I guess it's just having time to play with each other and learning each other, just finding out how he wants to play and vice versa. He told me coming into the season that he wasn't doing his job if I didn't average four or five more points than I had been, and he was right because I am. ... We work together. We find out what plays we want to run. When we call plays for him, he tells me things he can do to get me an easy basket. And when a play is called for me, I let him know, if they take certain things away from me, what I can get for him. So it's just having some chemistry, being together and having a coach that understands that both of us need the ball and understands how both of us want to play. |
I had a lot of growing up to do. A lot of times, I learned the hard way. |
I had my popcorn just like probably everybody else. I was watching, and I was calling people up on the phone to make sure they were watching it. It's like, when you see a game like that, you're so much a fan ... |
I had problems walking, so I knew I couldn't do any running. I couldn't do it. It's real swollen. |
I honestly thought as long as I got there before the ball went up, everything would be cool. I've been doing it that way my whole career and it never was a problem, even when coach (Larry) Brown was here. |
I hope [my teammates] were glad I was back and I hope that I did give them some confidence. |
I hope they were glad I was back and I hope that I did give them some type of confidence. It's important for my confidence for me to feel wanted and be able to go out there and make something happen. |
I just continue to play the way that made me successful in this league. Once I stop being aggressive on the basketball court, I'll be hurting my team more than helping them. |
I just got more aggressive. I didn't have the ball in my hands that much in the first half because I was playing the 2-guard. When they took John out of the game in the second half, I handled the ball more and I was able to make things happen for myself and my teammates. |
I just wasn't picked. I'm not bitter. I'm not mad. It just means I'll get to spend more time with my wife and kids over the next three summers. I still hope they bring back the gold. I'm just honored to have played before. |
I kind of was frustrated with myself in the sense that I was missing easy shots, |
I know I am healthy enough to go out there and not hurt my teammates. |
I know we got guys in here who can get it done, because it happens on some nights. But it doesn't happen in others. This has to start with me, because I am our top offensive player. If I can send the message about playing defense, then I'm pretty sure everyone else will follow. |
I never seen a rookie get that many calls going to the basket. He kind of reminded myself of me when I was a rookie, just going in there and being able to get calls and all the veterans saying they never seen a rookie get calls like that. |
I promise you it's not that. If I can play the way I played the last two games from some controversy, I will hope there's controversy going on all of the time. |