Dwane Casey Playing Quotations

One thing that hurt us tonight was our transition defense. They were playing a small lineup and we didn't recognize that they were coming down and looking for the 3-point line. If you're not ready to get back in transition, it's going to be a long night. We saw the best of Phoenix tonight.

Nobody should be happy with the way we're playing right now, from Mr. Taylor all the way on down to our video guy.

Kevin and Wally are playing at an All-Star level. I hope everyone is taking notice that they are playing solid basketball at both ends of the floor.

He's doing a very good job of playing under control. He's got his passion back.

Justin has grown by leaps and bounds. Playing with his type of energy is an NBA skill. I've had players like that before (in Seattle) ? Reggie Evans, Ruben Patterson. In those guys' careers, they've always been underestimated as far as what they bring to the table.

I think a lot of it is we've got to get another third guy. Luckily, the other night against Seattle we had a third scorer (Eddie Griffin, 24 points). Right now, Kevin and Wally are playing at an all-star level, and we just need another person to step up. I'm not discriminating who it is; anybody can step up and get their minutes.

We're coaching to win first. Development will come along with that. I'm trying to create an environment of professionalism, working hard, playing hard.

We didn't do a good job of matching up in transition. They were playing a small lineup. We didn't recognize quickly enough, because they were coming down and not looking to run a play but looking for the three-point line. If you're not ready to get back in transition, it's going to be a long night.

We always hold out hope. Mathematically we're still in it. Every time we walk out on the floor, we're playing for something and we're playing for improvement.

We always want to have hope. Mathematically, we're still alive, so we're still playing for something.

Rashad came in at the end and turned it up. He got to the free-throw line, made some hard cuts without the ball. We all know he can shoot it, but him playing without the ball is another focus.

Fifty points in the paint - that's unforgivable. You're not really playing very much defense.

As long as he is playing at that level, he is our starting center.

I've explained to him to get in there and push the ball and defend and do what he's supposed to do when he's starting. The key is getting that opportunity, because Marcus is playing so well right now.

I'm trying to create an environment of professionalism, working hard and playing hard.

That is unforgivable. Giving up 50 points in the paint means you're not playing much defense. That's what was most disappointing. If you get 100 points, that's enough to win. Tonight everyone was a culprit. They exploited all of us.

That is unforgivable. If you give 50 points in the paint to a team, you are not playing very much defense and that is the most disappointing thing of all.

It's who's playing the best basketball, at both ends of the floor.

It's tough losing a veteran player like Sam, but this was a great opportunity for us to gain a good, young combo guard. Marko is a big guard who can see over the defense, and he can defend both the point guard and shooting guard position. We feel we've really upgraded our defense and our team with the addition of Marko. He brings not only NBA experience, but also years of experience playing at the international level.

Eddie Griffin had a great game. He did an excellent job of protecting the paint and playing big.

We got out playing the way we wanted to play basketball in the first quarter. In the second quarter, we hit a road block. We stopped being aggressive and started settling for jump shots. We only got to the free-throw line nine times. That tells me that we weren't being aggressive.

I can see a difference in him. In training camp, it was like he was a little lost. Now, he's playing with confidence and like he belongs.