Maurice Cheeks Playing Quotations

One of the reasons why they were not going to play was that while we were in the playoff race Chris (Webber) and Allen (Iverson) were playing with a few injuries and they tried to continue to play. Then, once we fell out of the playoff race - it got a little tougher. Chris (Webber) had a bad back, Allen (Iverson) was playing with numerous injuries and once we were out of the race - there was no reason for them to play.

If they're not playing tonight, they're probably not playing tomorrow.

I don't think Allen is coming. He's not playing tomorrow night and we're still waiting to see how he feels for Sunday. It doesn't look good.

I think the way we were playing with Kevin in the lineup and A.I. in the lineup, I liked the way we were playing. I liked Johnny and Kyle the way they were coming off the bench.

It certainly will give us a boost to get ready for the second half. We needed a boost to get us back feeling good about ourselves and playing against a team like San Antonio, the defending champions, gives you a chance to feel good about yourselves.

We needed this one badly. We knew coming in here we were just playing a team that beat us on our home court.

We have players we haven?t actually seen out on the floor, with the exception of a couple guys playing now, ... But I want to see the players out on the floor. We can always say we want to add this, add that, but to actually see the players out on the floor once they get there, in person so I can see their strengths and weaknesses, I think that?s the best thing to do rather than say, ?Let?s go get this, get that.? Every coach can say that at some point.

Well, there was never a question in my mind about those guys playing (well) together.

When he got hurt in Memphis he was playing at a high level in the first half. We need him. We need him out there. We need his energy and certainly we need the way he?s capable of putting points on the board.

We knew we were coming in here playing a team that had just beaten us on our own home court. I told our guys that until we are mathematically out of this we need to keep up the effort.

When it got to a certain point I think the fatigue factor went out the window, because everyone was playing on adrenaline. I know that Chris was exhausted.

Coming into a building like this, playing a very good basketball team like this, you know if you get up 20 points they're going to make a run. They had a chance at the end. But our attention to detail was big, from the first minute of the game to the last minute.

Us coming off back to backs and playing a team that gets out and runs was going to be a challenge for us. I'm not totally upset about this game. We knew it was going to be a tough game just based on the way they play.

I like the way Kevin has been playing in practice. He gives a lot of pressure and does a lot of things that I like.

Not at all. We just need to play the way we have been playing the last couple of games.

It's been kind of tough for Sam because Steven has been playing well.

I know John had seven turnovers but his effort was there. He is not used to playing as many minutes as he has been playing. This is a test for him to keep playing and this is a test for all of us to find a way to get ourselves out of this.

He throws the long pass. He didn't panic. Those teams and guys like that understand about playing the game and not hurrying.

I don't think I had any doubt about them playing together. The reason you put the ball in their hands is because they make plays.

They just controlling the game and our defense was not that good. Everyone that we had out on the floor was not playing defense. I tried to insert some guys that were going to give us a little energy, give us a little defense and they turned the game around. Those guys that I put in there helped us get back in the game. Everyone that came in the game had a part in the victory.

Allen has been playing some great basketball for us and Chris is playing like he did a few seasons ago. We need to keep picking up wins if we're going to be a playoff team.

They're just fighting to get a second seed. We're trying to get a seed so it means a lot more to us to go out there and play the way we've been playing the last few games.