San Antonio Spurs 09-10 Preseason Press Conference

[Eazy P]

I like to welcome everyone back to the San Antonio Spurs Preseason Press Conference. You could've been anywhere else today but you guys are here. First off I would like thank the Spurs Nation for all of their support last season. We are disappointed on how everything ended in the 1st round of the playoffs last season but we loss to a good Grizz team in 7 games. Last season was still kind of a success and we are looking build off of last season's success. We basically have the same team from last season aside from our 2 picks, Wesley Mathews, Jordan Hill and the addition of JaVale McGee via trade. Everyone worked their behinds off this off season and during training camp. I feel these young guys are hungrier this year than last. They are looking forward to going further than last's year 1st round exit. Hopefully everyone can stay healthy and make it happen. We as a Spurs organization are excited about this upcoming season. We know it won't be easy and we still have some work to do. It's a long 82 game season and hopefully at the end of this season we are in the playoffs competing for a possible chance of getting to the finals.

If there's any questions you guys are free to ask. Thanks again for joining us............Questions?

[JNR]

GWR: There are rumors that a tight locker room is what helps you get such great training camps. Would you like to address this rumor?

[TrayWithAnA]

How do you think the Midwest stacks up against the other three divisions this year?


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[NOLa.]

Your team is starting to come together and Westbrook had another good TC. Do you think the Spurs have a good chance to win the division?

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[NickMalone77]

Nick Melon; The Advocate: With Scola and Okafor, your front court seems to be pretty packed for minutes. What led to the decision to take a high upside and highly questionable talent of Javale McGee?

[kucoach7]

Some may say that you've set yourself up to win for a long time by acquiring lots of talent at various stages of their careers. Others my say that that strategy will never lead to a championship. What do you say?

[78#]

Reporter from Houston:

Outside you and the TWolves, the rest of the Midwest looks terrible. Has the front office put pressure on you and the staff to win the division and get the 2nd seed?

[RPF]

Is there any concern with Russell Weakbrook's strength?

[Eazy P]

GWR: There are rumors that a tight locker room is what helps you get such great training camps. Would you like to address this rumor?

Yes it does help and also having high character guys in the locker room helps too. We preach accountability and attention to detail in our locker room. These guys understand that the season doesn't starts in October for us. It starts before training camp. Working on improving their game before and during training camp. The guys here know that to become a better player they have to put in the work and they have showed it the TC

[Eazy P]

How do you think the Midwest stacks up against the other three divisions this year?


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The Midwest still have some good teams. They other 3 divisions made a ton of big moves this past off season and on paper are dominant but it's a 82 game season and anything can happen. The Atlantic and Pacific divisions are looking like a dog fight. Those teams are going be in a all out war with each other.

[Eazy P]

Your team is starting to come together and Westbrook had another good TC. Do you think the Spurs have a good chance to win the division?

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We have a great opportunity at winning the division but winning depends on how these guy play. We need to be more consistent in our game play and not think that teams are going to bow down and give us wins. This current team hasn't done anything yet and limped into the playoffs last season. But wining the division is one of this team's goals. Hopefully we achieve this goal.

[Eazy P]

Nick Melon; The Advocate: With Scola and Okafor, your front court seems to be pretty packed for minutes. What led to the decision to take a high upside and highly questionable talent of Javale McGee?

Depth. You always need depth in a long 82 game season injuries are bound to happen and you are going to need some players to step in at times. We talked to Javale as soon as we completed the and told him what his role was going to be this season. We told him if his goal to be a started in this league he has to work his way up the ladder to get there. Same thing with Jordan Hill we told those guys that they have to put in the time to get to where players like Scola, Okafor and Smith are on this team.

[Eazy P]

Some may say that you've set yourself up to win for a long time by acquiring lots of talent at various stages of their careers. Others my say that that strategy will never lead to a championship. What do you say?

You always need a mix of youth and vets on your team. the Spurs team that made it to 4 straight WCF and 1 finals appearance was a team mixed with youth and vets. We seen teams give up all of their assets in trying to win a title and fail. those teams I had during that 4-5 stretch didn't become good overnight but when they did they competed and were respected. It took sometime and patience tho.

[WigNosy]

Do you feel you have the frontcourt depth to wear down the Wolves' dynamic frontcourt in a seven-game series?

[Eazy P]

Reporter from Houston:

Outside you and the TWolves, the rest of the Midwest looks terrible. Has the front office put pressure on you and the staff to win the division and get the 2nd seed?

We don't have any pressure this year. They know we still has a lot of youth on this team and some growing to do. I don't want to put pressure on these young guys either. I want them to go out and have fun and not have to look over their shoulder if they mess up or not close to being the 2nd seed. pressure bust pipes and I don't need pipes bursting. The midwest may look terrible but it only takes 1 injury, one major trade or even a few bad sims to shake things up.

[Eazy P]

Is there any concern with Russell Weakbrook's strength?

His strength went up one point this past TC and that shows he's trying. We also gonna have him work with Emeka in the weight room to get that strength up and go from there.

[Eazy P]

Do you feel you have the frontcourt depth to wear down the Wolves' dynamic frontcourt in a seven-game series?

That Twolves frontcourt is beastly but to answer your question I hope so. We go a combo of Smith, D West, Jordan Hill, Emeka, JaVale and Scola to and contain them but even with all of those players I still see Bosh and Boozer dominating and getting all of those guys in foul trouble. I see those guy at the FT line early and often against my guys. I have so much respect for those guys over there and we know they will be handful to deal with.

[Soundwave]

TMZ is accusing the Spurs' front office of peddling P.E.D.'s to their players. Any comment?

[Eazy P]

TMZ is accusing the Spurs' front office of peddling P.E.D.'s to their players. Any comment?

Player Empowerment Duties

TMZ is correct with their accusations. We here in the Spurs organization are all about Player Empowerment. So we give certain player specific duties to help players get through some of the transitioning from college to NBA and even help with adjusting to the city of San Antonio. Some guys get homesick and they need someone to hang with and get their mind off of missing the hometown. TMZ always trying to get clicks know P.E.D would be taken out of context.