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Official postgame quotes and notes following the Jazz's 108-95 victory against the Golden State Warriors on Monday at EnergySolutions Arena.Notes: Tonight is the 10th anniversary of when John Stockton collected his 14,000th career assist in a 111-102 loss to Milwaukee (12/13/2000) ... December 14, 2010 marks the 25th anniversary of the Utah Jazz retiring Pete Maravich's uniform number seven ... "Pistol" Pete averaged 24.2 points per game in 10 NBA seasons ending in 1979-80 ... Jazz are now 97-56 all-time versus Golden State and 61-15 at home ... Jazz entered the game second in the NBA in assists (24.2 per game) ... Tonight the Jazz had 26 assists ...Rookie Jeremy Evans scored nine points, his highest point total since the season-opening 11 points at Denver ... Deron Williams scored 22 of his 30 points in the second half ... He added 10 assists for his 13th double-double of the season ... It was Williams' third consecutive 30-point game ... Jazz outscored the Warriors 50-26 in the paint and Jazz' bench had 36 points to Golden State's 14 ... Al Jefferson tied a career-high with six blocks ... CJ Miles tied a season-high in rebounds with six.
Jerry Sloan – Head Coach (18-8 this season)On the differences between the two halves"In the first half, I thought they did a nice job executing their offense and getting the shots they wanted and kept us from getting in the open court. In the second half, we did a much better job getting easy baskets and I thought we executed a bit better and shot a high percentage."
On the recent play of Deron Williams"He's been sensational, really. He just took the game over and put it in his hand and made shots, made plays. I'd have to say this is as good as I have ever seen him play. He's playing terrific basketball. When we play him at the two, he gets open. If I'm a young player, I see how he gets open. Instead of letting people guard him, he knows how to pace himself and catch the ball and shoot it. He doesn't waste any time"
On the play of Jeremy Evans"I was really happy for him. He did a nice job. He executed the plays and, of course, he can really get up in the air and go get it. He's worked really hard. It can be tough for young guys sometimes."
C.J. Miles – Forward (20 points, 6 rebounds) On the defense in the second half"We were just active, just helped each other and tried to get out to every three-point they were shooting. It allowed us to get more rebounds and run."
On his own play"I was just trying to be aggressive. It allowed us to get out and run, allowed me to see the scenes of where to get to. Earl [Watson] pushed the ball so well, and Ronnie [Price], in that second group that I could find spots. I tried to get to the basket a little more this game."
On Deron's scoring the past three games"He had been talking about finding his three-point shot, and he found it. It has knocked his points up like eight or nine. Him finding his jumpshot has really helped him out a lot and it has helped his game more because now they can't play off him."On getting back on track"We've had some tough losses. You're going to lose some games, and there will be lapses. It lets you know that we have a lot of work to do as a team to get better as the season goes."
Jeremy Evans – Forward (9 points, 3 rebounds) On tonight's game"I just tried to come in and bring energy. I always have fun when I play. Coach always tells you to be ready to play, and you know thinking that we might get the chance to play tonight, especially with Francisco out, we knew that we might get some minutes."
On NBA minutes"Those guys are pretty big compared to me. I am probably giving up maybe 150 pounds. So it's a big battle."
On his dunks tonight"We always work on it and we get it just about every game I play in. A lot of it comes from the offense, and in the right spot. Following the offense and being in the right spots."
Deron Williams – Guard (30 points, 10 assists) On leadership"We just had to get back on track. I'm trying to do my part, trying to have a good all-round game and be a leader for these guys in the locker room. Go out there a play hard and that's all that matters."
On C.J. Miles"He is playing great. He has been pretty consistent as of late. Knocking down shots, getting to the basket, defending well, he's been hustling. I told him if he comes out defensively aggressive it will help his offense."
On alley-oops"We're not known for those. Jeremy came in today, him and Earl hooked up a couple times. He has just been instant energy for us when he gets the minutes."
On his stretch of 30-point games"I have had some good stretches. A couple years ago when I had like six 30-point games in a row. I am scoring the ball well. The games we lost and I scored it doesn't really matter. I'd like to be winning a little more."
On when he gets going offensively if he's waiting for his teammates to follow suit"No I am just trying to do my part. I have had to take a little bit more of an aggressive approach scoring the basketball this year than I have in the past. That's what I am doing. I still want to get my teammates the ball, I am still a point guard first. It's necessary on this team for me to score more."
On playing the two position"I guess committing to it. Knowing that's what I have to do. It seems like before when I played the two, plays weren't being run to me. I don't like being out there and not touching the ball. Now we're running plays where I get the ball back and can create for myself or for others."
Al Jefferson – Forward (13 points, 6 blocks) On his six blocks"I didn't realize it until I looked at the stat sheet. I guess it was just good timing. I know I have to do a better job on the defensive end. That's going to be the reason on how deep we go into the playoffs. I just need to pick it up, so why not start now."On tonight's effort"We knew they weren't going to go away. Especially in the first half, they came out. We tried to control the boards, and I think we did a better job than the last time we played them. I knew that once we got in the groove and started getting stops, and D-Will, is who he is, took over the game. C.J. came in and did it for us. Everybody helped out. Everybody scored a point tonight."
On Deron's play"It's the same Deron Williams I have been seeing all year. He gets in that mode. He put us on his back and took us home."Notes: With this loss, the Warriors are now 3-8 in their last 11 against the Jazz, and are 3-8 in their last 11 in Utah ... They have also lost 27 of their last 30 games in Utah ... This is also the seventh straight loss for Golden State, with all seven winning opponents scoring over 100 points a game ... With 20 points tonight, Dorell Wright had his fifth 20-point game of the season ... In his previous six years with the Miami Heat, Wright only had three total 20-point games ... The Warriors out-rebounded the Jazz tonight (46-40), and are now 6-3 when they out rebound their opponent ... David Lee recorded 12 rebounds and 18 points, his eighth double-double of the season.
Keith Smart – (8-16 this season)On the game"Those guys played hard over there and fought this game. They played hard and they did what they were suppose to do and it just didn't fall in their favor. So we have to go back to the drawing board again tomorrow night and get ourselves back up emotionally and ready for a game. To come in here and play and compete and to not have the chance to take it home is hurting these guys. They played as hard as they could to make that happen. It just wasn't our night."
On winning the rebounding battle"We're doing everything. There are a few things that aren't our fault, but what can we do. We have to keep playing and fight through these things. Our guys are giving it to me. They are giving me what is necessary to get us moving in the right direction, to win. Now we just need to make sure we can stay together as a unit, which we are. And every night we are doing it, we're doing just that."
On the play of Deron Williams"Well that's going to happen. That's what you pay players like that for. You pay them for fourth quarter heroics, to take over a game and make plays and make big shots. That's why you have them. That's why your team moves from one level to another level because you have those guys who can make those plays. He is a good player, an All-Star and an Olympian."
Monta Ellis – Guard (16 Points 5 Assists) On the game"We did everything we could, we played our game plan great you know, we made plays and stayed away from a lot of stuff. We did a lot of positive things we just gotta put this one behind us and move on."
On the current seven game stretch"We've been doing good, we're right there. The last few games we've started the game perfect, the way we want to and minus the first quarter we've given ourselves a chance to win in the fourth quarter and that's all we can do is keep chipping away."Dorell Wright – Forward (20 Points 6 Rebounds)On the game"I think the past few games we've been starting the game pretty good and we've got to just go out and continue to go out there and stay together and play hard. It's not going to be easy at all."
On the difference between the Jazz and the Warriors tonight"We gotta still find a way. I think we're going to be real good especially once we get healthy. We just need everybody back but while these guys are out right now we just gotta still find a way."
— Brian T. Smith
Twitter: tribjazz