Quotations

«It hurt him to miss those games. He felt like he was letting his teammates down. Not everyone in this league is like that.»

«He has become the point guard we needed him to become. He gives us passion. He pushes it up the floor and penetrates. The one thing he has to add to his game is poise. Today, he had poise when they were making their run.»

«We're at a quickness disadvantage, so it makes it look like an effort thing when it truly is a quickness thing. On defense, we do maybe one thing, 1 1/2 things, but we can't help and recover and then guard the ball. They went by us the whole night.»

«Part is schedule. Part is health. Part is good play. I think all three of those things have had an impact on playing a little bit better. But this is a whole different level, this (Suns) team. This is upper-echelon, top-five team.»

«I talked to him about (that) we need to pick up a point guard, and also he had an opportunity out there to go and I think play for Denver. We talked about it. I think he decided it was not something he was interested in doing. We told him we were going to waive him. He decided I think to retire. I hope something works out to where he can stay in the Rockets organization. He's a great guy. Even though we were only together for a little more than a year, I was as fond of him and (Bob) Sura as any two guys I've ever coached. Personally, it hurts a lot that both had injuries that impacted them and us.»

«Even though we have a mediocre record, you don't have to be a mediocre player. It's all dependent on how hard you're willing to work to win and how much you want to put into it. You may not always win, but you can certainly put forth great effort and play with passion and discipline.»

«He's a higher energy and effort player than anyone at his position in the league.»

«That was by far the most passionate that McGrady has played in some time. I thought he was off the charts tonight, just very assertive on offense, vocal, on the board, defensively - I just thought he was great.»

«That sequence (with the three consecutive blocked shots), even though they ended up scoring, and Yao coming to help on Andre Miller ? those things are inspiring. And you can tell by the reaction of everybody, the team, the paying customers, that stuff is inspiring.»

«That was a very disappointing fourth quarter. (The) level of defense, the intensity was not correct, and the shot selection was outside in, versus inside out. That's very disappointing, and we deserve what we got.»