“I told the team in the locker room after the Boston game, that people kind of wrote the season off when we made all of the trades right before the All-Star break. I think it was a credit to them how they approached the game. A lot of guys helped themselves and helped their careers. This was one of the better basketball experiences I've had, as far as a group of players competing and playing hard. They had an underdog kind of label, and they just kept competing hard. As far as coaching, I’d like to be playing Saturday (in the playoffs), but you have to be proud of the way this team played the last couple of months.”
(On coaching next year): “In the NBA, head coaches are evaluated at the end of the season. I’m sure my job will be evaluated at the end, but throughout all of this the new ownership group has been very supportive of me and my staff. Billy Knight has been very supportive of me and my staff. So at the end of the season, we will sit down and talk about what direction we want the franchise to go in. I think this is a terrific time for the Atlanta Hawks. There is going to be a lot of energy and different things happening to the roster. I’m looking forward to being a part of the future.”
(On roster changes): “With the trades that we made and the number of players coming in and out on ten-day contracts, it was an unusual year with a lot of good and some not so good. On the whole, every NBA season has its challenges, but I think that everybody dealt with it and made the best of it.”
Stephen Jackson:(On looking forward): "I’m just happy to be blessed and make it through another season. I had a great season this year. It was a rough season too, with the guys we had were in and out. I’m really proud of the team we finished the season with because we were really undermanned. A lot of guys didn’t know if they were going to be here in the future. First off, I just want to say congratulations to my teammates; they did a great job and way to stay professional." "I took advantage of a lot of things. Coach Stotts and the coaching staff gave me the opportunity to show that I can do a lot of things out there on the court. I enjoyed it. We didn’t make the playoffs. It was definitely frustrating for me losing all these games this year, but it was something I needed to help me be more professional and learn how to deal with adversity – a lot of ups and downs. I take a lot of positive things from it and I had a lot of fun. I appreciate everything the Hawks did for me this year."
(On watching the playoffs): "I’m a basketball fan. This is all I can do, play basketball – besides Xbox. I’m going to Saturday’s game in San Antonio. I got tickets from Tim [Duncan], so I’m going to check that out. I’ve got to check out Stephon [Marbury] against New Jersey. I’m going to go check out a lot of playoff games, but it’s going to be hard not being there after last year. Being involved in the experience is more than being able to tell it. You’ve got to be able go through the ups and downs. Win game one, lose game one, and be able to win game six in the other team’s arena. It’s a lot of ups and downs. I’m definitely going to miss it, but hopefully I can get back there next year."
(On where he’ll be next year): "Hopefully here. I definitely want to be back in Atlanta. I think this is definitely a place where I can make a name for myself as a player, and help this organization get back to where it wants to be. I definitely want to be a part of it when it turns around because it’s just a player or two away from turning it around. Now you’ve got a great new ownership group coming in. I got a chance to meet those people recently. We were at Mr. [Steve] Belkin’s house in Boston (two nights ago). We had a great time there. It’s kind of exciting. It makes me think a lot because I came here expecting to make the playoffs. There were a lot of trades and with the team we had a lot of people had expectations for us, but it happens. But I wouldn’t mind coming back and giving it another shot because I know it can be done. The East is wide open, anything can happen. I would love to be back and hopefully we’ll get it done this summer."
Chris Crawford:“This season we went through a lot of changes, and I’m sure that next season there will be a lot more. I don’t think anyone knows what to expect, just try and be positive. Hopefully, we can work harder towards next year.” (On head coach Terry Stotts): “I think he’s done a good job this year. We went through a lot of changes, and still played pretty well at the end of the year. I think he should definitely be back. Right now I’m just going to consider him as our coach for next year.”
“Once we knew we were out of the playoffs, all we could do as professionals is go out there and play hard every night. You have to put yourself in a position to win, and I think we did that in every game. I’m proud of the way we finished out the year. The way we’ve been playing the last couple of months, I wish that the season could go on, but unfortunately it ended. We just have to look forward to a positive offseason.”
Jason Collier:(On his opportunity after joining the team): "It provided me a lot of opportunity to come out and help myself. I think in a way I did help myself being out there and playing and getting some time. When you’re in Fayetteville, North Carolina, in the middle of the season in the NBDL and you don’t know what’s going to happen – I’d have never guessed coming back to my second home, in Atlanta. It was unbelievable." (On his hopes for the summer): "My hopes right now are to go out and have a productive summer and get myself into the best shape I can possibly get myself into to get myself going back into the league. And hopefully stick somewhere. If it’s in Atlanta, it’s in Atlanta, if it’s not, it’s not. I’m from here and I’d love to be here. I live here during the summer and it was a thrill to come back here and play, not only for myself but my family, too."
(On the future of the Hawks): "I think the guys they had on the team since I’ve been here, have been really good guys, good teammates. We’ve had fun playing and I think that’s the most important thing, to have a good group of guys to play with and are excited about coming to work every day. I was excited, not only about the opportunity to come into work, but with the team. I was excited to come in and see the players and the coaches."
(On the team not quitting): "It’s a testament to the guys. Like I said before, coming in and being happy to be a part of the team. It’s hard to describe. Most guys with 20 games left, I’ve been here for 20 games, and knowing you’re not going to make the playoffs or your down and possibly not going to make the playoffs, a lot of teams just come in and fold. This team never folded. I think if we went out and played tomorrow, we wouldn’t fold. That’s a testament to the guys and a testament to the coaches."
No comments:
Post a Comment