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In the 2003-04 NBA championship series, the Los Angeles Lakers just lost to the Detroit Pistons in five games. Detroit dominated Game 5 to win the title. Here's what key Lakers said after being eliminated:

PHIL JACKSON

Phil Jackson: I always see the ballplayers bring their kids out so I thought, you know, I could bring my kids out and say, you know, they should be here.

15 years, they were about this high when we started this process and here they are, another party the NBA has had for the Jackson family.

So, it didn't come out quite as well as it has in the past, but I'm proud of my players. They had a great series up until this one. They played very well. We overcame a lot of adversity during the course of the year. It was a Cinderella story actually that this team had, but Detroit proved to be a little better than we were in this series.

Q: Detroit tonight became the first team in the series to score 100 points. How do you account for the offensive production tonight, when they have not been known to be that kind of team?

Jackson: Everybody just shot well. In the first quarter, Ben Wallace was five for five. You had players stepping up and contributing that were not part of their offensive contingent, to say the least, and a lot of times you'll see games like this where players can't find a way to score in the close-out game. But they really played very well defensively and offensively.

Q: When did the decision about Malone come, and how critical was his absence to the series?

Jackson: Well, you know, it was a big drop-off for us, between what we had was a backup situation in Karl, we have no one with experience, players that are not quite at the level that we'd like them to be at. Certainly, experience-wise, but they were game and Slava got off to a good start tonight, so that was nice.

But Karl was really our energy around the court. He was a guy that could get rebounds for us and do a lot of the things that we had to have done on screen-roll defense and we missed him tonight, a lot, and we missed him through this series.

Q: It's nice to see your kids. It doesn't have anything to do what farewell ceremony or anything like that, that they were there?

Jackson: They would love to have me say this is it, this is the last, but I'm not giving you guys that satisfaction right here now. (Laughter).

Q: When do we get the satisfaction? Well, it's not satisfaction, it's just, you know, what is your timetable?

Jackson: My timetable is to meet with the management of the Lakers after the season, discuss some things that we have to discuss as an organization. And then we'll make a decision from there.

But right now I would say that it's a pretty slim chance that I'll be back coaching next year. It's a pretty slim chance. I've had a lot of persuasion given to me by these kids, they were hoping I could win the tenth and retire, but maybe losing this one, this opportunity is enough for me to say that it's time to give it up.

But right now, I'm not going to make that decision or give that statement.

Q: Can you just sort of look back over these five years, and this is a very critical now month and a half for this franchise. Talk about how you've sort of become acquainted with it and now you look out and see all of these free agents and the fact that this is quite possibly a lot of it coming to an end now. Can you talk about what that means to you.

Jackson: Well, this is a team that when I came, I felt was one of the most talented teams in the NBA personnel-wise. I felt like we had two very good units and during the course of the five years, you know, obviously with salary cap and the way expansion is, the way things have happened, too, free agency, we've come to a team that is in the position that you see us tonight, with a couple of older guys that we got on. And Gary and Karl gave us a great effort this year, and Kobe and Shaq and other players that are relatively inexperienced, guys like Fish and Fox, who are great role players for our basketball players. Now it's decision time for this team and what direction they are going to move. Obviously, it's going to be a big statement that's going to be made in July. And then Mitch Kupchak has done a very good job. They will make a move in August to rebuild this basketball club. I think they will be fine. I don't know of many players who would not want to be playing in L.A. i think it's a great franchise and a great organization. We've had the benefit of picking players that have been helpful over the course of years to help get us in championship positions.

Q: "They are" going to be fine, not "we are"?

Jackson: Well, that's yet to be determined, okay. (Smiling).

Q: I guess I'll repeat the question I asked pregame, which is, now that you're at the end here, how much was simply about Karl and what the Pistons did and everything else versus how much of it was the burden of a very, very difficult season for the team from beginning to end?

Jackson: I don't think that Kobe ran out of gas in the season. It was extremely complicated and full of duress for him. I felt that he still had plenty of energy coming into the Finals.

We got clipped in the final game of the Minnesota series with Karl and with Fisher both having knee injuries, Devean George reinjuring his foot. Those things really weighed, I think, more than anything else. And Karl's inability to complete or to complete this series, you know, was a devastating blow to our interior defense.

Q: If this is the end for you with this group, do you think the other two members of the trio, Shaq and Kobe, can and will continue on? Will they be successful in the future?

Jackson: I see no reason why not. I can't imagine why they cannot continue on and at the level of play they have shown in the last five years in the last five seasons.

KOBE BRYANT

Q: Kobe, Phil was in here a few moments ago and said there was a slim chance he would be back next here coaching. Was this probably your last game as a Laker?

Kobe Bryant: I don't know. You know, we have to wait till the summer to find that out.

Right now, I really can't answer that question because I don't know.

Q: Phil suggested that you ran out of gas as this went on, did you feel that way?

Bryant: As a team?

Q: You.

Bryant: No, I never ran out of gas, I felt like my energy was good. I played hard all the way down to the Final buzzer, but my energy felt fine.

Q: The Lakers were such overwhelming favorites coming in, what happened and could you ever have imagined not being more competitive in a five-game series?

Bryant: Well, you know, we had to play crucial parts of the game with some of our young kids because of a couple injuries that we've had.

But, nonetheless, I felt like they got in there and gave us a great effort. I think Slava gave us good effort, Brian Cook gave us good effort, Luke Walton gave us good effort, Kareem Rush gave us good effort. They just played better than we did.

Q: Could you have imagined something like this happening in your worst nightmare?

Bryant: You know, when I dream, I dream about winning, always. It's never about losing.

Q: Before the game you felt that people were counting you off, you were still optimistic, now, do you feel maybe you lost to a better team with all of your injuries?

Bryant: You know what, they played extremely well. They coached extremely well. They executed extremely well. They played hard. They played the right way and they are deserving of the Championship this year.

Q: Is it fair to say the final analysis that five does beat two, and also, that the role players on this year's team are really not up to par with the role players on the 3-Peat teams?

Bryant: No, I don't want to be harsh on my guys at all, I really don't. They came in there and gave us a great effort. I'm going to stands up for them. I go to bat with them, any situation, any game, any in the world.

We didn't get the job done. They came in, they gave us good effort, they played their hearts out, they played as hard as they could possibly play. So, you know, I can't sit up here and say that they beat us five-on-two or anything like that. We all go out there and we all play for one another, and we didn't get it done. As a collective unit, we didn't get it done.

Q: Just to clarify, you still intend to opt out?

Bryant: Yes.

Q: Assuming that you were to return, Phil has said he doesn't think he would, but would you want Phil back? I know there's been mixed feelings and the relationship has gone up and down, would you want him back and would you still want to play with Shaquille? What would you want out of this team if you came back to?

Bryant: I loved playing for Phil. I learned so much from playing for Phil and playing with Shaquille, too. I think we've got a lot of great things accomplished despite our differences that we've had in the past. We've played extremely well together. We've had an incredible run.

So I would not be opposed to playing with them forever. It's just not up to me. It's not my decision.

Q: How deflating was it knowing that Karl was not going to suit up before the game and what effect did his injuries have on what happened to the Lakers?

Bryant: It was tough. It was tough on me to watch because Karl and I over the course of the year have become such good friends. So it's tough for me to see him sit out, knowing how bad he wants to get out there and play.

Besides Karl's injury, I think people really underestimate the injury to Horace Grant. He was our backup 4. He could have really helped us this series. Unfortunately, the injury with him. But that's the way it goes sometimes.

DEVEAN GEORGE

Q: What happened tonight?

George: They got into a good rhythm, and we really couldn’t grab control of the game, and it just started slipping away.

Q: How different would this series have been with a healthy Karl Malone?

George: You never know. You have to play with the guys we have available. We can’t really think about what if. We had guys available. We’re all professionals and you have to get it done with what you have.

Q: What do you think is going to happen to this team?

George: I have no clue. Any NBA season brings the chance for change. Things are going to happen for sure, but I have no clue what to look for.

Q: Are you guys dumfounded by this outcome?

George: We expected to win. We went into the series confident that we could get the job done, but hats off to them. We always felt we’d have to tip our hats to a team that could beat us four times, and that’s what they did.

Q: What did you think of the crowd?

George: They were hungry for a championship, and they gave them great energy. They cheered the whole game.

Q: How disappointed are you for someone like Karl Malone or Gary Payton?

George: It’s very disappointing for all of us, not just them. I think a ring would be a perfect end to their careers, but it shouldn’t take away from what Karl and Gary have accomplished.

KARL MALONE

Q: Does this hurt worse than 1998?

Malone: Well, you could say that. But all of them hurt. I’m 0-3 in Finals. I’m probably the only player that did that other than Jim Kelly in football. But, I don’t know. We always look at … everybody says, God, he should have won. But, I’ve always said to myself: There are guys that have rings that don’t deserve to have them, and there are guys that you think deserve them that don’t have them. I’m one of those.

Q: Talk about what Detroit did in this series.

Malone: They played great. They did everything they were supposed to do.

Q: If you come back next season will it be with the Lakers?

Malone: You know what, I think it’s a little early to say. But, I’ve never been a guy who wanted to jump from team to team to team, and I’ll make that decision. But I’ll say this: If I meet with my doctor in the next couple of days, and I can’t be a 100 percent by training camp – not 95, not 99 – then I’ll make that decision.

Q: How hard was it to watch from the bench?

Malone: It was tough because I went out there with my teammates. Those have waited for me all year and I went out there with them. But, I’ll give Detroit credit, they did everything they were suppose to do to win the game. I’m proud of Coach Brown for winning one -- at my expense. But that’s just part of it.

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL

Q: Talk about what happened in this game, particularly, and in the series as a whole.

O'Neal: They came out and they played with great intensity. You know, they played well. They capitalized off our turnovers and they just played a little bit harder than we did.

Congratulations to those guys and they deserve it. Congratulations to Coach Brown. He's a great coach and he deserves it. They just played hard, they played consistently hard. They played consistently good defense and just flat-out beat us in everything.

Q: Phil was just in saying that he thinks there's a slim chance he's going to come back, and you've lobbied for him in the past and said you didn't want to play for anybody but him. What's your move from here? Do you say anything to him to try to change his mind and where does that leave you, do you think, and the team without him?

O'Neal: This summer is going to be a different summer for a lot of people. Everyone is going to take care of their own business and everyone is going to do what's best for them, including me.

So, we haven't made any decisions yet, but once those decisions are made, you will be well informed.

Q: You've opted for another year so what does another year including you --

O'Neal: I can't answer that. I have to have a discussion with Mitch and see where they want to go with things. Like I said, we are all going to do what's best for each other.

Q: Talk about your start tonight. You started off with nice energy and it seems like you had them backing up a little bit and what happened from there.

O'Neal: We started off with nice energy and we got into quick foul trouble and then they just had us on our heels and from that point, I feel like we lost our poise a little bit. They just came out and played real good team ball and they played well and they flat-out beat us. Congratulations to them.

Q: Is this an end of an era for you guys with the Lakers and do you see yourself playing for a different team in the future?

O'Neal: I'm not sure. I'll always do what's best for me, and I'm not sure really where the organization wants to go from here. It's all a business. Whatever happens, happens.

Q: Kobe Bryant just said that he would not mind playing with you and the other guys forever, how do you feel about that?

O'Neal: Kobe is a great player. Every great player needs a one -two punch, and obviously me and him are the one-two punch. But like I said earlier, it's going to be a funny summer. Everyone's going to take care of their own business and everyone's going to do what's best for them, and I don't know what that entails.