Wednesday, September 1st, 2004 at The Palace of Auburn Hills
Detroit Shock 58, Phoenix Mercury 63
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| POSTGAME QUOTES | |||||||||||||||||||||||
�I don�t know about rust it is just the same old same old for us. We can�t make perimeter shots, and we are giving up key offensive rebounds, and we are not making plays at the right time. We are digging ourselves in a hole too much each game and that has been a great weakness.� On the team's lack of hunger: That is a tough question to answer, confidence is part of that and we are lacking a bit of that. But scoring has been a problem; you can�t win a basketball game scoring 58 points.� On progress over break: Iciss played well, but other than that there was not much that translated from practice to the game. I gave people opportunities and it just did not happen.� On Ruth's injury: I don�t know the doctors say that it is just a bone bruise but she could not shoot coming out of the second half so obviously she couldn�t play. We thought about putting her in at the end but the opportunity never presented itself. Cheryl was out there rebounding well and Iciss was playing good.� �With six games left we would like to win 4 of the 6 and the biggest game is Charlotte obviously because they are in front of us. If we beat them it also gives us a tiebreaker. Beating Charlotte is a tremendously important game for us.� | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Shock Forward Iciss Tillis
On opportunity:"I guess it was good. This month I was able to work on a lot of my personal skills. I was just glad that I was able to come off the bench and finally put something together. On that rebound I got mad and was frustrated. I don�t really know what came over me I was just frustrated at how the season has been going and no one was going to take the ball from me. After this month I thought we would come out stronger. We had been working so hard and everyone has just been working together and we went and put it all out on the floor. In the locker room before the game everyone was really ready to go and before the game I thought we would have won by 20. We were so focused and even in warm-ups we were all clicking. Like Bill said we are better on the road and we have a few of those coming up.� | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Shock Guard Deanna Nolan
�We still have to compete for the playoffs, we can�t just give up. Last year it came a lot easier for us and this year it will be much harder just because the target is on our back. Did you expect tonight to be different? Yes and no. We know that this was our first game back and we were going to get tired and we were really just trying to minimize our turnover and at the same time we were looking forward to playing because we had a month off. Phoenix got out to the lead early in the first half and we had some defensive breakdowns but then in the second half we fought back.�
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Mercury Head Coach Carrie Graf
On the Mercury�s Olympians Taurasi and Taylor:�I think Penny was a little jet-lagged but she played the whole game against Swin Cash. She hit some big shots near the beginning but fouls got her in a little bit of trouble. She�s a smart player thoug h and stayed with it.� On the race for a playoff spot: �Everybody�s got a chance. Seattle and L.A. probably have it locked. Other than that everyone truly believes�and rightfully so�that they have a chance to make the playoffs. So, to get this first win under your belt to start we have this run with momentum and its really big for us.� | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Mercury Guard Diana Taurasi
On coming back from the Olympics:�That was a big win. Whenever you play defending champions in anything it means a lot. They are a great team and for us to come off the break and get a win is big for us�especially on this little road trip we have.� On coming in early after the third foul was called: �The Coach had confidence that I would be a little bit smarter, especially in the first half because I need to be there during the game. So, that was on me but Coach had confidence in me.� On whether the Olympics took a toll on her body: �Yes. You really don�t think it does, but after a game like this it takes a toll on your body. With Swin and Ruth you could just tell that people are tired, it�s been a long season.� On if she�s gotten much sleep lately: �You know its funny, when you are at the Olympics you don�t sleep. You try to get a good night sleep but things come up. Your family is there and its tough to get your rest.� | |||||||||||||||||||||||