Full Time-out with Peja Stojakovic

EXCLUSIVE!

After helping the New Orleans Hornets dispose of the Dallas Mavericks in the first round, Peja Stojakovic found the time to answer a few of my questions.

Rick: The New Orleans Hornets had the most surprising run this season of any team. To what do you attribute your team's success? Aside from yourself and Chris Paul, how did Byron Scott get everyone playing in the same wavelength?
Peja: Our success would be attributed to a couple of different things, we came together as a team and we had players who have taken their games to another level. Byron emphasized that fact that in order to win and succeed, we needed to come together, play our assigned roles and sacrifice some personal things for the betterment of the team.

Rick: Two of your former Sacramento teammates are in the playoffs: Hedo Turkoglu with Orlando and Mike Bibby with Atlanta. That team was known for its great passing. Any similarities to your current team?
Peja: When looking at these two teams I would say that they are a number of similarities in that both have players who know their roles, who know their strengths and their weaknesses, and have a great desire to win.

Rick: Do you still get up for a game after all these years in the NBA?
Peja: I still get up for it because I love the game of basketball and have always had a deep passion for it.

Rick: Which players defensively give you the toughest time in the NBA?
Peja: I would say that some of the toughest defensive players are San Antonio's Bruce Bowen and Houston's Shane Battier.

Rick: Thanks, Peja and good luck against San Antonio.