Alonzo Mourning Quotes on Night (3 Quotes)

I think we got to play with a sense of urgency every night for the simple fact that, I think, teams are gunning for us every night, ... People know that, 'Hey, this is the team that is expected to win it all. This is the team with Shaq and D-Wade and all these guys - G.P. and Antoine and myself - all these big names. This is the team to beat.' We're like a measuring stick for a lot of teams.

Miami, meanwhile, is so built for the playoffs, from Shaq to Wade to Mourning, who enjoyed a triumphant homecoming. The former Georgetown star returned to Miami as an insurance policy, a guy in the twilight of his career who would spell Shaq for 10, maybe 12 minutes per night. Yet, he played 35 minutes in Game 3 and scored 14 points. It's difficult to imagine a sweeter outcome for Mourning, who retired after a kidney transplant and had to miss most of two seasons. At shoot around this morning, ... Shaq came to me . . . on the bus and said, 'I'm going to need you tonight.' And I said, 'Okay, I haven't forgotten how to play this game.'

Mourning, 35, who underwent a kidney transplant in December 2003, seemed offended when a reporter asked if he could play 30 minutes a night over several games. Did you see me play last year Enough said, ... I'm not sick. There's nothing wrong with me... . So don't question my abilities, please.