After Michael Bradley got hurt and had his surgery, I was like, ?Man, I wish I could be there,? ... But we still have guys that are gonna step up and do what they?re capable of doing and helping us out winning. The coaches and everybody said, ?Take your time. We need you by Nov. 1.? So I?m trying to get in a week before November, kind of get a little shape back and get myself into it. |
Coach's system last year, it worked well for some people. But I'm a shot-blocker and I don't think the way we played defense was best for me. |
I am just hoping to start playing a little bit more and get my momentum, timing, position and patience back, ... It feels good just being out there. |
I can name about five or six games that we let slip from our fingers. |
I did what I had to do. I did a good job stepping up to the challenge and so did the team. |
I don't think it's effort. I think everybody out there is trying to do the right things. I think everybody out there puts a lot of pressure on themselves to defend. |
I thought I was doing my job, but obviously I wasn't. |
I wish I can tell you. It's crazy. Every time we think we have things under control, something happens. |
I wish they would tell me one specific thing I need to get done and, trust me, I would be focused on that one thing and would make sure I would get it done. But that's not the case. It's not clear to me. |
I?d rather play the game than work out because they were too long. The workouts were a couple hours in the gym, a few hours here doing stuff. I said, ?Man, let me get back on the court.? It?s a lot easier to play than try to come back. |
I'm comfortable now, |
I'm comfortable now. Look, my problem last year was playing time. I just wanted the chance to go out and prove myself and I know Mo is going to utilize me the best way he can. |
I'm not the boss. The boss can decide to do whatever he wants. I just want to play. |
I'm trying to get myself on the floor for a long time. I'm ready. I'm ready. My main thing is I want to establish my presence defensively. That's my bread and butter. |
It's not like I wasn't doing my thing for [40] games. It's not like they told me I needed to do this or that. There was no warning. Nothing. For me, not starting and not telling me why is like telling me what I was doing wasn't good enough. |