Maurice Cheeks
Maurice Cheeks
Maurice Edward "Mo" Cheeksis an American retired professional basketball player and currently an assistant coach for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association. He was the head coach of the Detroit Pistons from June 10, 2013, to February 9, 2014 and has also served as head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers and Philadelphia 76ers...
ProfessionBasketball Player
Date of Birth8 September 1956
CityChicago, IL
coming johnny kevin kyle liked playing
I think the way we were playing with Kevin in the lineup and A.I. in the lineup, I liked the way we were playing. I liked Johnny and Kyle the way they were coming off the bench.
blocking defensive great shots
Deng Gai did a great job, clogging up the middle, being a defensive stopper, and blocking shots when we needed.
accomplish came certainly chance failed goal hardest means playoffs trying win word
Certainly, you're disappointed. The hardest part for anybody, and certainly for me, is to know you're not in it and that you failed. Failed is a hard word to say. When you set a goal for yourself to get in the playoffs and have a chance to win a championship, that means I failed in trying to accomplish what I came here to accomplish.
fighting number stay together trying
I did all the talking. It was about us and trying to stay together - number one - which we will do, and to keep working. You have to keep working through it. I just know that we have to keep fighting and keep working.
areas block defense exception rebound sam shots
Our defense is a lot better with Sam in the game, because he can block shots and rebound the ball. They're a jump-shooting team, with the exception of Harrington. We just have to get better in all areas defensively.
assumed decision practice today whether
At practice today I didn't know whether or not they were going play and I assumed they were going play. So I just made a decision that they're not going play.
excited rookie wished
Right now, I'm as excited as a rookie going to my first camp. This is something I wished for a while ago, and now it's here.
capable certain chris example guys help hurt leading night perfect situations taking
Chris is very capable of taking our troops, as all our guys are. Chris is our veteran. He's been around certain situations a while, so he understands about guys getting hurt and how to help other players. (Sunday) night was a perfect example of Chris leading us.
beginning good knowing last played run tried
They tried to run us from the beginning knowing that we played last night. They did a good job. We did get back into it late, but were never really a threat.
kindness
It's kind of been the same story for a while.
couple games last playing
Not at all. We just need to play the way we have been playing the last couple of games.
beat stay trying
I did all the talking. You've got to beat them up a little and re-assure them. It's about us trying to stay together, which we will, and to keep working.
coach larry likes players
Larry is a defensive-minded coach. With the players he has, he'll try to get them to do what he wants. If they don't, he'll find a way to get the players he likes to play in his system.
coach lead respected
Someone as respected as Coach K can lead them,