Pregame Quotes: Magic-Knicks
Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic Head Coach Stan Van Gundy
On what the last four games mean...
"In order to move up to the second spot we would have to win out and then hope we get a little bit of help. We would need them to lose two out of their last four. It’s not easy but their schedule is tough. We’ll have to see that situation as it goes. But I don’t think that there’s any question that for us to get there we’d have to win all four. So there’s certainly got to be a sense of urgency going into tonight."
On what improvements he’d like to see over the last four games…
"We haven’t played the game real well at the offensive end of the floor since the Cleveland game. I’d like to see us get back to being a little crisper on the offensive end."
On Knicks big man David Lee…
"Lee scores on their pick-and-rolls. He’s not a guy who is going to get it in the post and score on Dwight. He’s a really good pick-and-roll finisher; rolls hard to the basket. When I watch them on film, I’m watching them to get ready to play them and I’m also watching them trying to learn from Mike D’Antoni’s pick-and-roll offense. Because both in Phoenix and even in New York, they execute the pick-and-rolls in terms of their spacing and their passing better than anyone in the league. David Lee is the beneficiary of that. Their guards are making good plays. I think we can learn a lot from that."
Patrick Ewing
On Dwight Howard leading the league in both blocks and rebounds...
"It’s definitely hard to do. I am not sure who the people are who have done it before, but Dwight is an extraordinary young man. He has the athleticism and also the physical size to accomplish it. I think if he puts his mind to it, he can do anything he wants to on this court."
On the development of Marcin Gortat...
"Marcin has done an outstanding job. Last year was his first year in the league. He’s been putting in a lot of hours with Brendan Malone. He’s done a fantastic job. He’s always ready, always eager to learn. He’s one of the first ones here to get into the weight room, to get shot ups and to do whatever it takes to get better."
Dwight Howard
On how much better this team can get before the playoffs ...
"We can get a lot better. There’s a lot of stuff we need to work on. I think the biggest thing is being consistent on the defensive end and starting the game with more energy. We have four games to do it."
On what makes David Lee so effective in the pick-and-roll...
"They have some great passers and they spread the floor just like we do. And he rolls extremely hard. He’s also on a good offensive-minded team. And their coach is one of the best offensive gurus in the world. It’s a tough team to guard."
Anthony Johnson
On playing tonight...
"Everything is good to go. Last night when I was watching TV it was pretty blurry. But when I closed one eye and looked out the bad eye, I could see everything pretty good on the screen. So I passed my own individual test and I’m ready to play."
On what this team can do to get better over the last four games...
"Just playing with a full 48 minutes of energy. We need to play with great intensity and come playoff time any kind of slippage in those 48 minutes can cost you a ballgame. So in these next four games we need to work on playing a full 48 with good offensive energy, good defensive energy and great intensity."
On Knicks guard Nate Robinson...
"He plays with great energy. He’s one of those guys that is athletic and he’s looking to put the ball in the basket every time he touches it. That’s one of the things they count on him for. He has the ultimate green light. I think in a couple of games he’s averaging 18, 19, 20 shots against us. Whenever you have a green light like that your confidence grows with every made basket. So we are going to have our hands full."
Marcin Gortat
On how David Lee notches so many double-doubles...
"He’s really skilled. He’s got great timing for rebounds and anticipating all kinds of shots. He’s also got a little bit of luck. He’s always in the place where the ball is going to come. He puts a lot of energy and his whole heart into the game so I believe he has a big future in the NBA. I have known him for over three years. We know each other and we talk to each other before the games. I’m always impressed with the way he plays."
Rafer Alston
On how to maintain a playoff mentality over the last four games...
"It really tests your love for the game. I know that much. Because if you definitely love playing this game every day, you’re going to have a lot of energy and you’re going to want to go out there and do the job. And we still have some things at stake."
Orlando Magic Head Coach Stan Van Gundy
On what the last four games mean...
"In order to move up to the second spot we would have to win out and then hope we get a little bit of help. We would need them to lose two out of their last four. It’s not easy but their schedule is tough. We’ll have to see that situation as it goes. But I don’t think that there’s any question that for us to get there we’d have to win all four. So there’s certainly got to be a sense of urgency going into tonight."
On what improvements he’d like to see over the last four games…
"We haven’t played the game real well at the offensive end of the floor since the Cleveland game. I’d like to see us get back to being a little crisper on the offensive end."
On Knicks big man David Lee…
"Lee scores on their pick-and-rolls. He’s not a guy who is going to get it in the post and score on Dwight. He’s a really good pick-and-roll finisher; rolls hard to the basket. When I watch them on film, I’m watching them to get ready to play them and I’m also watching them trying to learn from Mike D’Antoni’s pick-and-roll offense. Because both in Phoenix and even in New York, they execute the pick-and-rolls in terms of their spacing and their passing better than anyone in the league. David Lee is the beneficiary of that. Their guards are making good plays. I think we can learn a lot from that."
Patrick Ewing
On Dwight Howard leading the league in both blocks and rebounds...
"It’s definitely hard to do. I am not sure who the people are who have done it before, but Dwight is an extraordinary young man. He has the athleticism and also the physical size to accomplish it. I think if he puts his mind to it, he can do anything he wants to on this court."
On the development of Marcin Gortat...
"Marcin has done an outstanding job. Last year was his first year in the league. He’s been putting in a lot of hours with Brendan Malone. He’s done a fantastic job. He’s always ready, always eager to learn. He’s one of the first ones here to get into the weight room, to get shot ups and to do whatever it takes to get better."
Dwight Howard
On how much better this team can get before the playoffs ...
"We can get a lot better. There’s a lot of stuff we need to work on. I think the biggest thing is being consistent on the defensive end and starting the game with more energy. We have four games to do it."
On what makes David Lee so effective in the pick-and-roll...
"They have some great passers and they spread the floor just like we do. And he rolls extremely hard. He’s also on a good offensive-minded team. And their coach is one of the best offensive gurus in the world. It’s a tough team to guard."
Anthony Johnson
On playing tonight...
"Everything is good to go. Last night when I was watching TV it was pretty blurry. But when I closed one eye and looked out the bad eye, I could see everything pretty good on the screen. So I passed my own individual test and I’m ready to play."
On what this team can do to get better over the last four games...
"Just playing with a full 48 minutes of energy. We need to play with great intensity and come playoff time any kind of slippage in those 48 minutes can cost you a ballgame. So in these next four games we need to work on playing a full 48 with good offensive energy, good defensive energy and great intensity."
On Knicks guard Nate Robinson...
"He plays with great energy. He’s one of those guys that is athletic and he’s looking to put the ball in the basket every time he touches it. That’s one of the things they count on him for. He has the ultimate green light. I think in a couple of games he’s averaging 18, 19, 20 shots against us. Whenever you have a green light like that your confidence grows with every made basket. So we are going to have our hands full."
Marcin Gortat
On how David Lee notches so many double-doubles...
"He’s really skilled. He’s got great timing for rebounds and anticipating all kinds of shots. He’s also got a little bit of luck. He’s always in the place where the ball is going to come. He puts a lot of energy and his whole heart into the game so I believe he has a big future in the NBA. I have known him for over three years. We know each other and we talk to each other before the games. I’m always impressed with the way he plays."
Rafer Alston
On how to maintain a playoff mentality over the last four games...
"It really tests your love for the game. I know that much. Because if you definitely love playing this game every day, you’re going to have a lot of energy and you’re going to want to go out there and do the job. And we still have some things at stake."
