Post-Game Summary: Grizzlies vs. Suns

Iavaroni

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES HEAD COACH MARC IAVARONI

On the loss...
I thought we got off to a decent start. We were able to put some points on the board and established that we could score on them. The problem is that this is one of the best offenses in the league and they have so many weapons; not only on defense, but on both ends of the floor. We needed to continue to score and we got into a bit of a funk in the second quarter with only 15 points. The guys bounced back in the third with some great work from Rudy Gay. They weren’t able to find an answer for him all night. We played very spirited. Even though both teams were shooting in the mid-50’s, our guys were working very hard on the switches, the pick–and-rolls and trying to keep Steve (Nash) in front of us. Every time we got close they came up with a loose ball that turned into a basket.

On the Fourth Quarter run...
They went exclusively to pick-and-rolls. We were trying to find people in the post to help and they were able to make a few cross-court passes. I thought the shot by Steve (Nash) after three pick-and-rolls in a row and resetting by Amare (Stoudemire); Conley’s getting bounced around and he has his hands all over the kid and he hits a three-pointer. I thought that was a huge shot, and it pretty much sealed it.

Mike Conley’s play...
He looks stronger. He’s shooting the ball very confidently. I think he had a 3-for-4 night from three. No disrespect to Steve Nash, but he’s not one of the bigger guards and so Mike looks at that and says, I can do this. The point is that he was aggressive and did well in the paint. He battled toe-to-toe with him on both ends. That’s a great lesson for him and that’s a way he’s going to get better as a rookie. He should take a lot of confidence from tonight.

On Shaquille O’Neal not playing...
I think took him out tonight to save his legs for tomorrow night against Tim Duncan. He’s a heck of a weapon. He certainly gives them a lot more rebounding, shot-blocking and space-eating; and he’s also a great passer. He adds a dimension that gives them an opportunity to go deep in the play-offs.

Gay

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES FORWARD RUDY GAY

On the loss and the Phoenix Suns...
We played pretty well. They are a great team. They have everything ready for the playoffs. They got a lot of shooters for one. They have all the things you need to win a championship.

...
When you trade twos and threes a couple of times, that’s tough to do…trying to make a run. They are a good team. We made our run and they didn’t let it get to them. Then they made one, we didn’t let it get to us.

Conley

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES GUARD MIKE CONLEY

On the loss...
I thought we executed well. We got into our kind of game, up and down. We know they like to play that style. We knew it was going to be a good game offensively. We just had to take advantage of what they gave us.

...
Any great player wants to play against the best. Steve Nash is one I look up to and I want to learn from. Playing against him just makes me a better player.

...
We’re just trying to get wins right now. We’ve gotten better over the year and we’re starting to play our best basketball of the year. We’re improving.

Stoudemire

PHOENIX SUNS CENTER AMARE STOUDEMIRE

On the importance for the playoffs...
It was a game that we definitely wanted to win. We are working against the conference standings right now. We are still improving as a team, and this was a good game for us. It was also an important game.

Nash

PHOENIX SUNS GUARD STEVE NASH

On Mike Miller...
He is a great shooter. He is able to play on the floor and shoot. He is not just a shooter. He can get to the basket. He has actually turned into a really good passer. He is a formidable threat out there in a number of ways.

On the importance of this game for the playoffs...
This would be a big loss if we lost it. We needed to be professional and come out and win.