PRACTICE SOUND: COACH MOSE, DESMOND BANE & FRANZ WAGNER PRESENTED BY SAS

PRACTICE SOUND: COACH MOSE, DESMOND BANE & FRANZ WAGNER PRESENTED BY SAS

coach, you guys back in Orlando, what was the focus of practice today? We getting back to the details. Uh the things that we saw in that Atlanta game that were uncharacteristic of us, uh obviously the one thing we looked at was fouling. Uh the defense being able to contain the basketball, you know, which leads to the next thing, guys getting downhill, attacking the basket, and then you’re reaching and fouling, you’re out of position. So, our ability to focus on those details offensively, continuing to get up and down the floor, but then making the right decision, the quick decision, finding the open man. You know, it’s an 82 game season and there are there have been ls in the past that we’ve talked about, but how worrisome is it that these issues are happening out of the gates like this, if at all? Yeah, I think part of what we’re doing, you know, you’re always tinkering and trying to find different ways as a new team comes together. Uh, laws happen like you just said, they happen throughout the season. Ours just happen to be happening in this moment right now and as we start to move forward. Get it out the way now. So now as we get through the season, we know how things can be corrected. And that’s what we’re getting to in these moments. Is there is there a a need or or how do you kind of balance introducing kind of the new concepts that you’ve been intro that you’ve been introducing while still trying to maintain what’s been this team’s foundation for the for the last few years? Well, defense is going to be the foundation and so that’s not that’s not introducing anything new. Uh, understanding how we need to run is something that may be a little bit of a a different concept, but being more efficient in how we run, but it’s all stemmed from how we get stops to get out and run. And if you in that Atlanta game there, we weren’t getting many stops, so we weren’t able to get out and run. So, it’s back to that’s the same foundation we’re going to continue to hit home on. We get stops to get out and run to be efficient in transition and convert on the other end. let our defense fuel our offense. Defense in this league is hard, especially with the opposing players out there. What go into the finer details of of being a good defensive player as part of a team? No, that’s a that’s a very good question. I I think one you have to take pride and sit down and guard your man. Uh understanding his tendencies, what he’s able to do, how he does them, and being able to take those strengths away. And then as they get to, you know, some more of those strength, is our weak side available? Are they alert? Are we understanding what guys are doing on the backside and know your personnel on what each person does as you’re closing out to them? And then you’ve got to make sure when that ball goes up, you’re hitting guys, finishing possessions off with the rebound so you’re able to get onto the other end and convert. You mentioned defense being the foundation of your team. Obviously, it’s you’ve been here for multiple years and you’ve talked about that a lot, but has perhaps the newness of it all been too much for the guys, new players, new scheme. I mean, has has that been something at all or what do you think is the disconnect there? Can I ask you a question? And I mean this and I’ll answer your question, but I’m going to ask you a question and return to that. How many drafts of uh your edit or your stories do you do before you before you write them? A bit. Yeah. About four or five, maybe six. So, we’re at game eight. These are drafts and so they’re not the perfect draft and we’re not asking these guys to be perfect, but what we’re going to continue to ask them to be consistent and stick with our process. And so with that being said, it’s not a time to just scrap the paper. It’s time to say, “Okay, how do we revisit this?” Like today in practice, you go over defensive drills. You go over closeouts. You go over recognizing who’s who on the floor, what they need to do, how they need to see it. Those are the things that are the details of the game. So, and understanding how we have to do it, and then putting him in the position to do. Kind of kind of building on that then. It’s it’s obviously been a little bit of a slow start for for Desmond. what are the conversations like and in and seeing what he feels on the floor where where he sees his opportunities and and making sure that he gets his his shot up his shots up and and is involved in the offense. That’s a big portion of it. Just continue to be him. You know, why he was why he’s brought here, why he was brought here was because he’s a his ability to make shots, but it’s also his leadership and how he’s talking to guys and how he’s bringing in discussions, how he’s bringing the team together, the huddles that he brings in that you see throughout the game. Those are the big portion as well. Those are the conversations uh to continue to be himself. And then, you know, you implore him to say, you know, keep stepping into those things uh with confidence and then we’ve got to keep putting him in position to be successful out there. Thank you. Appreciate it. Dez, as you guys finally get acclimated to being back home for a change, uh you know, what was the focus of practice today and what were the things you guys were talking about? Uh just just real dialogue, you know, real conversations. Um talking about areas where where we can improve and where we can be better. Um, you know, I I thought it was good. You know, it’s early in the season, so we’re all still trying to find our way and and uh fill the niche and coaches kind of laid it out there. You know, what what’s expected of of each of us and um you know, we got some clarity on on what needs to be done. What’s the biggest adjustment that you think needs to be made to figure this out? I think it all starts on the defensive side of the ball for us. I mean, that’s that’s got to be our um our calling card. Um, and then when we do get it on offense, just just the unselfish play. Um, you know, whatever the right play is, um, you know, that’s the play that that that needs to be made. Um, regardless, you know, who’s in what position? What’s the, you know, this team has a pretty established defensive identity and rules. What’s what’s been the biggest adjustment for you to kind of learn and integrate into what they’re trying to do on the defensive end? Uh, just a few of the rotations. Um, you know, Coach Jenkins was was very detailed, um, but had his own system and Tomas, you know, had his own system as well. Um, you know, so just getting acclimated to that. I feel like I’m I’m picking up on it, but there’s still a few times, um, you know, where I’ll get lost in a in a rotation or whatnot, but, um, it’s it’s getting there. Is is is the process of kind of integrating and coming together. I I’m sure there’s some frustration with the results, but is is it is it coming along as as you as you’d like or as you expected it to or or what’s kind of that process? Uh yeah, I mean I I talked with uh with Jeff um before the season started and we we talked a little bit today too, but I was just saying, you know, it’s a decent chance it gets off to a little bit of a rocky start um just because things are new and um you know, we’re we’re trying to put so much together um in a short amount of time. So um it’s a long season. you know, I I I’d rather be playing our best basketball in in April and May um you know, than than October. So, um still a long way to go and uh feel like we we’ll get there. How would you evaluate the ball movement and the passes themselves from what you guys have seen so far? Uh for us, yeah, uh I mean I I think that every team probably goes into the locker room and and into the coaches meetings and says that they need to pass the ball more, you know? I mean, I think that’s um you know, how how most of the best offenses, you know, move and um you know, we we definitely got to make some strides in that area, but I think everybody’s aware and we got um really good good people in here. So, I I expect uh expect us to to make that adjustment. Dez, it’s hard to be a good defender in this league, a good team defense. What goes into the fine details of being a good individual and team defender? I think it’s uh like attention to detail number one. Um you know, attention to detail, knowing your schemes, knowing personnel, knowing what we’re doing. Um and then secondly, I think it’s just just will. Um you know, I mean, it’s it’s a lot of things that go on throughout a game. Um but just how how locked in and how focused are you um will will ultimately determine. What are what are the conversations like? I know maybe you haven’t gotten off to the offensive start that that you’d hope hope for, but what are the conversations like to kind of find find your place in in the offense and find ways to to get yourself going? Uh, we’re we’re talking about spacing um, you know, in different different ways just to give everybody um more opportunities and um, you know, more more space to to operate. Um, so I mean I think that’s that’s been a huge talking point. And then like we said, just just making the right play. Um, you know, we all got a lot of responsibility. um you know with the ball in our hands and um different actions and things like that. So just continuing to uh to to make the unselfish plays. Thanks. Thanks Seth. Thank you. Good. You guys get acclimated to finally being back home. Uh what was the focus of practice today? Uh defense is all principles and then the spacing on offense. What’s been the mindset of the team as you guys have returned home looking ahead to tomorrow and then these three games at home the opportunity there? Uh yeah, good opportunity. Um not the not the best road tour, but I think we learned a lot and um you know, just another opportunity to get better. Um and hopefully consistently make some steps forward. What’s the biggest thing you think you learned about this team and and just stood out to you? I think we just got to play aggressive. Um I didn’t like our vibe that that last game and um just making sure our energy is right. I think is the most important thing for our group with with the way that this team’s trying to play offense. I know we’ve made a lot about trying to increase the pace. Is is there a balance that you guys need to see seek to to make sure that the defense is is set up to succeed? Do you feel like like sometimes you get a little too out of control with with the pace and and need to and kind of lose lose that defensive identity? Honestly, not last game. I thought we we had too many turnovers, but not necessarily because of uh playing way too fast. Um it’s got to be sharper uh with our spacing like I said um knowing where guys are supposed to be and then also you know delivering the pass at the right time and um yeah I know maybe in general over the season but last game I thought you know we just didn’t get back um you know had a couple turns that you know were kind of unforced. You guys you guys know the kind of defensive team that that you can be. What’s what’s the most important key to kind of getting getting back to that and making that the foundation for the I thought we made some steps forward. Um I had two good good games on the road and um I think it’s just about consistency and uh know we got to um take care of the pain a little bit better than than we have been. You’re a guy who pays close attention to detail when it comes to being a a fine individual and team defender. What goes into the little details of that? I think it’s focus. I think IQ is uh sometimes underrated just knowing who you’re playing against and um and just kind of the having a fear for the game, reading close out, stuff like that, how far you have to be um kind of seeing a play ahead. Um and then I think you know defense, a lot of it comes down to mentality, effort, and um obviously understanding the game plan too. Know knowing where you got to be in what spot at what time in terms of the team defense and u I think the most important thing though is is just effort and mentality. When you say you didn’t like the vibes from the other night, what do you mean? Uh just putting our heads down, you know, one mistake leading to a couple more cuz cuz we’re not in the moment and still two or three uh you know, plays backwards. So, um yeah, I think that that’s that’s an area of growth for us. When Desmond delivers a hard foul like that and he said, “Hey, we talk about this all the time. No easy layups or anything like that.” Does that does the team feel something like that when he does something like that? Uh yeah, I mean obviously probably some frustration in terms of how we how we were playing and um not saying he did it on purpose, but I think that that comes out in those moments and you know shows the competitor that he is and um not saying we we got to do it all the time, but we got to play with that type of attitude a little bit more. I think with with Desmond, obviously it’s been a little bit of a slow start for him offensively, just kind of getting used to the guys. What do you what do you say to him or how do you keep him involved and kind of find and find and help him get acclimated? I think he’s someone who who thrives in just ball movement and um you know creating off the catch and stuff like that. So I think it’s not just not just on him, it’s on on the whole on the whole team to you know maximize his ability in those situations and find them more in those spots. Thanks. Thank you guys.

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