Dwane Casey Both Quotations

We both were without our star players. We struggled the first quarter and they struggled the fourth quarter.

With Mark Blount at the high post, I don't think teams can double- and triple-team Kevin as much. I think Mark Blount and Eddie (Griffin, the starter) both will give us that two-headed center at the high post that will keep them from sagging off on Kevin.

Kevin and Wally are playing at an All-Star level. I hope everyone is taking notice that they are playing solid basketball at both ends of the floor.

I thought we had a quality, quality game tonight. Guys played to win down the stretch ? except execution and closing out games, on both ends of the floor.

Marko is a big guard who can see over the defense, and he can defend both the point guard and shooting guard position. We feel we've really upgraded our defense and our team with the addition of Marko.

We had an opportunity to get in the playoff race, and to come back with a goose egg is very disappointing for me. It should be disappointing for the players, and it's disappointing to the staff. When you have young guys like that, we make so many mistakes on both ends of the floor, it's hard to recover from that on the road.

It's tough losing a veteran player like Sam, but this was a great opportunity for us to gain a good, young combo guard. Marko is a big guard who can see over the defense, and he can defend both the point guard and shooting guard position. We feel we've really upgraded our defense and our team with the addition of Marko. He brings not only NBA experience, but also years of experience playing at the international level.

It's who's playing the best basketball, at both ends of the floor.