Jerry Sloan Quotes (104 Quotes)

Well, we're still alive and that's the important thing, the games mean something. It's not like you just throw it out there and you don't care whether you win or lose.

We just couldn't keep them in front of us. We couldn't keep them from penetrating to the basket. They got about everything they wanted tonight. They were playing in such a comfort zone that we couldn't even begin to shut them down.

They're playing harder, but they have to learn to play even harder. This is not a casual business. When we play casual you see how ineffective we are.

The games mean still something. It's not like you just throw (the ball) out there and you don't care if you win or lose.

That is one of those most disappointing games that I've been involved in. And for a game with this much significance.

Greg Ostertag had a tremendous finish for us. He was able to block up the middle and keep them from getting on top of the basket.

He was the one that really wanted to be traded. I mean I wasn't looking to trade the guy. But if a guy wants to get out and is probably not happy here, what else can you do

(Palacio is) a veteran player, he's been around the league and he's seen some things. He's a very knowledgeable guy. Those things help you understand what's going on in the game.

We've talked about it and talked about it and this second half they seemed to have the idea that if we make a mistake then we pull for each other and we play through it.

Give (the Heat) credit, because they're a great team. They've got guys who can get to the basket and get to the free throw line. We don't have a guy who can get 20 free throws a night. So how are we going to play We've got to do it from a team concept, by passing the ball and being ready to pass it.

I've always been impressed with what he's able to do. He's just gone through some tough times. Some players do and some players don't. I think those tough times are good for him.

What I'm worried about is what's out here on the floor. That's all I'm worried about. Everybody has to perform out here on the floor, and we have to perform it a certain way. Not that my way is right. There are a lot of different ways to play basketball. But we have to have a little bit of order. Otherwise, I've got a cesspool.

We are still hanging in there, competing and finishing to the end.

He's progressed a great deal. The biggest thing was understanding what we're doing. He's a lively guy. A little wild sometimes. But he's becoming more under control, doing more things that really help his teammates.

They're happy just being close. But it doesn't make me very happy.

It went crazy -- throwing the ball away, turning the basketball over, not playing like we're supposed to play. You can't play a streak game like that against a team that knows how to play the pass.

He should be upset. I was upset, too but my job is to try to get these guys to go play again (tonight). He always has the right to do whatever he wants to do. I know that.

They showed a little bit of an attitude about what's going on out there. When you play that way, it kind of gets back at you sometimes. It's kind of upsetting that those things crop up when we still have a chance to get to the playoffs.

I just feel it is important for a guy if he is struggling, especially younger guys, to know what it's like, on their own. Not run to them every minute. Let them fight through it. He did that. That's why I admire what he did. I think it'll be good for him 10 years down the line.

I didn't know who was still trying to make the playoffs. They looked like the team that wants to be in the playoffs and we looked like we don't want to be there.

After we got beat by 30 points over there I didn't know what we would do tonight. I thought our guys came out strong, they ran hard and went to the basket a little harder than they did the other night.

They didn't look like they had any energy and I think they were upset with me more than anything else. They had a little bit of an attitude about what's going on out there. It's kind of disappointing that those things would crop up now when you have an opportunity to get into the playoffs.

He may have gotten a little bit tired, but I thought he was a factor for us, because he could go get the basketball. I thought he helped us a great deal defensively a couple of times. He stepped way out and tried to give us help on Paul, so he couldn't have the lane to get on top of the basket.

We have a little bit of stability, more so than the beginning of the year, so we have a better idea of how to play with each other. But it has taken us a little while to figure that out. Our players have to know who we are playing against, and they have to be ready to play no matter what.

I was beginning to wonder. You don't get yourself better by playing at half-speed. You've got to get yourself going so you get into a good rhythm and you don't get hurt. That's how you avoid injuries. Playing this game casually, you can really get hurt.

(McLeod) knows how to compete. He may miss a decision or might miss a shot, but he's always going to compete. He's not going to drop his head and say, 'Can't be done.' I've never seen him do that.

If you're supposed to be on a certain place on the floor defensively, you've got to get there. You can't just go crazy. And if you've got a certain assignment on the offensive end of the floor, that all remains the same. But if we break it down because we've got something else in mind, then the other four guys don't have any idea what we're doing. It's just basketball. But we have to play it together.

He's in much better shape than a year ago. One of the important things for guys to remember is to be in great shape, so if you do have something go wrong, you don't get yourself behind to start.

I would think those things would make you a better basketball player.

I think they've always been fairly responsive. Everybody has their own way of playing and everybody has their strengths. In order to get 12 guys happy in that situation, it's kind of difficult at times to do. But I think for the most part they've done a pretty good job.

As soon as you whip yourself but shaking your head and feeling sorry for yourself, you're a whipped pup. I'm sorry, but that's the way it is. Guys on the other team love seeing that. They love to see you shake your head and say, 'Oh my goodness, now what am I going to do'

He is a tough assignment for anybody. He's a terrific player. He can put the ball on the floor. And they've got the right complement for him They've got guys that can make 3-point shots.

Those are things he can learn, but he has to put himself under a little more duress to make sure he learns it, ... Because I think he can do some things out there. He can run, he can jump.

I understand guys missing shots and that sort of thing. But I don't understand not being able to block them off the boards and give them second shots right when we're trying to win a ballgame.

I'm really glad today for Karl Malone. But (the current Jazz players) weren't involved in (the celebration) that much. They weren't out there on the street (during the statue unveiling).

I'm really glad for what happened to Karl Malone, but these guys weren't involved in that that much. Their basic job is to get ready and play basketball, and I didn't think we came out with that intention.

I thought we executed our offense pretty well. We're still alive and that's the important thing. The games mean something ... You just keep fighting and playing until the season is over and see what happens.

We couldn't do anything in overtime. They made their shots, and we just couldn't make any of ours.

Andrei was terrific in helping our people. His seven blocked shots were lifesaving coming down the stretch. Their momentum picked up there at the end and we looked a little tired, but he kept us out of trouble.

These things were going to happen. Greg and I know that. That's just who we are. And we just go about our business.

I just thought he was in the wrong spot.

There's no comparison ... He's so much farther ahead because his body fat's down, and he's just in better condition.

I thought we played with a lot more purpose tonight than we did the other night.

None of this has any bearing on who will start the season. I told them that today. I've got to move a lot of people around. I've got to see how different guys play off the bench, see how they play with other people.

He took off like the game was all his, to begin the ballgame. He shot every time he got it. And, fortunately, he made it. So it's hard for you to say too much in that situation.

We did a better job of staying in front of them and not letting them get on top of the basket every time. And that was a huge thing because the first half was atrocious.

We were so confused at the start of the ball game, and made some terrible mistakes defensively and couldn't get into our offense. We decided to play a soft game early and we had a difficult time.

I said before the season that I think we should be a playoff team. I don't think a lot of people felt that way outside of our organization. We aren't deep enough to have people out with injuries as long as we did, but I don't like to use that as an excuse. I still think we should be a little better than what we've been.

Our guys kept thinking, 'We have a chance. We have a chance.' That is so huge in this business. I hope we learned something from that tonight.

Nelson did a great job keeping us off balance. I thought his play was terrific. He's strong ... he can score, he was able to get people the basketball and help them get the kinds of shots they wanted. That's one of the big things that hurt us.