a lot of shots around the basket that didn't go in. I thought we got frustrated by not getting the calls that we thought we should have got, which leads to complaining to the officials. ... There's got to be a lot more mental toughness against a team like this.

I also believe Odom would complement Eddie Jones and Brian Grant, our two veteran leaders. As I have said before, we are committed to winning and will do whatever it takes to give our fans talented players and a great team.

He was at the rim all night. He has tremendous athleticism, strength, force and instincts.

We have been able to secure one of the most dominant men to ever play the game of basketball as a member of the Heat, ... At the same time, we have gained the flexibility to achieve our ultimate goal of winning an NBA championship.

We thought we were going to win. We can play with anyone when we're really in it and focused mentally on what we have to take away from a team like that.