Toumani Camara Talks Defense, Practice, and Upcoming Games | Portland Trail Blazers
Good. How you doing? Good. I know you still have a couple more weeks of preseason, but tomorrow heading on the road for your first preseason game. You guys kind of feel like you’re ready for it. Yeah, it’s exciting. That’s why we’ve been waiting on the whole summer. It’s been a long summer. We’ve been playing a lot, getting better a lot. So, yeah, I think it’s it’s time we change the scenery and and go play somebody else. We’ve been talking about kind of the new offense you guys have been putting in. Some of your other guys, your teammates saying they’re very excited about it. Are you as well? Yeah, I think everybody was able to grow individually throughout the summer. U we understand everybody’s role um and everybody going to be able to contribute the way we’re going to play. So I think that’s very exciting. There’s not going to be a lot of standing around and stuff like that. Everybody going to be involved at a at a pretty good level. So yeah, I think it’s going to be really exciting for everybody. Does it change at all offensively this offense? Uh I wouldn’t say it change. I think I’m I’m going still do what I do, you know. Uh I think it’s going to just increase in volume. Um just by me being more comfortable in my position and be more mature. uh being able to be more confident in my shooting and everything going come going to come come along well. What would you say specifically makes you more comfortable? What are you more comfortable with? Um individually offensively? Yeah. Um offensively I would say my shot got way better handling the ball, making better decision um taking care of it and um cutting. I think that’s that’s a big uh emphasis on the way we’re going to be able to play. There’s going to be way more cutters and that’s a part of my game that I wasn’t really able to show on the the two years before this. And I think now that the way we going to play offense is going to be able to to be exposed a little bit more. Building on that, um, from what have you what you have seen, how do you think the like new offense system shape the team’s rhythm and building the chemistry on the court? I think it helps a lot. You know, um, the ball the ball carries energy. Uh, that’s something that we believe in as basketball players is if the ball is popping and moving a lot, not a lot of dribbles, and everybody get to touch it, you know, it’s good things going to happen, you know. Um, and that that’s the most important, be able to create advantage, get to the paint. um made the defense do rotations and stuff like that and I think getting a good shot every possession. I think that’s what we’re really working on every time and and taking care of the ball and and we’ve been looking good. So yeah, I’m excited. After your success last season, are you taking a more vocal role with your teammates or feeling more comfortable in that role? Um yeah, for sure. I think that’s something that the coach want me to do as well. Uh being a a little bit more vocal on the court and outside the court, be able to hold my teammate accountable. Um, but yes, it’s something that I feel like I’m embracing. It’s something that I feel like could fit my my character, who I am, and uh, yeah, I think that’s I I love doing it. So, how are your teammates responding to maybe a more local leadership? I think pretty well. Um, I don’t I don’t even see uh as me trying to like keep keep them in order, you know? It’s more like I’m trying to help you out. I’m trying to help us out. And I feel like this something that I do and I can see other players also doing it. Um, I don’t know if it’s because of me, but I feel like it’s an energy that’s that’s being kind of like a domino effect. You know, somebody start talking and hold each other accountable, everybody kind of like start doing it to each other. And I think that’s that’s the most important. You can’t just stay in your own head and and you need your teammates’s opinion. You know, Shaden’s a guy that everybody’s been talking about having a really good camp. What is different about him this year to you than maybe last year? I think his shot making, his decision, um, where he’s taking a shot from. I think he’s he’s very efficient on on on his shot taking on his shot uh spectrum I’ll say and um yeah I mean he he improving his strength physicality um making the right play every time. How are you uh you feel like you’re handling the ball more or maybe kind of creating a little bit more? It seems like watching a little bit seems like you’re maybe putting the ball on the floor. Yeah, I think it comes with experience, confidence, you know, being able to earn the respect from the coaches as well. Um it’s something that I’ve been working on all summer. You know, I mean, like I said every time, man, I used to be a fiveman, so it’s like dribbling was not really my area. So, I had to really get used to to do those things on the perimeter. So, I think it’s it started to to make more sense to me and and the game is slowing down by bay every day. What’s it like having Donovan back there clean up in the back on defense, man? It helps a ton. It helps a ton. Just just his presence, you know, it can deter a lot of drive, a lot of decision making. A lot of people going to make hesitation while in the paint, and it’s it’s going to help us huge. huge. I mean, even last year for for the small amount of playing time he was able to play, the his impact to the rim was just huge. So, um yeah, I’m really excited to have the DC protecting the rim for me. For sure. You had to guard Wesley at all in camp. For sure. Yeah, for sure. How describe that challenge and what he’s been doing? Um he’s very fast. He’s very fast. I really like the way he plays defensively. He’s a menace. Um plays really hard. Guard 94 ft like I do and and his intensity never stops. I think his his level of energy is always at a high level. Um try to make the right play all the time. It’s a very good driver. Um and yeah, you just you just got to get accustomed to to what we doing out here. I think it’s it’s it’s normal. U when you come in and you have a lot of guys your age that that been around here for at least 2 years, it’s going to take some time to get used to it. But he’s been doing a great job, man. I love you can probably kind of relate to a guy who’s coming in with an unknown role, kind of a long shot to get chance and just how hungry you have to be to get there. I mean, just what’s that like for him right now? uh as a guy who’s been through it yourself, I feel like it’s a challenge, you know, and I think he responded well um with that challenge. The whole summer he been really active, been present at almost all the team event that we have and and been showing great attitude and and and great energy all around. So, I think he’s he’s already did the what he had to do. The hardest part for this year for him, I think he already done that and it’s just go out there and be himself and play basketball now. So, so yeah, appreciate
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3 comments
Great attitude leadership vibe!
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MY GOAT