Pat Riley Against Quotations

Shaq is in shape. He's back in 26 games. We've been together 46 games. Enough talk about learning each other and coming together. It's time to put up and play, and play against the best teams in the league, especially at home.

I am totally indifferent to what other people think. There are always going to be people trying to take you apart. But I do know if we are 0-6 against the top teams, there is room for improvement.

He knows exactly how it is (the Bulls defend him). It's not a system; it's five against one.

He knows exactly how it is. It's very simple. It's five against one. We can live with that and we will. He saw enough to be able to create shots for other people.

I was concerned a little bit. We know the NBA when you have a big win on national television. I've seen a half-dozen teams this year have those kinds of wins and the next day get beat by anybody. You just sort of let down. It's natural. We really tried to guard against that.

That was the first time I ever called an open isolation against a 2-3 zone. He's a remarkable player and I'm glad to have him on my team.

We played the game very well offensively. So much better than we did (in Friday's loss) against San Antonio.

We had a lot of shots around the basket that didn't go in. I thought we got frustrated by not getting the calls that we thought we should have got, which leads to complaining to the officials. ... There's got to be a lot more mental toughness against a team like this.

(Wade) was real efficient against Portland. He was 13-for-19 tonight, 11 assists. When they load up on (Heat center Shaquille O'Neal ), it makes the defense guard him or not guard him. He's such a great pick-and-roll player.

We don't have an answer for that team and right now, we don't have a defensive game for it. I think you have to play against them probably four, five, six times to realize exactly what it is that you need to do to try to stop them.

We will get beat tomorrow night if we bring any of the defensive lapses that we had against Seattle.

In some games, he's going to have to do it. When he plays against Detroit, possibly he's going to have to play (guard) Rip (Hamilton) in those big games.

You can't worry about it. You are going to see it. They have got to deal with teams that are committed to shutting them down. You have got to get stronger against it.

You've got to have all your weapons against that team.