WE JUST ENDED THE STEVE CLIFFORD AND STEVE KERR ZOOM CALLS FROM MAGIC AND #WARRIORS PREGAME. HERE ARE NOTES & QUOTES — PARTIAL VIDEOS TO BE UPLOADED LATER TONIGHT, DUE TO INTERNET UPLOAD ISSUES...
🚨 Magic will go big with Birch and Vucevic, Kerr says Draymond is expected to play but we’ll see pregame 🚨
CLIFFORD:
- injuries: “We’re gonna start differently (I couldn’t follow his nicknames)” (The Magic will start Michael Carter-Williams, Evan Fournier, James Ennis, Khem Birch and Nikola Vucevic — Josh Robbins)
- “We functioned well in Golden State with Khem Birch on Draymond, if he plays”
- transition: “They’re second in pace, they’re second in fast break points…you’ve gotta get with Steph early…Draymond busts out…4 or 5 man who’s that creative…they’re gonna be running at every opportunity.”
- Vucevic All-Star: “double teamed on the catch…the only negative I see is just our record.”
- size: “we need to get back and set our defense, we also need second chance points.”
- offensive rebounding: “defensive transition has suffered (from being 5th or 6th in the league in offensive rebounding).”
- lineup: “with this team we’ve been good at that we’re not (transition defense)…(in the 20s ranked on deflections, hoping MCW can help with that)…our turnovers…we’re a grind it out team.”
- defensive ratings: “it’s a different year, the lack of practice team…the number of injuries…condensed schedule…they have to be in here and test by 9 or 930…so many dimensions to playing through this year…difficult to measure the impact…the Bubble is not even close to this, in terms of the challenge and getting better…you walked five minutes to get tested…you could actually get better and work on things.”
- Steph: “we double teamed all of his pick and rolls and he just got away from us…he’s so good without the ball…we’re about as aggressive as you can be with him…when he’s down on the baseline he’s coming to the ball, he’s unlike other point guards…that you don’t guard every night…he needs no room, if he can see the basket he can make it.”
- minutes: “we’ll end up playing three guys at the 4 every night…at the 5…matchup driven…a lot of wear and tear.”
KERR:
- Draymond: “he’s on the training table right now but I’m expecting him to play…gotta get out in the floor and make sure he’s ok but we expect him to be out there.”
- jump out early, set the tone: “important to build momentum, we haven’t won three games in a row all season…normal environment we would’ve flown out early…I’m a little concerned about the start of the game, it may take some time for us to get our legs underneath us.”
- Birch/ Vucevic starting: “most teams seem to be going small these days…you saw how much trouble Orlando gave us last week…outplayed us in many ways but they were so undermanned that we sort of overwhelmed them…a big fight tonight on the glass…everybody’s gotta try to box out like crazy.”
- gaining momentum before ASB: “that’s the idea, we’d really like to establish that we’re better than a .500 team. I think we’re trending that way…getting used to combinations again…two sets of back to backs.”
- Wiseman: “James and Loon will both sit tomorrow and we’ll re-evaluated the next day.”
- floaters: “it’s the natural shot to take the way teams play, if they’re playing a drop and they’re playing a big at the rim…teams design their defenses to try to force that shot.”
- Poole: “I would like all three guys to play the whole time there, these games are really really valuable for their development…Jordan’s been lighting it up and he’s gaining the experience he desperately needs…got a report from Nick U’Ren who was there and here tonight…they need to play multiple games in a row which is the whole point…you need to feel that rhythm.”
- Wiseman/Looney back in rotation: “Biggest challenge is figuring out who’s not gonna play…I can’t play twelve guys…a lot of your guys not being able to find a rhythm.”
Monte - Oubre offense: “last game was Kelly’s best game yet, even better than his 40-point night in Dallas…his passing and his recognition of screening and cutting behind the play…it’s not a surprise…because Steph is so unique…it takes them a couple months to get comfortable…showed a lot of character sort of weathering the storm.”
Connor - Juan: “I’d love to find them for Eric too and play Draymond at the 5…I want to start Loon because Loon gets us off to a great start…I’d like to do all of those things but I can’t…difficult conversations with several guys…it’s your job just to stay ready…if you can produce after a lengthy stay on the bench…build a twelve-year career.”
James Hill - Wiggins: “great defensive effort particularly on the ball guarding the best players in the league…his pursuit…high ball screens…block shots from behind…that’s exactly what we asked of him…we don’t need him to be a savior we don’t need him to score 25 points…if you don’t have wings that can guard the LeBrons Kawhis Paul Georges of the league you’re in trouble.”
John Denton (AP) - Steph’s finest season odd? “It’s difficult to compare seasons sometimes because you’ve got to take into account…different set of teammates around him…we’re not as good as the team was in his MVP seasons…he’s continuing to perform at the highest level and bringing along a young team…that’s pretty significant…the team in ‘15-16 was a well-oiled machine.”
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