Brian Hill Quotations | Page 3

Home wins are huge, no doubt about it. We got excellent contributions from everybody at some point in the game and I was obviously pleased with our defense at the end. Phoenix is a tough team to defend.

If he's open and in rhythm, and he's got a good look at the basket, he's got to take it.

I can say it was a relief to get this win. It was one that was sorely needed coming off the road trip that we just had.

I don't see significant changes. Perhaps the following year, when we're under the salary cap, it might be different. But I think our core group of players is here right now.

He's not a physical type of player right now. But we just feel, given the opportunity to play and show what he can do, we will try to develop him into the type of player we feel can help our team.

He's (Nelson) playing with a lot of confidence. He's playing really well, shooting the ball well, attacking the basket and finding other people on the floor.

I don't mean to be insensitive, but you worry about the guys you have, not the guys you don't have. I'm concerned about the guys we have returning and the new additions and trying to put the pieces together so we make the best use of their abilities.

He can communicate with all different people, whether you're a Harvard graduate or whether you were brought up in the inner city. He's honest and straightforward and can relate to kids. That's what kids want today, to be honest and straightforward.

He plays every night aggressively on the board. With all of the growing that he's going through and being expected to be a factor offensively and an anchor defensively, to still chase down all the rebounds he does is impressive.

He picked up some fouls . . . but that is where he belongs, out there. He worked hard tonight and did a good job.

You can't spot a team a 20-point lead and expect to win. I'm disappointed in our performance and I'm embarrassed and I hope our players are because they should be.

You can't play one half of basketball and expect to win. You can't spot a team a 20-point lead. I'm going to have to decide whether we want to play the same people. The team we put out there tonight didn't want to play. If they don't want to play, we have to put someone else out there that does.

These guys are playing unselfishly, they're sharing he ball, and if there's an open guy, he gets the ball.

All I say is we're still alive. You just have to take them as they come.

The idea is there's not a whole lot of places to ride. He wants to race, so we're going to try to make a place to race. I'm not planning on making a penny off the track. As long as I break even, I'll be happy.

You've got to find guys in transition. We didn't execute our last two offensive possessions down the floor and as a result, he hit a big three. All of our guys competed their hearts out. We should have won the game in regulation.

The Detroit thing is such an aberration. It's easy to say they have no starting All-Stars, but they have four All-Star caliber players. Those remaining seven guys that are voted in by the coaches -- I think that means more, quite honestly.

All the guys were really, really excited. That was a great win over an excellent basketball team. That we did it after playing the night before (against Toronto) made it even more impressive.