A big basket was needed. If we don't make it, it would give them the opportunity to tie or cut it to one. I just wanted to be patient and take what I could get.
We want to just roll into the playoffs playing the style of basketball that Coach expects us to play. If we can fly under the radar and get the job done, why not?
Our goal is to attack the basket and put the onus on the referees to make the calls. We weren't hitting our jump shots outside, so we had to be effective some other way.
I was just trying to get to the basket and have the referees make the call,
I was just tying to put the ball in the basket. I just wanted to be patient and take what I could get. Just wanted to go to the basket and avoid him, because he'd already took two charges on me, so I was concentrating on trying to do both things.
I was just trying to take what the defense gave me and mix it up a little bit. If (the defender) was playing up on me, just trying to make him pay and go to the basket and get to the line.
We want to go into the playoffs on a high, playing the style of basketball Coach expects us to play.
We knew how badly they beat us last time so there was some extra motivation to come out and just play a solid basketball game.
They're a young team, ... They play really hard and keep coming. We just wanted to continue to play as hard and just a little longer. We were fortunate to get what we wanted at the end, which was a basket and a win.
We're just consistent right now, playing hard, grinding it out. Whatever kind of basketball needs to be played on any given night, we're playing it.
We had that energy. We had a lead and our bench kept the lead. We didn't have to play catch-up, which is real tough to do. We had a comfortable lead and we were able to play basketball and not overdo it (or) rush.
We consider Miami one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference and we see it as a test each and every time. We felt we could really give them a run.
Teams tend to double off him sometimes and leave him open. He's shooting with confidence. If he plays with aggression, it puts a lot of pressure on some big men. And if he attacks shot blockers it helps us get in the lane a little easier.
The starters came out playing hard and made a statement early. For us, having a lead instead of being on the other end where we had to play catch up was a relief for us.
You always want to come out and put your mark on the game early, if possible, especially a home game. At the same time, we knew how bad they beat us last time, so it was extra motivation for us to come out and play a solid basketball game.
Everybody is different. Everybody has different styles. Just do it the best way you know how.
I wasn't trying to draw any fouls. When you get in a situation like that, you've got to put the ball in the basket. It was an opportunity where the basket was needed and it stretched the lead out. I just wanted to be patient and take what I could get.
It's always fun, it's not like it hurts my feelings or anything, that's just the way it is, ... It's just basketball at its finest. I enjoy it and take it all in stride.