Welcome in everybody to the #FillYoPouch presser. Please help yourselves to some delicious food we have laid out for y’all. I’m sure y’all are hungry after asking questions all weekend. Of course we have the favorite, chicky chicky parm parm. Now for the good stuff
SPACE JAME THEME SONG STARTS PLAYING!
Hell yea everybody! Hands in the air! Let’s get excited for this season
*notices nobody else has their hands in the air except for that one guy in the back and motions for the music to cut off*. (What do you mean you can’t turn it off? Just press the power button. What do you mean there’s no power button?!?!? Oh Christ these reporters are gonna have a field day with this. Here let me just…*unplugs the cord, music cuts off*
(Clears throats)
First, I would like start by talking about last season. While some may look at 32 wins and think that’s a bad season, it did show a lot of improvement across the board. Our players got better, they really learned how to play together and the coaching also showed they are starting to put it all together. Of course we’re not satisfied with that season by any means, but it shows we’re going in the right direction. Who knows? Maybe there’s a 40 or even 50 win season coming up. Just need to not have those long losing streaks that we’ve had each season.
Second, the off-season. This off-season was the best one yet. We were able to make some great moves to get rid of bad contracts, had another draft with two top ten picks, and we had the best training camp in the league! We added Kofi blaq and Dwain Ramos and those two are really looking like solid players to help give us a bigger push this season. I’m really excited for how these young players have developed this off-season, especially Longar Longar, and our preseason shows they’re ready to play with the best (well second best, not sure if we’re ready for the pisstons). Even though it was a 3-3 record, our offense looked amazing. We still have to figure out defense but I have faith we’ll be able to fix that.
Third, expectations for this season. I’m not gonna sugarcoat it, we expect playoffs this season. It’s year 4, we took it easy the first two years and then made a jump last season. With the added playoff spot, there’s no reason this team shouldn’t be in there this season. Lee and Ramos played exceptionally well this preseason and look like they’re gonna be a problem for teams. I’m excited to finally be in a position to compete and hope my players will answer the call.
I will now open it up to any questions you may have
Sham Smith, Bulls.com: With the goal being a trip to the playoffs this season...presumably the first season of many in a row, is your team looking for win now players as evidenced by the Kofi Blaq trade? If so who do you see as the core players for this window of playoff runs, and who isn't ready to make the cut before you want to be competitive?
garbageman wrote: Mon Aug 12, 2024 1:23 pmSham Smith, Bulls.com: With the goal being a trip to the playoffs this season...presumably the first season of many in a row, is your team looking for win now players as evidenced by the Kofi Blaq trade? If so who do you see as the core players for this window of playoff runs, and who isn't ready to make the cut before you want to be competitive?
I still view this team as very early in our playoff run so win now isn't really where we're at just yet. But that's not say we won't make the moves we need to make to get there. If an opportunity presents itself, then we will surely take it. We are a very young team, with 1 player over the age of 27. If this is the beginning, then isn't any reason to see why this team we have now can't compete for the title in a couple of seasons. Longar, Lee, Pizzaro, Bender, Maurin, and Buggs have incredible potential a and Lee is the only one who is older than 21. If we can develop these players properly, then that core right there should cause a lot of problems for this league.
Kofi Blaq was a signing I didn't necessarily see in our future plans but we felt with the team we had, that we needed to add someone to help the PG position while Pizzaro continues to develop. If we can get off to a good start this season, then we may be looking at more trades near the deadline.
IamQuailman wrote: Mon Aug 12, 2024 2:11 pm
Do you plan to invest in Kofi Blaq to cover up some of the deficiencies that were exposed in the finals?
I'm hoping his deficiencies came from the coaching staff over in Denver and not from him as a player. He's in a spot to really help lead this young team. We have him for at least this season and next so if he can build a solid chemistry with the team, then we would definitely look to investing more in him
Jedihero wrote: Mon Aug 12, 2024 2:04 pm
If players could play like players, would you play players like players play? how much play could players play to hope to be players playing play?
I'll answer the first question with another question: if the players play, then what happens when the play plays the players?
For the second question, It's really just a matter of play inside the players' play. If their play plays out like player think they can play, then they should be playing to the best of their play ability. I see no reason playing players just to play players. They have to be able to play and should that they are players capable of making plays. If there is no play from the players, then there will be no play for the players
I see you've said the Kofi addition was primarily to bridge the PG position until Pizarro is ready. However, it seems to me that Kofi, while a good player, is a PG in name only and is more wing than floor general. Do you think you will keep your eyes on the trade market and be ready to pounce if a traditional PG comes along?
MexicanMamba wrote: Mon Aug 12, 2024 2:47 pm
I see you've said the Kofi addition was primarily to bridge the PG position until Pizarro is ready. However, it seems to me that Kofi, while a good player, is a PG in name only and is more wing than floor general. Do you think you will keep your eyes on the trade market and be ready to pounce if a traditional PG comes along?
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Absolutely. I wouldn't be doing my job as GM if we got complacent. While I do value Kofi's playing ability, if a better option comes around, then we will certainly do what we can to improve our team. Right now Kofi is our best PG and we're gonna see how he handles it to start the season. But he knows that he isn't living up to the #FillYoPouch standards, then there will be changes
With reports of your draft picks possibly struggling with the speed and intensity of the game, do you have any plans to send them down to the G league to gain more reps and experience before being able to compete in this league?
tbone963 wrote: Mon Aug 12, 2024 3:20 pm
Mike Minner, Minneapolis Magazine:
With reports of your draft picks possibly struggling with the speed and intensity of the game, do you have any plans to send them down to the G league to gain more reps and experience before being able to compete in this league?
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I wouldn't say they are struggling, more that they aren't where the rest of the team is at this moment. Which I am not surprised. What makes this roster so fun right now is that since we are just starting to look like a possible playoff team, it gives the new draft picks a bit more time to develop. While we would love to have them be ready to get some playing time, it could also be a negative to have too many people ready to go right now. Having to figure out playing time and positions. I'm hoping as they take the time to develop, that by the time our older guys are moving on, the younger ones will be ready to take their places