Quotes from around the NBA

Did you get their license number?

After the Lakers’ up-tempo offense sped past the Rockets for a 119-108 win, Houston Coach Kelvin Sampson said: “Just because they have a new offense doesn’t mean they’re going to score 120. You know, if you don’t guard them, they’re going to look good.”

Just winless, baby

A year ago Washington opened the season 0-8. This season after losing their first nine games Wizards Coach Randy Wittman declared: “I believe these guys can win. I don’t have any doubts of it. I come in here every day thinking ‘this is the night; I feel good.’ I might be dumb, but I believe in them, I really do.”

Overdue

After losing their season opener, the Grizzlies won eight straight before falling to Denver, 97-92, Monday at Memphis. “It was coming. Today we got what we deserved. The last game we didn’t play that well, but the other team [Charlotte] wasn’t as talented as this team is. When you play with fire, sometimes you get burned,” Memphis center Marc Gasol said.

Remember the Alamo

The Clippers have beaten the Spurs twice this season, the latest win coming at San Antonio. “I thought for a portion of that game we were an embarrassment,” said Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich. “This game was in the ‘soft’ category. We never had five guys that competed hard enough to win the basketball game.”

— Barry Stavro