Bernie Bickerstaff Team Quotations

When we come to a decision, we make that move regardless of when it is. Some team could pick Kareem up at a nominal cost and still have the right (to pick up the option on his contract for next season).

We want to build a team that has ability to sustain itself, not just an ability to win a few more games right away. We've studied all the expansion teams. We're working under the idea that it's a marathon, not a sprint.

He had to really work for it tonight. He didn't really get anything in bundles. He had to really work for it, but being the consummate team player that he is, he was looking for his teammates.

What you saw was a team that was fighting for their life in terms of the playoff situation. We didn't match their intensity on defense. We weren't stopping anybody on the other end. They were penetrating and getting easy shots.

I think all the credit needs to go to New Jersey tonight. They're playing well, that's 14 in a row. They're a team that if they play like this, they're going to be very dangerous in the playoffs.

We've hit the wall as a team. Our guys have played a lot of minutes and were having mental lapses, and the common things we just didn't get done. It was an indication of a basketball team that has hit the wall. We were giving it up on the defensive end and we were really lacking.

We are excited that Matt chose to return to Charlotte and continue to build upon last year's start, ... Matt added several dimensions to our team with his long-range shooting, toughness, strong work ethic, rebounding and ability to get to the free throw line.

The balance was really good. They shared the basketball and that is what you really have to do against Utah because they play really good team defense. I thought down the stretch our patience was really good. We didn't panic.

It was just a really good team effort and a very significant game.

This is a great opportunity for him to play for a team that is vying for a championship. We didn't want to stand in his way, and we appreciate the professionalism and commitment he gave to our franchise last season.