Ruben Patterson Quotations

We are a little fatigued. It's been a difficult road trip.

Oh, yeah. They love me. I know when I get there, they're going to give me a good round of applause. . . . No matter what happened to me in the past, they greet me. . . . People love me because I play hard.

If we keep playing like we played tonight, we might mess up and get put out in the first round. It's very frustrating right now.

Free throws and rebounding if we hit our free throws and we rebound the ball, then we'll be all right at the end of the game.

Free throws and rebounding - if we hit our free throws and we rebound the ball, then we'll be all right at the end of the game.

Free throws and rebounding -- if we hit our free throws and we rebound the ball, then we'll be all right at the end of the game.

Give the Clippers credit. We're down 0-2, and we're frustrated. But the series is not over. They're a little cocky now, but we're going home.

If it wasn't for Carmelo, we might have lost by 40.

He had a long game last night, and I think he showed he was a little tired in the second half.

Hustle and energy is what we do. I rebound, and that's what Reggie does.

I was disappointed. I had played so well for the team since (being acquired Feb. 23). I was like, 'Why didn't (Karl) play me in the second half?' But the game was going in another direction. I'm not mad.

I think we were all devastated and hurt. It could have been worse. He could not be here today. We went out and played for him. I know he watched the game. It was a good win.

I was just trying to deny him the ball and keep him on the outside.

It felt good. (The fans) kept saying, 'Ruben come back. We need you.' No.

That's the past. People are trying to bring something up from five years, six years ago. I was young. I made a mistake. It's over.

When it's tough like that you've got to crack down on defense. We didn't and they got some easy shots.

We could never get it under 10 points. With those guys shooting the ball like they were, there was no way to get any closer than that.

Those are great memories. I learned a lot. Everybody comes out to see you. It's do or die. You've got to win to continue.

We didn't have all our players. We'll be ready for the playoffs. The regular season is over. It's time to go to work.

Very frustrating. If it wasn't for Carmelo, we probably would have got beaten by 40.

We just kept playing hard. They were fighting to get back in it and Andre and Carmelo hit some big shots down the stretch.

We just kept fighting out there. It was just a total team effort and we just made the plays at the end to get a win.

We just want to have momentum before the playoffs start. We've just got to have everybody here. Kenyon and Marcus, because they dominated us tonight.

Every time he got the ball we doubled him. He was frustrated, and that was a good game plan.

(A) total team effort tonight. We played like a totally different team. Kobe is an awesome player. He makes shots, gets fouls, fun to watch. He may have got 41 but we got the win.

I see the guys playing a lot harder when they see me and Reggie out there banging down on the floor, getting rebounds and doing the things that we do.

It was an ugly win, but we will take it. I think guys had a lot in their heads today with what happened to Julius last night. I know I did. We were all devastated and hurt. But it could have been worse. He could not be here today.

(Anthony) can't do it all by himself each and every night.

That's what we get the big money for. We'll get away from here and win some games. We'll be fine.

That's why he got all those millions -- he just has to be consistent. That's what big-time players do.

Zach was unbelievable. That's why he's got all those millions. He just has to be consistent.

They executed their offense real well. We were in the game into the fourth quarter, but they hit some big shots at the end of the game.

There were a lot of whistles and every foul they were calling. It was tough to get going because they would call stuff.

It was a total team effort and the guys kept fighting. Like the coach said, if you go out there and play defense, we win games.

I told Karl you just gotta let me loose, and if I start acting up you can put me back in my cage.

It really got me motivated when Nate got kicked out. Because we was getting cheated, man. I ain't going to get into it with the refs, they were good to me in the second half, but that kind of got us loose and started us playing well.

It's hard when you try to gout out there and play well every night and your season's just went down a hill from the beginning.

It's hustle and energy. That's what we do.

It was kind of crazy in the first half with all the runs by each team, but we are the type of team that can do what's necessary to come out a establish control. There is a lot of difference between this team and (Portland). We have veterans and guys who compete. It's nice to be here.

Once again, they've been talking a lot of trash in the papers. George told us we've got to go out there and do what we've got to do. We're not worried about what they say.

That might have a little bit to do with it.

I'm just protecting my teammates. I'm just protecting Carmelo. I didn't really say anything. They gave me a technical foul.

It has to be (Kennedy). The fans love him, and everyone appreciates what he's done for the team, so it's got to be him. It can't be nobody else but him.

He's the type of guy who doesn't like to play physical, so I tried to deny him, take the ball out of his hands. He was frustrated. Every time he got the ball we were doubling him. We took him out of his game, so that was a good game plan.

He's the coach, man. I can't say nothing.

He's a (heck) of a player but I just got in him. Like I've said before, if I was a starter, all the All-Stars would have a challenge against me every night.

I appreciate it, but I wish I could have helped us get a win. But defense wins games and we didn't play it.

He also had to guard me. I think that since they played a tough game last night (against Phoenix), fatigue may have set in. But hey, we all got to go through that. It's nice to get the win.