Tony Battie Quotations

Our bench was great tonight. They really gave us a lift. They picked us up when we needed it and kept the momentum going to the win. It's been a while since we won on the road. This feels great and everyone contributed.

I'd love to be in the thick of a playoff race right now -- and the chances are very slim for us now -- but the mathematical chance is still there. Either way, you use this time to prepare for next season, to find something out about people.

We've shown what this team is capable of doing. We're capable of putting together a string of wins, especially against the top teams in the league.

It hurts to lose, but we had a good run. We would have loved the season to end on a strong note, especially here at home, to keep that winning streak alive. But it just didn't go our way tonight. We played extremely hard, but just didn't get a break.

I thought Dwight really dominated in the first half. They made some good adjustments after halftime and their bench really contributed. It was tough to match their intensity.

Joe Johnson played an excellent game. He scored when they needed him to score. He distributed the ball extremely well and got other guys easy baskets.

I think it takes care of itself. I don't put any extra pressure on myself. I bring what I bring to the game. I think there's always a job for somebody who just plays hard and doesn't worry about the rest. It all depends on how the front office views you. Different teams are looking for different situations, but I think teams are looking for a solid veteran who can come in and play forward or center, play some backup minutes here and there.

At this point, we've got to show some backbone. You don't stop playing because things aren't going your way. As a team, you find out now if it has any character, any heart.

Some guys like to start it out, and they get out of the blocks well. But from a mental standpoint, if I'm coming off the bench, I like to sit down and see what's going on. I can clear up some things when I get out there or try not to do the exact things that someone else has been messing up on.

Through the long duration of the season, there are going to be injuries and lineup changes. If you start, you start. If you come off the bench, you have to be ready. Either way, you have to be ready when your number is called. When I approach it like that, I have no problem.