CruzDude
Senior Member sharing a brew with bajaden
I know, I know. The fans voted for Donte Greene for my interview. But by the time I got from press row to the Kings assembly area Greene had already left. Even the Kings Media rep missed him and was surprised. Kinda baffling as he DID know I was planning to interview him. hmmmm 
So there was JT sitting there with the traditional bags of ice on his knees after every game talking to no one. This interview I really enjoyed and JT was impressive in his handle and view of his situation at VSL.
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KF: You've made a major effort in this summer league. Your playing a ton of minutes. Is that something you wanted or was it something the staff wanted you to do?
JT: I don't know. You never know what to expect with a new coaching staff. I guess it would have been a little bit different if we had the same coaching staff and same players (as last year). There was only one familiar face, just Donte Greene so it was tough, so i was the leader and I just tried to take the leader role.
KF: Last year you played PF all year but in college and in this summer league you played in the 5 position. Which position is more comfortable or are they not that much different?
JT: I like playing the 4, I like playing the 3 sometimes and I like playing the 5. With our team and our style of play it's not just one position. Sometimes Coach Carril lets me handle the ball sometimes and run the play. I can get the rebound and dribble a little bit. You don't see many 5's do that so you don't really have a certain number. If the guys your with can really jell and know what you can do there's not one guy who can just bring the ball up.
KF: I saw you lead a fast break, that was pretty good?
JT: Yeah, I've been doing that since I've been young. I played the guard position when I was younger then I started growing and I became a big man with guard skills.
KF: The 3 draftees. What do you think about them? How are they going to fit in?
JT: I not sure what the system is gonna be yet so with a new coach it kind of makes me a rookie a little bit. Tyreke is real explosive off the dribble and can get in the paint any time he wants to. He is a real tough guard and that should make him good all the time. You got Omri, from Israel, a real pro. But the game overseas is a bit different so he's real good and when he gets some games under his belt and gets his feet into the game he should be real good.
KF: How are you going to fill in the time between now and training camp in October?
JT: I'm goin' to go back home for a little bit (Northern New Jersey) and work out a little bit spend some time with my family. Since I live now in California 3000 miles away from New Jersey. I'll be in Sac in September maybe take a little vacation before, then be ready for training camp.
KF: When you go home to work out is it just a local gym with a couple of guys or what?
JT: It's near Philadelphia and Tyreke is in that same area. You also got (in that area to work out with) John Salmons, Carl Lawry, Jameer Nelson, Hakim Warrick. You got a lot of great guys in that area that all work out together. You also got Yi from the Nets and Bryan Gomes. Its a good area where I come from and some good workouts.
It was late on a friday afternoon after their last game of the summer and we were among the last folks left in the interview area just off the basketball court so I thanked JT, and walked over to chat with Kings trainer Pete Youngman. (see separate thread)
So there was JT sitting there with the traditional bags of ice on his knees after every game talking to no one. This interview I really enjoyed and JT was impressive in his handle and view of his situation at VSL.
***************************************************************
KF: You've made a major effort in this summer league. Your playing a ton of minutes. Is that something you wanted or was it something the staff wanted you to do?
JT: I don't know. You never know what to expect with a new coaching staff. I guess it would have been a little bit different if we had the same coaching staff and same players (as last year). There was only one familiar face, just Donte Greene so it was tough, so i was the leader and I just tried to take the leader role.
KF: Last year you played PF all year but in college and in this summer league you played in the 5 position. Which position is more comfortable or are they not that much different?
JT: I like playing the 4, I like playing the 3 sometimes and I like playing the 5. With our team and our style of play it's not just one position. Sometimes Coach Carril lets me handle the ball sometimes and run the play. I can get the rebound and dribble a little bit. You don't see many 5's do that so you don't really have a certain number. If the guys your with can really jell and know what you can do there's not one guy who can just bring the ball up.
KF: I saw you lead a fast break, that was pretty good?
JT: Yeah, I've been doing that since I've been young. I played the guard position when I was younger then I started growing and I became a big man with guard skills.
KF: The 3 draftees. What do you think about them? How are they going to fit in?
JT: I not sure what the system is gonna be yet so with a new coach it kind of makes me a rookie a little bit. Tyreke is real explosive off the dribble and can get in the paint any time he wants to. He is a real tough guard and that should make him good all the time. You got Omri, from Israel, a real pro. But the game overseas is a bit different so he's real good and when he gets some games under his belt and gets his feet into the game he should be real good.
KF: How are you going to fill in the time between now and training camp in October?
JT: I'm goin' to go back home for a little bit (Northern New Jersey) and work out a little bit spend some time with my family. Since I live now in California 3000 miles away from New Jersey. I'll be in Sac in September maybe take a little vacation before, then be ready for training camp.
KF: When you go home to work out is it just a local gym with a couple of guys or what?
JT: It's near Philadelphia and Tyreke is in that same area. You also got (in that area to work out with) John Salmons, Carl Lawry, Jameer Nelson, Hakim Warrick. You got a lot of great guys in that area that all work out together. You also got Yi from the Nets and Bryan Gomes. Its a good area where I come from and some good workouts.
It was late on a friday afternoon after their last game of the summer and we were among the last folks left in the interview area just off the basketball court so I thanked JT, and walked over to chat with Kings trainer Pete Youngman. (see separate thread)
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