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Draft workout #2: Q & A's
June 12, 2008 MILWAUKEE -- The Bucks held their second draft workout this morning at the team's Training Center. This time, the session featured six athletes and lasted for about 90 minutes. After the workouts concluded, Bucks.com caught up the guys for some quick interviews.
Q: What did you think of today’s workout and how did it compare to others you’ve had? A: Today’s workout was great. I got to work with a great bunch of guys who are very skilled. It was tough, they had us doing a lot of drill work along with some competition – 3 on 3 and 1 on 1. Coach Skiles did a good job of coaching us through it and mentoring us. It was good and now I’m looking forward to the next one. Q: How do you think your game will translate to the NBA? A: It will translate with some hard work. You have to build on your strengths and continue to work on your weaknesses. You have to find your position on whatever team picks you up. You just have to keep working. Q: What have you been working on for these workouts? A: Obviously, you try to showcase your strengths and prove that you’ve been working on your weaknesses. You try to shoot the ball well and pass, play your game and not try to be someone that you’re not. Show who you are as a person and a player. Q: What style of basketball do you like to play? A: I like to play up tempo, fast paced, transition basketball. I think that’s the type of game that a lot of NBA teams are transitioning to because a lot of young players are coming into the league and they can push the ball up the floor and gain an advantage. Q: What do you know about the Bucks and what does the team need to do to improve? A: They brought in a good coach. They may need to bring in some additional guys to address some weaknesses. They may need to work on a defensive level, but I see them pulling it together and being successful down the line.
Q: What did you think of today’s workout – how did it compare to others? A: This is my eighth workout and all of them have been completely different. The thing I try to do is go into a workout without any expectations and just work my hardest. This workout defiantly ranks up there with some of my tougher workouts. Q: What would you say are some of your best basketball skills? A: My ability to think the game and my strengths – I have a very competitive attitude. Q: Do you have any other workouts scheduled? A: Yes, I have nine more workouts. It’s defiantly a grind and a tough process. I’m fighting to get through it. Q: What style of basketball do you like to play? A: Any style to be honest, I can play any style. I played for four different coaches and three total different offensives. It really doesn’t matter to me, I just like to play basketball and with a team that likes to play team ball. Q: What do you know about the Bucks and what do you think they need to improve? A: I’m defiantly not in a position to say what a team needs to improve on. But I know they’re a good organization with great players. I know they struggled with some health problems the last few seasons, but they’re a great basketball team.
Q: What did you think of today’s workout and how did it compare to others you’ve had? A: I thought it was great. It was very competitive. It was good to see that coach Skiles is very hands on, he’s out there (on the court) with us. Many head coaches watch from the side, which is definitely good, but he’s hands on and right out there pointing out some things. Q: What are the best parts of your game right now? A: Shooting the ball and getting the other guys involved. I just try to play good basketball and being very versatile and doing whatever the team needs me to do. Whether it’s handling the ball, shooting the ball, drive and kick whatever they need. Q: Did it make you more comfortable and create a friendly rivalry having your teammate (Bryce Taylor) in the workout with you? A: Absolutely. Bryce is a very good basketball player. We’ve been playing with and against each other for four years and we’re the reason that each other have grown as players. Just battling against each other every day and I think it has prepared us to go against these other good players. Q: Are there parts of your game that you’ve been working on to prepare for the workouts? A: All of the above. I’ve been training very hard. You want to hit from every angle, shooting, ball handling. You want to go at everything full speed and make everything like a game to do what you can to impress them. Q: What do you know about the Bucks and what does the team need to do to improve? A: Coach Skiles. I think that’s going to be huge. He’s a great coach and was a great player who understands the game. He’s a fierce competitor and I think when the guys get out there with him they’ll take on that same attitude. They have some talented players, so I don’t think it will take a lot to make the Bucks very competitive.
Q: What did you think of today’s workout – how did it compare to others? A: It wasn’t the toughest workout, but it was very competitive with a lot of shooting like most of my other workouts. It was very upscale and up-tempo and really kept you moving a lot. Q: What would you say are some of your best basketball skills? A: Getting to the free throw line, drawing fouls, rebounding as a point guard and my defense. I feel I’m good at locking my opponents down on the defensive end of the floor. Q: Do you have any other workouts scheduled? A: Yes, I have Boston and Detroit next. Today was my second workout; I worked out with Golden State before this. The workout in Golden State was a lot of shooting. Q: What style of basketball do you like to play? A: I like to get out and run as well as use the pick and roll. Q: What do you know about the Bucks and what do you think they need to improve? A: I think they need another point guard and they could be good if they start playing better team defense. I think that Coach Skiles brings that to the table. He will bring more defensive effort and intensity to this team.
Q: What did you think of today’s workout and how did it compare to others you’ve had? A: Each is very similar as far as putting us in situations to display our skills and see how we pick up on things – see how we take coaching and remember what they tell us. Then we have to do what we do well, whether it’s shooting the ball, driving with the ball and making plays for others. They all have similarities in that aspect. Q: What are the best aspects of your game right now? A: My strongpoint is putting the ball in the basket; shooting from three-point and mid-range, creating shots for myself and getting separation. I also try to defend tough and make things difficult on my opponent, being a smart player and making the right plays. Q: What style of basketball do you like to play? A: I like to play off of screens and moving without the basketball. Coming off of screens and looking for my shot. Pretty much any style that’s guard orientated. Q: Today’s workout featured a lot of upper classmen, how does that extra college experience help a player develop? A: I would say in some regards that upper classmen have an advantage over under classmen in that we’ve been able to get through four years of a grueling up and down college season. Translating to an 82 game NBA season is difficult, but we feel like we’re a bit more mature and know how to take care of our bodies. Q: What do you know about the Bucks and what does the team need to do to improve? A: It’s always tough to bounce back from a season where you struggled, but with coach Skiles coming in, who is a great coach with a great reputation, he likes to play a hard nosed style of basketball. He likes to defend and space the floor out. He lets his guards make plays for each other. I feel that I would help fit in with a Charlie Bell mode. Someone who can come off the bench and score the ball and make plays for my teammates and be a solid defender.
Q: What did you think of today’s workout – how did it compare to others? A: It was a pretty intense and competitive workout. I would have to say it was one of my tougher workouts, because of the way we were competing and the guys that were out there working out with me. It was a hard fought workout, with guys diving on the floor for balls. It was a real intense workout. Q: What would you say are some of your best basketball skills? A: Pretty much playing defense and being active – being all over the court and trying to play as hard as possible. Q: Do you have any other workouts scheduled? A: Yeah, I have around eight more workouts to participant in and the Milwaukee workout was my fourth one. So far I’ve been to Detroit, Boston and Washington – those workouts were all similar, but this on was more intense because of the way guys were competing. Q: What style of basketball do you like to play? A: I like a slashing team who plays hard-nosed defense. A team that likes to get out and run up and down the court. Q: What do you know about the Bucks and what do you think they need to improve? A: I honestly don’t know much about them. I know Michael Redd can shoot – he can come off of screens and knock down shots. Besides that, I haven’t had time to watch the Bucks that much. |
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