Shane Battier Team Quotations

He's not the biggest guy in the world, but he does have a fearless streak in him. He has that quickness about him around the basket, where he can finish well, and he's probably the one guy on our team that can ignite the crowd.

It's not that complicated. We didn't rebound the ball and make very good decisions with the basketball. Now, it's about making basketball plays. Basic basketball plays. The older guys keep telling us it's not the national championship game. It's a series. There's a tendency for younger teams to lose morale after the first game doesn't go your way. We're a pretty positive group and that comes from experience.

The novelty isn't there. We have a team that's been assembled that's expected to compete for a playoff position. That's OK. It makes you have a workman-like attitude, and you go out and win games you're supposed to win. I'm very proud of this season.

It didn't seem like either team wanted to take control of the game. We made a few shots and got a few stops in the second quarter, and that was the key for us.

This was probably the toughest game of the year. We're proud of ourselves. We could have packed it in when they made a run and just said 'we're going to lose this one.' But good teams don't make excuses. They find ways, and we want to keep this thing rolling.

We played a team (Tuesday) that really wasn't sharp in their execution, and if we can do that against the playoff teams, then we'll be a lot more excited.

Brad is an excellent choice, he can shoot it, pass it and defend on the perimeter. I think if we've learned anything it's that teams that have had success (in the Olympics) have done it with team play. I like that we are picking a team that can play together.

They have always had one of the most talented teams in the league, and they're starting to put it all together now. You can't turn the ball over 19 times in Arco Arena and give up 20 offensive rebounds and expect to win. We shot the ball well, but made all of the other mental mistakes.

I think we just caught them on a flat night. When you play a team like that, you've got to recognize it, and you've got to kick concentration up just a notch and kick your energy level up a notch and win the game early.

We haven't been a very good team this year when major guys are missing from the other team. They don't keep statistics for that but I know we haven't been very good.

Pau is doing a great job. He's carrying the team and had a huge night.