NBA Q&A: Gerald Wallace

Courtesy of Mark Murphy

ON CRITICIZING THE TEAM: 

"It's not critical towards my teammates. It's for the whole team. We're laid back at times. We don't put forth the effort offensively and defensively. We have to understand that we have to do things hard for 48 minutes. We don't have the luxury of being able to take a quarter off or five minutes off. We don't have that luxury. We have to continue to play and continue to buy in hard together for 48 minutes."

ON ADAPTING TO A NEW SYSTEM: 

"We know it's a new coaching staff and a new system. They're putting in new defense. It's the first time I've ever played defense the way coach Stevens wants us to play defense, but it's a learning curve for all of us. But at the same time you can still give it 100 percent. Just because it's a learning experience doesn't mean you can't put forth the effort."

ON THE EFFECT OF HIS WORDS: 

"At the end of the day when we keep looking up at the scoreboard and we're getting our asses kicked every night, some response has to come.  Everybody can look at themselves in the mirror and do something about it. It doesn't take talent or skills. You just bring effort, the will to win, it's not that hard.

ON WHETHER THIS TEAM NEEDS TO LEARN FROM BAD LOSSES: 

"I hope not. Sometimes you have to learn from your mistakes. I hope it doesn't get that far, and guys can see it. They might take one or two losses, but hopefully we can rebound from it and build from there. The one thing about this league, it's 82 games and it gives you a chance to learn from those whippings, but you have to pick yourself up very fast."

ON THE MEANING OF EFFORT: 

"Just the will to compete, like coach says. Just bring out the will to compete, wanting to win. Our preseason is over with. The season started today.  Everything from now on counts for all of us, counting (tomorrow  night)."

ON GETTING PAST EXHIBITION SEASON:

 "It's regular season. We have to gear up. We've played our preseason games, we've figured out what we can do with each other. Those games are over with. We have to start building our mindset going into the regular season.  The point that we'e trying to get to know each other is one reason we're so lackadaisical in games. We have to come out and compete like we want to win every game."