People feel like we've brought it to the point where a position has to be made: OK, what are we going to do? Are we going to win and make the playoffs? Are we going to make a trade? Who's going to be coach?

It tells you something about this team that we were able to start the season off correctly after that first half,

I think some of it has to be the new [guidelines].

That's the type of personality he has. But he does it in a way that's respectful of his teammates. He's never trying to show someone up.

Inconsistent performance at a high level -- not because of any one guy or two guys, but as a team. I think [the fast start] gave us a false sense of security, actually. We thought we were already good, as opposed to still working toward being good.

Coach Popovich is a very intelligent coach. He must have felt that his team needed to get some emotion while playing the game.