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August 23, 2006 / Sapporo, Japan
 USA
HEAD COACH MIKE KRZYZEWSKI
On Australia
They were in a tough pool. They may have been in the toughest pool
to advance. A very even competition and it came down to the last day.
Just like our pool. We're going to learn more about them.
I know they have some young guys. We're very familiar with the Australian
basketball federation. We do a lot of work exchanging… for the last
20 years, at Duke, we've had a group of a few thousand coaches come in
from their Basketball Institute and spend about a week with us. We have
a very good relationship with them. Steve Wojciechowski – this past
year – went to Australia this past year and did some clinics. So,
hopefully, he didn't teach them too well.
On the overall view of pool play:
I thought we were really challenged. We played the first two games
against teams that we had played before, so there was some familiarity.
We weren't going to intimidate Puerto Rico or China because they had already
played against us. That makes it more difficult for us, but it also makes
it easier to get prepared.
Slovenia with the NBA players that they have, played very well against
us. I thought we did a good job against them. Then Italy, being undefeated,
they were terrific against us and put us in the toughest position we had
been in thus far. Down by 12 in the second half. And, our guys responded
in marvelous fashion to really outplay them by about 20 points in the
period. We handled this last game with respect and we're excited to get
going.
On team effort by USA:
I think these guys are very unselfish. Certainly in the game against
Italy, three guys stepped up big. Carmelo was sensational but so was Dwyane
Wade and Elton's toughness and experience really benefited us, so everyone
has been stepping forward. Whether it be LeBron, Shane, Chris Paul, Kirk
Hinrich, Joe (Johnson)… the big guys.
On the Round of 16 – being like an
NCAA tournament:
I'm going to have to explain that to all of our players. It's ‘one
and done' and this is not a seven-game NBA series. We have to be ready
for each ballgame. The best way to get ready is to play defense at the
start of each ballgame. We've done a good job defensively. Hopefully,
we'll pick that up even more, now that we're going on to Tokyo.
On Senegal:
We really respect Senegal and our guys came ready to play tonight.
Senegal has had four very difficult games. If they were able to play three
quarters, they would have had three wins. I thought, at each of the games,
they got worn out at the end. With our depth, I thought they got worn
out against us. That's why our guys played well tonight, because we respect
what they've done.
 CARMELO
ANTHONY
What about playing Australia Sunday?
We played them in 2004. They are a good team that always plays
hard so we are not taking them lightly. They have Andrew Bogut who was
the number one pick the year I was drafted and they have other good players.
We are looking forward to that match-up. We've gone 5-0 and we want to
keep it going.
 SHANE
BATTIER
On Chris Bosh's game vs. Senegal:
Chris played very well. We need everyone for us to play well to
win the gold. So, it was good to see Chris have a break-out game.
On Senegal game:
We wanted to stay sharp. It wasn't about who we were playing. It
was about the US was playing and – if the US is playing – we
want it to be at a high level. We wanted to start pool play at 5-0 when
we came here. We accomplished that and now it's on to the next goal and
that is to play well in the medal round
On the challenge of playing five games in
six nights:
I feel pretty good. Think about it, everybody has played five games
in six days. We're all in the same boat.
On not sleeping in an American bed and not
having American food:
The Argentina team isn't sleeping in Argentine beds and they aren't
eating Argentine food. The Spanish team is not sleeping in Spanish beds
and eating Spanish foods, everybody but the Japanese team is not eating
the food of their native country. It's a wash.
On a message to the people of Sapporo:
Thank you for your hospitality. You guys were really great, cheering
us on. We really enjoyed our time in Sapporo.
 ELTON
BRAND
On playing five games in six nights
and facing Senegal:
We played five games in six nights and we didn't take this team
lightly, at all. We came out and set the tone. It was great for a couple
of the guys to come out and get minutes and they played well.
On next week:
We're ready to move on to Tokyo and take care of business.
On match-up with NBA player Andrew Bogut
of Australia:
I might have a match-up with Bogut, but you don't know what to
expect in international play. These guys play a lot differently in international
play, than in the NBA. Rasho Nesterovic would never hit a three in the
NBA but against me, he was knocking down three's in the international
game. You have to remember, it's a different game.
 DWIGHT
HOWARD
Playing in Medal Round vs. Australia:
We are going to go out there and play hard. We came over here to
win the Gold. The first game is Sunday against Australia and hopefully
we start off on the right note. I've played against Bogut and he is good.
We are going to try to get the audience into it early and hopefully it
will give us a lot of energy on the court.
 LEBRON
JAMES
On playing Australia on Sunday:
I think it is going to be a very competitive game. The Australians
have a pretty good team. I haven't seen them play but we will be watching
video. We did play against them in 2004 and they play hard. It will be
good for us. A good test. It's good to get out of the first round and
keep on taking care of business.
How do you feel you are playing?
I feel I have played pretty well so far. We are 5-0 and that is
all that matters to me. We are winning ball games and we are undefeated.
I think I am helping our team win our games. If I played well or didn't
play well, the only thing that matters to me is winning. I am just trying
to get out there and play some defense, get some defensive rebounds, get
some offensive rebounds and help get our team into the flow of the game.
There are a lot of great shooters in this tournament, so defensively
I am just trying to lock in and chase them out and get a hand up on them.
I'm not trying to do so much reaching, just trying to stay in front of
them and use my athleticism and lift to disrupt them.
 JOE
JOHNSON
General comment:
I thought it was a great game. We got out of the gates a little
slow but we ended up picking up our intensity at both ends of the floor
which resulted in us pushing the lead up a bit. It gave us some confidence.
Made some easy plays and easy baskets.
 BRAD
MILLER
On facing Andrew Bogut:
That's who were are playing, so we'll start to get ready for them.
On his role:
It's been interesting to see because we have so many different
guys who can play different styles at different times. As long as we're
all ready. Some games you might play or might not play that much, so you
have to be ready.
It depends. I'm the oldest guy on this team, so I've got to act like I've
got some experience here. Just to be ready to go. Keep – defensively
– keep everything we want to do with pressure-wise and go from there.
 CHRIS
PAUL
General Comments:
It was a good week for us. We are 5-0 and headed to the Medal Round.
Playing against Australia as your next
opponent:
Well we all know Andrew Bogut and he is a great player and Australia
is a tough team. We just have to focus in on them. Our coaches will get
us some game film and we will prepare as much as we can for them.
Are you familiar with what has been going
at the other tournament sites?
Well I do know some of the players playing at other sites in Japan.
I have a friend who has been in Hiroshima and he has been keeping up to
date on Dirk Nowitzki and Manu Ginobli. We are basketball junkies,so after
each game we get back to the hotel and we're checking out box scores and
finding out what is going on. Dirk had 47 today, I know that!
 DWYANE
WADE
On his role with the team, coming
off the bench:
It's something I wanted. Of course, coach can start me at any time
with these guys. But, with me coming off the bench, it gives us another
dimension and I love it. You know I'm not going to complain, whether I'm
starting or coming off the bench. It doesn't matter. I am just one of
the guys, here.
When did he tell you?
He didn't tell me. I asked coach and said I wanted to do it. I
told my captains – LeBron and Carmelo – that I was going to
do it.
On his stay in Sapporo and a message to
the people:
We really enjoyed our time out here. The fans were great to us.
They really helped us out. We weren't expecting any cheers out here. We
felt like we were half-way home. Sapporo was great and I hope we can get
back in this direction in ‘08
On the Heat announcement that Pat Riley
is back:
I heard that. Of course, I got that (news). I couldn't see anyone
else being the leader of our team coming into next season, especially
after winning the championship. It just fit. Pretty much, our whole team
is coming back and we're really excited about that.
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