JT, Tyreke Ready to Run with Suns
October 19, 2009 by Andrew Nicholson
As encouraging as the Kings win over the Golden State Warriors was on Saturday night, the team preferred to discuss areas for further improvement on Monday. However, Coach Paul Westphal saw growth in several key areas.
“I thought we did a very decent job in both those areas,” Westphal said of transition and pick-n-roll defense. “The Warriors are one of the toughest teams in transition, but most of their transition baskets came off our turnovers, not off of bad transition defense. I thought our pick-and-roll defense was miles better than it was against the Lakers.”
Along with the aforementioned defensive improvement, Westphal also liked what he saw with the team’s plus-18 rebounding advantage, led by Jason Thompson who corralled a game-high 20 boards. He also said the ball bounced the team’s way, however, so work on the boards continues.
“We have some players that are really concentrating on the boards,” Westphal said. “I think Truck (Robinson) is doing a good job and all of our coaches are doing a good job of emphasizing what it takes to get rebounds in this league, and it worked for us that night. We know we need to get better on the boards and I think we’re taking steps in that direction.”
After practice, Westphal discussed the matchup with the Suns and much more.
Watch- Kings Training Camp: Paul Westphal.
Without Shaquille O’Neal, Thompson and the Kings hope to exploit the limited depth of the Suns’ frontcourt.
“I’m going to try and attack (Amare Stoudemire) to get him out of the game because they don’t have that many veteran bigs out there now that they don’t have the Big Cactus anymore, so we should take advantage of that,” Thompson, who had 20 points and 20 rebounds against the Warriors, said.
According to Thompson, the Kings are able to control the rebounding battle when so many players have a knack for attacking the glass.
“We have a lot of active guys,” Thompson said. “When Tyreke is getting some rebounds, I think he had (6), and Kevin (Martin) gets in there and other guys like
Desmond (Mason) get in there, it really helps out and kind of makes it easier for us (on the frontline) because their other guys have to get boxed as well, (so) it can open it up for me to get my hand on the ball.”
Watch – Kings Training Camp: Jason Thompson.
With his major role in limiting Monta Ellis and C.J. Watson to a combined 6-of-24 from the field on Saturday, Tyreke Evans continued to show why fans and pundits are already projecting him among the Rookie of the Year candidates this season. Despite facing a two-time MVP, Steve Nash, Evans remains humble and confident about their first-time matchup.
“Steve Nash is a great point guard,” Evans said. “He’s good at coming off pick-and-rolls, keeping his dribble when he’s going toward the basket and throwing alley-oops to Amare Stoudemire, so it’s going to be a tough challenge for me to go out there and guard a guy like him.”
“(I’ll) just try to do the same thing I did to Monta - use my length. Those guards are a lot smaller than me and a little quicker, but I just look at it like once they beat me, I don’t give up. I just try to get my hands up and block their shot.”
With a dynamic game, when asked if he would rather knock down a game-winning shot or lockdown his man on defense, Evans didn’t hesitate.
“Lock him down defensively,” Evans said smiling. “If I lock him down defensively, we shouldn’t have to hit a game-winning shot.”
For Evans’ entire post-practice interview, watch – Kings Training Camp: Tyreke Evans.
The Kings took off for Phoenix after Monday’s practice and with their final preseason road game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday, the team won’t return to Sacramento until Friday.
See Evans and the Kings battle Deron Williams and the Utah Jazz on Friday at 7 p.m. at ARCO Arena. Click here to buy tickets to the preseason finale now.
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