Daryl Morey on 610

Didnt want to start a new thread but anyhow, Gersson Rosas was just on.


H: Rich and Josh here, appreciate it as always. How are you?

GR: Doing good.

H: Tough game last night. How is everyone holding up?

GR: Competitve bunch over here. It's a marathon. Our guys are working hard. HAd good practice today. Coaches putting in the work. Situation is what it is though. Our guys care though. We know we'll break out and get some wins coming. All you can do now is work and get ready for SA.

H: Can you pinpoint the reasons for start?

GR: We know in order to be good team, we gotta be balanced. We've been stronger on O than D. In chemistry and idenity, we are not there. Had good game in LA but key break downs late. Overall, we got new personnel and new roles and it is what it is. We got growing pains. No one wants to hear that but we gotta find some chemistry and identity. Our players are trying and working hard, coaches doing the same. Rough stretch here. Not an excuse, gotta win some games, but we feel we'll get this solved.

H: Talked about the D, I think league is 29th in D. Why is the D struggling so much?

GR: Its combo of chemistry as a unit. Lowry does good things for us and he's not 100%. We need to get on the same page. Tough for the coaching staff. Had injuries in TC. Need to figure out rotation and get on the same page. It takes time. D rebounding a big priority. Gotta rebound as a unit. Havent done it consistently. Our guys recognize it. Protection at the rim also important. Had a tough time there against New Orleans. GOtta be more accountable on D as a unit.

H: Obviously touched on Yao before, coaches players alike adjusting to that but in those 3 games he has played, he has not finished any game. Is there an explanation for that? Fatigue a factor? Consideration to change that?

GR: You bring up a good point. Such an interesting situation. Puts coaches in a hard place with the minutes limit. Matchups play a key role in late game situations where maybe Yao isnt there. Since this is new for all of us, Rick is trying to be creative with it. Its more complicated because teams will do everything to keep Yao off the floor. A lot of chess matches in the 4th quarter. As we've expressed, it's day to day situation where we are trying to get him up to 100% and be ready and there for the stretch run.

H: How do you think he's doing?

GR: Stretches where you feel good, other times where you feel he's getting his timing and rythym back. Having him on the floor, on O and D, it's great to have him back. It will be a process. Right now, he is in the right direction but will take time.

H: Thoughts on the Spurs?

GR: They're a vet team. Got the advantage. With our additions. We're trying to find our team out. Spurs know who they are as a team. As we work through it, roles and time will be identified. Parker, Duncan know each other well. They play to their strengths. It will be tough but we are competitive in SA. Coaches have put together a strong game plan.

H: Gersson Rosas, appreciate the time.

GR: Thanks, no problem.

 

Chemistry is overrated

 

Daryl Morey:

H: Thanks for joining us. How is it going?

DM: Good morning.

H: Last night you lose to Washington. Latest on Yao?

DM: Not much to share. Still learning the extent of it. I'm optimistic on early feedback but still early to know.

H: He flew back/he's with the team?

DM: Yeah, he's in Indiana

H: Schedule of getting him evaluated?

DM: They're gonna get a better look at that. Dont know when we'll have news or what it'll be.

H: Another 4 Q lead only to lose. Thoughts on what happened late?

DM: Yeah, think we had lead in every 4th Q game this year and only 1 win. Big problem. Coach trying to go with more veterans late yesterday. We didnt get it done. We need to make changes where we need to make changes and stay steady where we need to stay steady.

H: Wait and see with Yao, safe to say we wont see in immediate future? AB also out. Where will we get points?

DM: Premature to say he'll be out any amount of time. Had some pain but the extent is unknown. We'll know more later today. Kevin and Luis will handle scoring and others need to step up. Many players not playing up to the level of the past. Too many not playing up to potential and that has made it difficult on Coach Adelman.

H: Combined 30 minutes for Yao, Miller, Hill. Because of the matchups, is that why Rockets went smaller?

DM: Jordan didnt perform well early in the game. Brad gave some solid minutes. When Jordan isnt palying well, coach likes what he gets from Chuck. We couldnt secure rebounds. Coach gotta make tough decisions each night.

H: Tough with all these injuries. Seems like AB-KL need each other.

DM: Kyle hasnt been himself. Not only because of his injury but his game. He attacked last night and pushed in transition. That was a staple of his game before. He definitely said I gotta get back to that. He took a lot of shots out of his character. Shots we didnt need. Not worried about him long term but strange turn for him. Never seen him play like this.

H: Martin is finding a rythym as "the guy".

DM: We're always trying to be up and down team. Best O is still early in the clock. Kevin has been terrific. Had one of his better games yesterday. We need him though to be stronger in transition. He sees himself as a half court player. We need him to be part of the transition game.

H: Can you hang another segment?

DM: That's fine. I'm driving now.

...

H: Heard the highlights there on Ish. Had a good game shooting wise. Kept in under control. Thoughts on him?

DM: He's been solid. For an undrafted rookie, he has done much more than we could expect. I could pick off 5 things for each guy that they could do better but he's done well.

H: Thoughts on John Wall?

DM: He's gonna be unbelievable. He just about single handedly beat us yesterday. What can I say? He was the #1 pick for a reason. Much of the pregame preparation was on him. Hats off to him. He was chasing down rebounds.

[Caller]: Aaron can flat out shoot. Why not move him to #2 shooting guard vs PG. I think he'll be more effective there.

DM: He's a heck of a player. We like him at both spots. Very good PG. We were successful last year playing him and Kyle together. Havent seen that much this year though due to injuries.

[Caller]: Talk about Jordan Hill. I'm disappointed in the progression of him. He doesnt seem to have that fire or desire. Like he needs a foot in his ass. Maybe taking on the attitude of Yao Ming. Thoughts on his progression?

DM: I think...we have more resources than any NBA team for them to improve themselves. On D, he is one who is just slower to improve. That is negating his minutes. Rick making sure he is following the gameplan and watching his D. On O, he is good. In terms of sticking a foot in his ass, either you have the fire or dont. Too early still for Jordan we think. Reality is these players are young. He needs to get that fire within. Either it will come from him or it wont.

H: These guys need to look in the mirror to find if the game is important to them.

DM: Exactly right.

H: Where does Budinger need to improve?

DM: We've been good when he's out on the floor. He has missed shots he has made his whole life. Maybe has shook his confidence some. We're stressing to him, when its not falling, keep shooting and look to contribute other ways. His overall game has progressed. But he isnt doing what everyone knows he can do. I feel good about him but he's one of those players not playing up to his past level or a level we expected. Need to turn that around.

H: What about Lee?

DM: Courtney another player similar to Chase. Lee has played more minutes than Chase in his career. Rick struggling when to use him. Got many options to use. Cant play 6 wings guys and be effective. I think he's settling on a rotation but injuries arent helping. We're asking him to do new things like attack the basket instead of settling for mid-range game, which is something he has relied on.

H: Thanks for joining us. Indiana tomorrow. Early thoughts?

DM: I envy their record. They push the tempo. Gotta defend the 3 and slow their transition game down. Gotta attack them on the boards to slow down the transition game. Got great player in Danny Granger and just another night in the NBA, where we can win but we gotta actually do it vs something just on paper.

H: Thanks for joining us, best of luck tomorrow.

DM: Thanks.