Jermaine O'Neal

Me and the front office had a long talk about everything. The air needed to be cleared, and it was very constructive. We laid it all on the line. We have a better understanding about each other, and my future with the team.

When I go into that locker room at the All-Star break, I can't talk to them and say, 'We're going to do this,' because I don't know where we're at. I don't know where we're at right now, and that's hard to swallow. It's one of the most mind-boggling situations I've ever seen, to the point it becomes hard to deal with. The bottom line is we've got to play, because the games aren't going to stop.

You never know where you are until you play some of the elite teams. That's how you know you're on the championship level. But I think it takes a very good team to win the games we have been winning.

It was a phenomenal season. But if you don't win the whole thing, nobody's going to remember all the games you won or what you did in the first two rounds.

I feel all right. I'm going to try to get back into the starting lineup in the next two or three games.

It's very difficult. We're not able to give our best shot because, obviously, we don't have our best team out there.

I think it's all on us as far as how we approach the games. If we approach the games the way we did the last few games of the season, we'll give ourselves a shot.

We looked really good. I was really impressed with how guys competed and the type of shape that they were in.

We have a pretty favorable schedule, but that isn't always a given for our team. We have to go out and win games and that's what it's all about right now -- pride and heart. It's a test to see if we have it or not.

If I'm voted in, I will be there. I think for the most part all the guys that have been hurt have gone to the game. I want to show support for the league, the players.

The severity of it was pretty bad, but I'm right on pace for where I need to be. Obviously, I haven't played in six weeks. ... It's been pretty tough trying to get back in shape. But as for the injury, I'm moving pretty well.

I don't know when he became tough. But all of a sudden he became tough. It's in his best interest to concentrate on getting a rebound and be quiet.

They have a big three. We have a big three. We feel like we have a really good, talented team, but the team that brings it to the table for the whole time is going to win the series.

He's a guy who was making plays in a big-time way. I remember sitting there in practice saying, 'he hasn't taken a shot he's just passing the ball.' I think, in a lot of ways, he's judged unfairly because he's such a great scorer. If he's in a situation where he has guys around him, he gets them the ball.

If I get to a particular point in time between now and the playoffs, anywhere I feel like I'm 100 percent healed and in shape, I'll play. I don't want to shortchange myself and say I'm going to come back on this particular date and when that date comes I'm not ready.

You're either with us or you aren't with us. We've got to be on the same page all the time.

It's the first time I don't know where my team is. Obviously, we don't have enough pride.

I was wondering what he was feeling like at this particular time. He called me this weekend and we talked and joked and he seemed to be very, very happy. That's what it's about. When you've had the type of career he's had and leave on your own terms and be happy with it, then that's what it's about.

I didn't like the product this year. The rookies didn't really do what I thought they were going to do, ... All in all, everybody had a good time. It's always a fun atmosphere.

Everybody has learned. Me and Ron, we've talked millions and millions of times about the situation and what we could have done to prevent the situation from happening. Knowing is always half the battle.

We didn't get the stops we needed to really close the game. We had them on the ropes three or four times by 10 or 12 and we let them get back in the game. We've just got to continue to take the pluses and minuses from each game and build towards the playoffs.

We just thought it would be a good idea to lay off of it today. It was the perfect situation for me to rest my leg and get right back at it tomorrow (Monday) at practice.

I can't even tell you how many times I rewound certain plays to figure out the best way to help my team and stay out of foul trouble.

We run the same offense, but we have to get better shot selection. If we do that we'll be all right. We get ourselves in trouble when we come down and take quick shots.

Everybody's still trying to find their way right now. When teams get in their formats, we're going to be in trouble if we don't get focused. Hopefully, when they get to that point, we're rolling.