NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: PISTONS v HEAT

May 30, 2005

Shaquille O'Neal

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL: I thought we played a good, solid game, played pretty good defense, played excellent team ball and usually when we play that way, we always win. I thought that's what we did last night. Guys played great.

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL: Well, you know, I was missing my jump hooks and my running hooks in the post, so I don't want to be over. I'll just concentrate a little harder. If we can get this game, it will give us a big confidence boost, and we just have to try to get this one on Tuesday.

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL: We just have to pretty much play the same way, keep our composure, keep playing team ball, keep taking the opportune shots and keep playing together.

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL: We just came in and played good, solid basketball. We don't really get into all that stuff. We know what we have to do as a unit, and I think we went out there last night and did that pretty effectively.

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL: They're the champs and they're not just going to give up; they're going to be coming with everything they've got. We just have to match that and continue to do what we do, and if we do that, we should be okay.

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL: I don't know about their history. You know, like I keep saying, we know what we have to do as a unit. We'll just focus on that. We focus on that, we talk about that and we just try to go out and perform and do it. We don't really worry about what they're doing, we don't really worry about what the crowd is doing, we've just going to go out and do what we've going to do.

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL: It's been a pretty good year for me. It's been a drama-less year for me. I'm not used to that coming from where I come from. It's fun and it's quiet, and we intend to keep it that way.

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL: He's the best player in the playoffs this year, great guy, listens, performs very well, which I think makes him one of the best players ever to play the game.

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL: I know the guys have been playing together all year, have been very unselfish all year. We don't have people on this team with personal agendas. We don't have people on this game who want to be scorers or want to be -- we just run our plays, take the open shot, take the opportune shot, and we play good, clean basketball. When we don't, we find ourselves getting in trouble, but when we do, we find ourselves hard to beat.

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL: I'll just go to the hotel and get some rest. I should be all right for tomorrow.

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL: The thigh bone is not connected to the free throw ball (laughter).

You know, I just really want to do this game and the guys really want to do this game, so I just have to turn my concentration on that.

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL: I'm just trying to do what I do and take the opportune shot, try to get close to the basket and take the opportune shot. I know I can shoot 50, 60 percent down there. I've just got to try to keep taking the opportune shot.

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL: Do I? A little bit. Basketball is a game of rhythm, a game of reaction, so if you want to take one of my moves away, I just try to beat you to it. Otherwise it's the foul or you've got to play great defense.

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL: I'll be okay. I've just got to pace myself and take my time. I'm sure I'll be okay.

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL: Have I been amazed? The answer is yes. Did I know he could get to this level? The answer is yes, and I think it's my job to even take him to the next level. That's what I came here to do. He's a great young man, he's a listener, and when we're done playing, his name will be remembered as one of the greats.