NBA ACTION

Quotes from last night’s participants.

Grizzlies-Thunder

“We just stayed after it like we’ve done all year-long. It’s not always pretty. Tonight wasn’t pretty, but it was pretty for us because we got the win.” -Lionel Hollins

“We got a long way to go, and we got to keep battling.” -Lionel Hollins

“It’s frustrating, but we can’t hang our heads. We have to keep playing and keep improving. We just have to learn from it. We have to embrace the tough times and get better from it. I believe in my teammates.” -Kevin Durant

Pacers-Knicks

“That’s how we play Pacers basketball,” George said. “We just locked in, and it was just helping one another on the defensive end.”

“They outrebounded us, they won the hustle today, the little things.” -Carmelo Anthony

“We didn’t change much in terms of our physicality. I just thought we were a little bit more precise defensively in terms of our communication and we shored some things up. We didn’t allow them to get some of the things they got in the second game in New York.” -David West

“Our guys usually do what you emphasize. We don’t want to do it at the expense of giving up things up at the rim. But we were able to guard the paint and the 3-point line, and that’s the goal.” -Frank Vogel

Hoops135@hotmail.com

Twitter: @CoachFinamore@Yahoo.com

CERTIFIED CYNICS

When discussing athletes or coaches, you hear it often.

Everyone has one.

Justified or not, its inevitable.

I’m talking about the critics. The ones who are quick to criticize.

Soon as something goes wrong, everyone jumps on the “criticism” bandwagon. I’ve even heard people criticize others when things were going well!

Came across this article from the New York Post on Carmelo Anthony, a player who has been criticized over the years. Mike Woodson, Anthony’s head coach on Melo’s critics.

Me, personally, I really don’t care about what other people think. Those people are not around Carmelo every day. I see Carmelo every day. I know the work the young man has put in as a player.

That’s exactly how you handle critics. Criticism of you, or your players.

More from Woodson on Melo’s commitment.

A lot of those people … making comments that he’s not committed? I think he’s damned committed. He’s been that way since I took over the team. I like everything about him. I think his teammates love him. I think the fans love what he’s brought to the team this year.

Ex-basketball coach John MacLeoud once said, “The most critical are the least knowledgeable.”

Hoops135@hotmail.com

Twitter: @CoachFinamore

BIG APPLE TURNOVER

Turnovers are a coach’s worst enemy. Their biggest peet peeve. Bottom line, it drives most of us crazy. Especially inforced turnvoers.

Mike Woodson, head coach of the NY Knicks on turnovers:

“When we do it like that on the road, it’s pretty good. I looked at the stat sheet and saw only seven turnovers. That’s the name of the game. You can’t turn it over on the road and think you’re going to beat anybody. We took care of the basketball, got good shots, the ball moved freely again tonight and our defense was solid again.”

HOOPS135@HOTMAIL.COM

TWITTER: @CoachFinamore

PT AND THE PLAYER’S EGO

Mike Woodson, head coach of the New York Knicks on playing time and a player’s ego.

“I’m not going to deal with guys with bad egos. If there’s a problem, they got to go. It’s been great so far and will continue to be great because the guys we have are true pros. I don’t owe anybody minutes. I’m trying to win games. It’s all about winning. If he’s a true pro, which he is, it’s no biggie.’’

“The beauty about fielding all these veteran guys, they’ve got to be understanding, coachable and they are, It’s no biggie to Kurt. Kurt’s whole deal is, ‘I’ll be ready when you call me.’ That’s how it’s got to be with everybody. It’s not about getting minutes. It’s about what you do when you get them. He didn’t get them last night, but who knows? He could get them the next game.’’

HOOPS135@HOTMAIL.COM

TWITTER: @CoachFinamore

RASHEED’S RETURN

So Rasheed Wallace is trying to make it back to the NBA?

Wallace is in camp with the New York Knicks.

Seems to have a good relationship with head coach Mike Woodson.

Marc Berman of the NY Post has the details.

“With me being gone for two years, he still had a feeling I could be a positive influence on this team,” Wallace said. “Me personally, yeah, I think I’ll be ready. It’s not up to me. It’s up to coach Woodson. I’ll give everything I have once I start practicing, with conditioning and weightlifting. He knows I’m not a slouch. He knows he’ll get 100-percent from me.”

HOOPS135@HOTMAIL.COM

TWITTER: @CoachFinamore