Paul Pierce Good Quotations

This is a poor defensive team. This is not a very good team. They have very good talent, but not a very good team.

I really got into a groove in the second half. Guys were getting the ball to me. It felt good to me. You know, it would have felt a lot better if we would have been on the other side, but it was just a great game to be a part.

I think we're finally coming into our own on the road. Hopefully we can make this a good road trip and get the next one.

It takes a while to learn about everyone's tendencies. You have to learn where guys like to get the ball. Today was good for that. It will be even better next week when we have three days off.

I think Marcus is like a lot of guys in the league. He needs the minutes to get comfortable with the system and the coach, and Marcus never really got that with us. He never was really comfortable in Doc (Rivers') system the whole time, but I think he has the ability to be a good player in this league. He's a lock-down defender and he has a nice touch from the outside. I put him in the same mode as a (Warriors guard) Derek Fisher.

We were very fortunate. Obviously, there are a lot of things we have to work on. I thought we played good defense.

A lot of guys are growing up before our eyes - like Gomes and West. This team is in a good groove. It's about being responsible for your role and being aggressive.

I just don't think we showed a sense of urgency we need down the stretch. That's what good teams do.

That was the difference in the game. They gave the starters a cushion at the start of the fourth quarter. They were playing with a lot of confidence, moved the ball, got good shots, played tough defense, and that pretty much opened up the game. So the starters got back in and put it away.

I just knew I wanted the ball to take the last shot regardless, whether they double-teamed or triple-teamed. I got a good look once I jumped up and rose above the crowd, and I knocked down the shot.

We wanted to finish the year off right. We know we've been so close, and for us to get a win like this feels good - especially finishing 2005 off with a win. But we've won back-to-back games once this year, so I don't think we're going to get too high. I mean, we're still trying to build some consistency as a team. Hopefully, we got the monkey off our back.