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Q: Is it hard to believe you guys are already back here?
A: No, last year I think it was too long. This season, making the
playoffs gave us a good time but we're anxious to get back on the court
and get the ball rolling.
Q: Before we talk about the team let's talk about your offseason. Did you do anything fun, anything exciting?
A: I just really focused on what I need to do to help us get farther than we did last year and just shaped up parts of my game.
Q: How much will your role change this year and how much do you want it to change?
A: I really can't say right now. If it changes I'm willing to accept
the challenge that's put on the table for me but if it doesn't I'm just
gonna do whatever it takes to help this season.
Q: What's one of the biggest differences from last season to this
season, with your expectations? Making the playoffs, second round, how
much further?
A: It's really no different. I know we've made a lot of changes but
we've replaced it with youth and quickness so if we all just come
together like we did last year who knows what we can do? We're not
gonna try to put too much pressure on ourselves but we're trying to see
from last year, we just have to make it to that point of the year and
work it from there.
Q: When Jason Richardson got traded, did you just kind of assume that might be your job?
A: Nah, it really shocked me. I was actually driving when they called
me on the phone and told me what happened. But I was shocked because
they let one of our veteran guys go, who went through a lot last season
and he came back and did what he did to help us get to the playoffs.
Q: Did you at some point think you should be or could be starting?
A: I never thought like that. I was just going home, taking a load off
and trying to get ready for this season. When the trade happened then I
was thinking about what I'd have to do more than I did last season so
that's when I picked it up, but I never even had an idea that he was
going to be traded.
Q: Nellie has suggested that Belinelli has a better shot of getting
the starting off guard than you do, that you're more of a point guard.
A: It is what it is. I'm willing to accept whatever it is.
Q: Do you think you consider yourself a point guard?
A: If that's what Nellie wants me to be that's what I'm gonna be.
Whatever he wants me to do to help this team, that's what I'm gonna do.
Q: Has he said that to you?
A: He hasn't talked to me about it at all.
Q: Is it difficult not knowing what that role's going to be? Is that
frustrating and difficult at this point? Would you rather know?
A: Nah, because whenever he gives it to me I'm just gonna go back
and...I know it's a role. It's a bigger role than last season, so I've
just gotta know what it is.
Q: It's a big year for you contractually...
A: That's not even on my mind. I'm just gonna play the season out and whatever happens it's gonna happen regardless.
Q: For thirteen years this team just wanted to make it to the
playoffs. Now you've made it. Different goal? How do you approach it
now? Different feel?
A: We want to get back to the second round. We made it to the playoffs.
Now it's trying to get to the Finals and bring a ball back here. It
hasn't been here in...whew...34 years?
Q: Can this team start talking championship?
A: Like I said, if we come together, there's nothing we can't do. The
sky's the limit. If we all come together like we did last year, with
the pieces and the players we have, the sky's the limit.
Q: Classically, in the past in the NBA the 6th man's been a guy who
can come on and create his own offense. Do you feel like your skills at
doing that can work against you in terms of getting a starting job
because you're so good at coming on to do that?
A: No, but like I said, it is what it is. Start or no start, I'm still gonna do what I need to do to help this team win.
Q: What's your reaction to making the Team USA practice squad, going up against the players you did?
A: It was very exciting. I felt good about myself, like the hard work paid off.
Q: Was there anything in particular you picked up on in spite of having to leave early with the strained back?
A: No, because as I did I couldn't really do anything for three weeks
to a whole month, so it was really just best for me to sit out and wait
until the season comes back because I have so much to put on the table
this season.
Q: How did that injury come about?
A: It was just one of those days I woke up, couldn't move for like
three days. As I got moving I went to the doctor to see what it was and
it was something I was born with. So there's nothing I could really do
about it.
Q: Do you mean like a narrowing of the spinal canal or what, exactly...?
A: It's nothing serious, nothing life-threatening. It ain't gonna
jeopardize my career. It's just something I was born with and sometimes
it does that, sometimes it doesn't. It was just the first time it did
it. So I just have to stay strong and keep going.
Q: Is there anything you can do to avoid it, like any exercises?
A: Just keep it strong.
Q: How do you see the experiences with the playoffs last season
helping you out? Is there anything you can take from the series against
Dallas and Utah that helps you grow as a player?
A: My first time being there, it's gonna get tough down the stretch.
You have to stay focused, stay humble and continue to do the things you
were doing in the regular season.
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