LeBRON JAMES

“All I’ve done for my entire career is represent the NBA the right way. Fourteen years, never got in trouble. Respected the game. Print that.”

THE MENTAL SIDE

Gregg Popovich after the Spurs lost to the Mavericks:

“Too many mental errors defensively. I thought we did a really poor job discipline-wise. . Too many weak-side errors defensively where they got to the rim too easily. You know, we scored points. I know we got 100 points, 101 points, that’s fine, but the mental mistakes were really costly.” 

EXPECTATIONS

Tom Brady on his coach, Bill Belichick:

“He has high expectations for us, and if we are not meeting those expectations, then he is going to let you know. He doesn’t let things slide by because you have been here for 10 years, or because you have been to two Pro Bowls. He doesn’t care about that … that will never change with him.”

DEFENSE

From Earl Watson:

“The thing about defense is there’s no perfect technique. It’s all on intensity, passion, toughness and a lot of heart.”

EFFORT AND ENERGY

Frank Vogel on Bismack Biyombo:

“I thought his effort was what we have come to expect from him. He was really just trying to impact the game every way he could. His communication was great, and he made solid plays on the offensive end. He gave us a spark. We don’t need him to go out and go 7 for 9 every game, but we want him to be very, very active on the offensive glass, creating extra possessions for us, and to make extra passes when he catches the ball in traffic. I thought he did all those things well.”

QUIN SNYDER

Following Utah’s victory over Detroit.

“We didn’t shoot the ball well in the first quarter. But I think the guys still played offense the right way when the shots weren’t going down. That’s our challenge, to continue to play the right way. We have to do that when we’re not making shots.

JOAKIM NOAH

“I feel like I can still do better. I feel like there’s another level that I want to get to and have to keep pushing and getting better.”

JAMES HARDEN

Following his 11th triple-double of the season:

“As long as I play the right way and be unselfish and we win games, all that is going to come. I don’t think about it too much. If it happens, it happens and the most important thing is winning and it’s been a total turnaround from last year to this year … so (win) and great things will come.”

PLAY HARD

“When you play hard it gives you a good chance to stay on the floor and do good things for your team.” -Scott Brooks

It’s your responsibility to play as hard as you can. Whether it’s practice or a game. Every possession. Every drill. Both ends of the floor. Give it all you have. Nothing else is accepted.

PTRW #6

“I LIVED, BREATHED, ATE, SLEPT, DREAMED DRANK AND PRAYED BASKETBALL.”

-Pete Maravich