291 Quotes by Avery Johnson

We're much more mature than we were then. Obviously I think we're better defensively. We're much more physical than what we were last year. We move the ball a lot better. We're tougher-minded.

We are fortunate to get out of here with a victory. Both teams played some really awesome defense and we just couldn't get our offense in gear in the second half. This is another game that we proved to ourselves that we can win basketball games with our defense. I don't know if we would have won this game in the past. Now we are a different team.

They made a run. They're a very good basketball team. The second half, they got it within two, and we just suggested 'stay tough-minded.' And we were able to get somewhat of a cushion.

We thought our first-quarter defense really set the tone. We worked on a lot of stuff this morning and we were fortunate to have some carry over.

What we have here is a failure to communicate.

They have two really terrific players in Shaq and Wade.

We thought our defense and offense was good in the first half, but in the second we struggled. We had one turnover in the first and 10 in the second half. That is something we will take a look at.

He's a scoring point guard. I want him to make the right pass at the right time and lead. But we need 18 points, too. No pressure. We just need him to be what he was in the playoffs.

These two teams have a lot of pride. Memphis doesn't back down from anybody, and it has not played its best game yet.