Training Camp: Implementing the Framework
September 29, 2009 by Andrew Nicholson
On Monday, the Kings gathered to introduce themselves to the media at the team’s practice facility and gain familiarity with one another and the roles of the staff at a nearby restaurant. On Tuesday, the team tipped off 2009-10 training camp with a two-a-day set of practices.
The team’s first run-through was more of an “orientation,” according to Coach Paul Westphal. Due to League rules, which limit teams to 3.5 hours of basketball practice in a given day – not including stretching, conditioning and meetings — and only one of the two practices per day to contact competition, the coaching staff utilized the early practice to begin giving the players the team’s offensive and defensive framework.
Westphal said it takes a few days to convey the team’s “big picture” and following the delivery of its offensive and defensive details, he begins breaking down the smaller elements. The first practice, according to Westphal, was highlighted by the discussion of defensive situational protocol and terminology, transition defense and the basic default offensive structure the team will maintain in the early offense or when a given offensive play breaks down.
“I thought the guys did a really great job of picking up the framework of what we’re trying to do offensively and defensively,” Westphal said smiling.
For complete coverage of his reaction to the team’s first practice, watch – Kings Training Camp: Coach Westphal.
While Westphal caught up with the media, players took part in the team’s conditioning test with strength and conditioning coach Daniel Shapiro. After each player passed the necessary test to participate in the team’s contact-competition practices, guards Kevin Martin and Tyreke Evans and forwards Jason Thompson and Andres Nocioni joined the media to discuss their first go-round under Westphal and his staff.
Watch – Kings Training Camp: Kevin Martin, including insight on the team’s conditioning test, what it takes to be successful in the NBA and his rookie teammates.
Watch – Kings Training Camp: Tyreke Evans, including perspective on his first NBA practice, the team dinner and what type of sets the team learned.
Watch – Kings Training Camp: Jason Thompson, including his point of view on the difference of this year’s first practice, Westphal’s system and getting acclimated to the new system.
Watch – Kings Training Camp: Andres Nocioni, including his advice to rookies Omri Casspi and Evans on transitioning to the NBA and being successful in the League.
Stay current with Kings.com and Full Court Press for continued coverage of the Kings 2009-10 training camp.
Have a question for the team? Submit your questions below or @ reply to Twitter.com/sacramentokings to have the opportunity to have your question asked by Kings.com at team media availability.
are you going to be doing reporting from training camp? do you not do that anymore? seems like a lot of cameras there
Is Kevin Martin injured? Please!!
Martin has played in the team's practices and there is no injury to report.
I will be reporting on practices, including training camp, with videos and blogs throughout the season.