Question: You've taken a lot of heat. Does that make this season more rewarding or enjoyable for you?
Stefanski: I'm very happy for the fans. Some of our players had a rough year last year. The organization, we took a step back. People forgot that we made the playoffs two years in a row. The fans are enjoying themselves now, and they deserve that.
Q: But what about you personally? A lot of people thought you should've been fired for various reasons - Elton Brand, Eddie Jordan, and so on. Do you feel like, with the way the team is playing, you've redeemed yourself?
Stefanski: When we first signed Elton, I was a genius for doing it. Then I was a moron. I feel great for Elton. This is the Elton we thought we were getting. This season he's been our most consistent player. He's probably our MVP this year. I never looked back and second-guessed myself. You put a plan together and execute it, but you never know how it will work out.
Q: Was Eddie Jordan the biggest mistake you've made as an executive?
Stefanski: I made the mistake and the choice. I can't blame Eddie for everything that happened. That would be unfair. It just never jelled. We kind of threw the Princeton [offense] away early. Thad Young - he was so good before that, but he had a disappointing year. He was missing in action. Lou Williams was missing in action. Elton Brand, our big free agent, he wasn't starting. And it snowballed from there. To say that guys gave up, that would be fair. They give the effort now.
Q: How much of that renewed effort is owed to Collins?
