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Few days old but I thought I'd post it.
By C. Sawyer
for HOOPSWORLD.com
Jul 15, 2007, 04:15
It’s always easier the second time around and for Sacramento King, Justin Williams, that holds true for this year’s summer league play. On facing his second summer in a King’s uniform, said Williams, “It feels a lot better the second year out, having a feel for it. It’s a lot better being in the second year and knowing what’s going on and having an idea what it is coming into it. I feel a lot more comfortable knowing the offense; it’s just a great situation.”
He can also related to all the newbies on the team and what they are going through, “The rookies I can tell how fast they are trying to move, I was doing the same thing last year so its just an adjustment they’ve got to make, playing is only going to help them get better.”
Last year as a rookie and undrafted he had a lot to prove. He did impress the Kings but when they had to make their final cuts, it was a hard choice, but he didn’t make it.
This year should be different. After spending the end of last season making a favorable impression on both Kings management and fans he is back again for summer league play. Having the opportunity to play again for Sacramento at the end of last season was definitely an opportunity that made Williams a better player. Said Williams, “It helped a lot because I already knew the system when I got called back so getting adjusted wasn’t hard at all it didn’t take me time. I felt all the guys loved me there, all the players and coaches, so it was a perfect fit, a blessing in disguise getting called back there out of all the teams. To be able to play with them and have the success it built my confidence tremendously.”
That confidence is apparent this summer in Williams' attitude and his game. He has been showing his skills at rebounding, blocking and any and every part of the game involving post play. There’s no doubt that Williams is most comfortable going after loose balls but this summer he seems comfortable just about everywhere. Not only does he make an impact starting but his hustle on defense is a spark that motivates his teammates. Not only does he look comfortable on the floor, but where it is equally apparent in how comfortable he feels it is with his teammates. For Williams it’s easier this time around, and with teammates Quincy Douby and Francisco Garcia, a lot more fun.
However it is not only just an increased comfort level, his role on the team is increasing as well. Williams is aware of his coaches increased expectations and is excited about delivering on them, “Now that we have a different coach mainly, last year Coach Musselman told me to work on mainly just getting stronger because I was just going to be a rebounder. Now Reggie Theus is a coach who wants players who can put the ball in the basket and he’s even talked to me about working on different parts of my game to make me better because I don’t really look to score. I was always told that wouldn’t be my role but just to hear him say that and know that he’s looking for me to score and looking to work with me that gives me nothing but excitement because if I add that to my game then who knows.”
For Williams these summer games are just the beginning of what should be, hopefully, a long year. He’ll be heading back to Sacramento once the games end and will be working out the rest of the summer.
After taking a few days off he plans to get back to what he was doing, working out. Not just in the gym but with the coaches on his offensive game and on understanding the game. He also is looking forward to hanging out with old teammates and friends, Douby and Garcia, as well as a new face in Spencer Hawes. Said Williams about his summer plans, “Now that we’ve got Spencer (Hawes) I’m going to be working out with him. Me and Quincy, we’ll be doing a lot of one-on-one in the gym, and Francisco, us three we’ve always been tight and worked out together so it’s great to have those guys on the team and we want to work out and get better and that’s only going to make me better.
The expectations for the Kings from around the league this season are not going to be high, but with Williams on the court at least the energy will be. And with that kind of energy anything is possible.
http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_22770.shtml
By C. Sawyer
for HOOPSWORLD.com
Jul 15, 2007, 04:15
It’s always easier the second time around and for Sacramento King, Justin Williams, that holds true for this year’s summer league play. On facing his second summer in a King’s uniform, said Williams, “It feels a lot better the second year out, having a feel for it. It’s a lot better being in the second year and knowing what’s going on and having an idea what it is coming into it. I feel a lot more comfortable knowing the offense; it’s just a great situation.”
He can also related to all the newbies on the team and what they are going through, “The rookies I can tell how fast they are trying to move, I was doing the same thing last year so its just an adjustment they’ve got to make, playing is only going to help them get better.”
Last year as a rookie and undrafted he had a lot to prove. He did impress the Kings but when they had to make their final cuts, it was a hard choice, but he didn’t make it.
This year should be different. After spending the end of last season making a favorable impression on both Kings management and fans he is back again for summer league play. Having the opportunity to play again for Sacramento at the end of last season was definitely an opportunity that made Williams a better player. Said Williams, “It helped a lot because I already knew the system when I got called back so getting adjusted wasn’t hard at all it didn’t take me time. I felt all the guys loved me there, all the players and coaches, so it was a perfect fit, a blessing in disguise getting called back there out of all the teams. To be able to play with them and have the success it built my confidence tremendously.”
That confidence is apparent this summer in Williams' attitude and his game. He has been showing his skills at rebounding, blocking and any and every part of the game involving post play. There’s no doubt that Williams is most comfortable going after loose balls but this summer he seems comfortable just about everywhere. Not only does he make an impact starting but his hustle on defense is a spark that motivates his teammates. Not only does he look comfortable on the floor, but where it is equally apparent in how comfortable he feels it is with his teammates. For Williams it’s easier this time around, and with teammates Quincy Douby and Francisco Garcia, a lot more fun.
However it is not only just an increased comfort level, his role on the team is increasing as well. Williams is aware of his coaches increased expectations and is excited about delivering on them, “Now that we have a different coach mainly, last year Coach Musselman told me to work on mainly just getting stronger because I was just going to be a rebounder. Now Reggie Theus is a coach who wants players who can put the ball in the basket and he’s even talked to me about working on different parts of my game to make me better because I don’t really look to score. I was always told that wouldn’t be my role but just to hear him say that and know that he’s looking for me to score and looking to work with me that gives me nothing but excitement because if I add that to my game then who knows.”
For Williams these summer games are just the beginning of what should be, hopefully, a long year. He’ll be heading back to Sacramento once the games end and will be working out the rest of the summer.
After taking a few days off he plans to get back to what he was doing, working out. Not just in the gym but with the coaches on his offensive game and on understanding the game. He also is looking forward to hanging out with old teammates and friends, Douby and Garcia, as well as a new face in Spencer Hawes. Said Williams about his summer plans, “Now that we’ve got Spencer (Hawes) I’m going to be working out with him. Me and Quincy, we’ll be doing a lot of one-on-one in the gym, and Francisco, us three we’ve always been tight and worked out together so it’s great to have those guys on the team and we want to work out and get better and that’s only going to make me better.
The expectations for the Kings from around the league this season are not going to be high, but with Williams on the court at least the energy will be. And with that kind of energy anything is possible.
http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_22770.shtml
