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Kawakami: Mark Jackson partial transcript: “I don’t think we’re far at all–but we’ve got to continue to build”
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Allen
May 21, 2013, 1:23:21 PM5/21/13
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Talking Points
with Tim Kawakami
Mark Jackson partial transcript: �I don�t think we�re far at all�but
we�ve got to continue to build�
Posted by Tim Kawakami on May 20th, 2013 at 2:50 pm
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/kawakami/2013/05/20/mark-jackson-partial-transcript-i-dont-think-were-far-at-all-but-weve-got-to-continue-to-build/#more-18473
This is a very partial transcript of Mark Jackson�s season wrap-up
conference-call with local reporters. Longer transcript of Bob Myers�
much-longer Q & A session is coming later today�
�-MARK JACKSON partial conference-call transcript/
-Q: Given the chemistry this team had and what it accomplished, what�s
your initial thinking on this team maybe making some big moves to the
roster?
-MJAX: I think that�s a great question. I think at the end of the day,
as a team�I�ve been a player in this league and covered the league and
also coached� I think it�s important always to look to get better.
That�s what everybody else is doing.
We had an incredible year, got a lot accomplished. To me, if the
opportunity presents itself, we�ve got to get better�
I have total trust and confidence in this ownership group and this
management group led by Bob�
(We have) to make sure this wasn�t a one-time thing. We�re going to
continue to get better and better.. and things have certainly changed.
-Q: How important is the great team chemistry you had�and would you be
wary of disrupting that with moves in the off-season?
-JACKSON: Obviously what we have in our locker room is special. But I
really believe the guys we have that are leaders, guys we have that will
be around if there is a change� they�ll police the locker room�
There were guys who came here or we signed that came with issues �
that�s even going back to last year.
People talked about Nate Robinson�(but with the Warrior he was a ) great
teammate, he battled and competed. I didn�t have one problem with him.
People talked about Jarrett Jack�the question would he be able and
willing to sit behind Steph Curry and be a professional and that was the
furthest from the truth. We have a great culture. Everybody buys in.
It starts from the top ownership, management, coaching and players. It�s
fun to be around. I wouldn�t be concerned about that at all.
-Q: Would you be against a certain type of possible attitude problem?
-JACKSON: Obviously in this league you win with talent. Off the top of
my head I can�t think of a great talent that�s a horrible guy. I think
you�ve got to judge where players are playing, where the organization is
that they�re in, who�s coaching them.
I think everybody can be rehabilitated� I think we win with talent and I
think we�ve got a great locker room.
-Q: How important is it that you keep Jarrett Jack?
-JACKSON: As a coach I value everything that he did for this basketball
team and not just on the basketball floor but off.
He was incredible, he was a great leader, he as a voice, he was a big
time competitor, he was a winner, he plays with an edge. He was
instrumental in everything we did.
I heard Bob talk about it earlier� being he�s a free agent, it�s not
just about us bringing him back. Other teams witnessed what he did for us�
In an ideal world for me, he�s back for us as a Warrior. But this is
truly a business and he�s going to have to make the decision and so are
we. But I�d love to have him back�
I think it�s important for us to have somebody we can trust with the
basketball behind Steph. Ideally, it�s Jack.
-Q: What does this team need?
-JACKSON I think individually you want to continue to get better. So the
players that we have, the challenge is to come back better, add
something to your game.
I think the experience of going to the second round of the playoffs,
playing a San Antonio Spur team, you look at them against Memphis,
people have an appreciation of how our guys battled them�
They execute you to death. At the end of the day, I think the experience
of playing against them will make us better.
The goal as an organization�ownership and management, we�ve got to look
at the opportunities that lie ahead to add depth to get better. And
that�s always something that we�re able to do as an organization.
-Q: How far away is this team?
-JACKSON: We went to the second round of the playoffs, played against
the Spurs and took them to six games�
I looked at our team that we were more than capable. I don�t look at any
team and think we couldn�t beat them.. I don�t think we�re far at all.
But we�ve got to continue to build.
We are a very young basketball team that enjoyed a great season. But I
think the experience helps us and it prepares us for the future.
-Q: Are the pieces in place now?
-JACKSON: We have some great pieces. The strange thing is I don�t think
anybody coming into the season thought we had a champ caliber team. The
experts picked us to not be in the playoffs.
I don�t want to overreact because we had a great year I want to build on it.
This is a great off-season to challenge every one of them to come back
better. And I�m excited about it.
I have no problem coming back with the same group, but this is truly a
business.
-Q: How much deeper is your bench with all those rookies producing?
-JACKSON :I thought the bench was very deep once we got those guys out
of the draft and once we had time to work with them all summer long last
summer.
You could see how they could impact the game. They were high IQ guys
that loved the game of basketball, that wanted to be great pros.
I think they�ll only grow� with the experience they had actually being
utilized during the course of a season by having game experience. They
no longer have to guess coming into next year�
You look at Bogues, you look at B-Rush, those guys missed a big part of
the season� but we had great depth with guys being able to step in and
fulfill their roles.
-Q: What are your thoughts about your contract? Do you expect and want
your option for 2014-15 picked up soon?
-JACKSON: That�ll take care of itself. I�m not concerned about that at all.
-Q: You want it? Would you feel insecure if your only guaranteed next
season and not beyond?
-JACKSON: Truthfully and I mean this from the bottom of my heart, I�ve
never been insecure in my life. That will take care of itself.
That will play itself out. Whatever it is, I trust God and I believe
it�ll work out.
I�m in the best hands possible and I don�t mean Arn Tellem. (Laughs.)
-Q: What does Tellem�s role�and his relationship with Bob Myers�do for
this situation?
-JACKSON He�s the best in the business. Obviously, they have a
relationship. But that�s not why Arn Tellem is my agent.
He was my agent as a player and I did not know when I hired an agent as
a coach that you can do both until I saw that�Steve Kerr and Avery
Johnson had player-agents and in asking, I don�t remember which one it
was� I think it was Steve Kerr�
He said if an agent represented you as a player he can represent you as
a coach also. Once I found that out, it was a no-brainer.
Arn�s the best in the business.
It didn�t just happen. He�s been my agent for months now.
-Q: Did the playoffs at all change how you might use David Lee given
that the small lineup was very successful at times?
-JACKSON: No. David Lee is our All-Star power forward. And had a great
year and had a lot to do with our success.
I think there were some good things that occurred when we went small.
But there are things that he brings to the table that we can�t replace.
His ability to score on the block, he demands a double-team at times,
play-making ability.
You can utilize both (big and small lineups) but certainly it won�t
change the way I�m going to utilize him. He�s an All-Star power forward
and a star player for us.
-Q: Can what Curry did carry to the regular season?
-JACKSON: I think there was no surprises. The thing with Steph is I
thought he did a good job of mixing it up especially in that San Antonio
series, putting on the floor and attacking, did a better job of that�
He had an incredible year for us, I think he separated himself from a
lot of point guards and a lot of players in the league to the point
where a lot of people recognize him as one of the best.
There�s no secret he�s our best player and he certainly enjoyed a
stellar year.
-Q: Do you think (2012 2nd-round pick) Ognen Kuznic can help you next
season?
-JACKSON: Going to be a big summer for him, also. Going to be playing
with us in the summer league. He�s a big body, he�s a guy that�s played
a lot of basketball.
with Tim Kawakami
Mark Jackson partial transcript: �I don�t think we�re far at all�but
we�ve got to continue to build�
Posted by Tim Kawakami on May 20th, 2013 at 2:50 pm
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/kawakami/2013/05/20/mark-jackson-partial-transcript-i-dont-think-were-far-at-all-but-weve-got-to-continue-to-build/#more-18473
This is a very partial transcript of Mark Jackson�s season wrap-up
conference-call with local reporters. Longer transcript of Bob Myers�
much-longer Q & A session is coming later today�
�-MARK JACKSON partial conference-call transcript/
-Q: Given the chemistry this team had and what it accomplished, what�s
your initial thinking on this team maybe making some big moves to the
roster?
-MJAX: I think that�s a great question. I think at the end of the day,
as a team�I�ve been a player in this league and covered the league and
also coached� I think it�s important always to look to get better.
That�s what everybody else is doing.
We had an incredible year, got a lot accomplished. To me, if the
opportunity presents itself, we�ve got to get better�
I have total trust and confidence in this ownership group and this
management group led by Bob�
(We have) to make sure this wasn�t a one-time thing. We�re going to
continue to get better and better.. and things have certainly changed.
-Q: How important is the great team chemistry you had�and would you be
wary of disrupting that with moves in the off-season?
-JACKSON: Obviously what we have in our locker room is special. But I
really believe the guys we have that are leaders, guys we have that will
be around if there is a change� they�ll police the locker room�
There were guys who came here or we signed that came with issues �
that�s even going back to last year.
People talked about Nate Robinson�(but with the Warrior he was a ) great
teammate, he battled and competed. I didn�t have one problem with him.
People talked about Jarrett Jack�the question would he be able and
willing to sit behind Steph Curry and be a professional and that was the
furthest from the truth. We have a great culture. Everybody buys in.
It starts from the top ownership, management, coaching and players. It�s
fun to be around. I wouldn�t be concerned about that at all.
-Q: Would you be against a certain type of possible attitude problem?
-JACKSON: Obviously in this league you win with talent. Off the top of
my head I can�t think of a great talent that�s a horrible guy. I think
you�ve got to judge where players are playing, where the organization is
that they�re in, who�s coaching them.
I think everybody can be rehabilitated� I think we win with talent and I
think we�ve got a great locker room.
-Q: How important is it that you keep Jarrett Jack?
-JACKSON: As a coach I value everything that he did for this basketball
team and not just on the basketball floor but off.
He was incredible, he was a great leader, he as a voice, he was a big
time competitor, he was a winner, he plays with an edge. He was
instrumental in everything we did.
I heard Bob talk about it earlier� being he�s a free agent, it�s not
just about us bringing him back. Other teams witnessed what he did for us�
In an ideal world for me, he�s back for us as a Warrior. But this is
truly a business and he�s going to have to make the decision and so are
we. But I�d love to have him back�
I think it�s important for us to have somebody we can trust with the
basketball behind Steph. Ideally, it�s Jack.
-Q: What does this team need?
-JACKSON I think individually you want to continue to get better. So the
players that we have, the challenge is to come back better, add
something to your game.
I think the experience of going to the second round of the playoffs,
playing a San Antonio Spur team, you look at them against Memphis,
people have an appreciation of how our guys battled them�
They execute you to death. At the end of the day, I think the experience
of playing against them will make us better.
The goal as an organization�ownership and management, we�ve got to look
at the opportunities that lie ahead to add depth to get better. And
that�s always something that we�re able to do as an organization.
-Q: How far away is this team?
-JACKSON: We went to the second round of the playoffs, played against
the Spurs and took them to six games�
I looked at our team that we were more than capable. I don�t look at any
team and think we couldn�t beat them.. I don�t think we�re far at all.
But we�ve got to continue to build.
We are a very young basketball team that enjoyed a great season. But I
think the experience helps us and it prepares us for the future.
-Q: Are the pieces in place now?
-JACKSON: We have some great pieces. The strange thing is I don�t think
anybody coming into the season thought we had a champ caliber team. The
experts picked us to not be in the playoffs.
I don�t want to overreact because we had a great year I want to build on it.
This is a great off-season to challenge every one of them to come back
better. And I�m excited about it.
I have no problem coming back with the same group, but this is truly a
business.
-Q: How much deeper is your bench with all those rookies producing?
-JACKSON :I thought the bench was very deep once we got those guys out
of the draft and once we had time to work with them all summer long last
summer.
You could see how they could impact the game. They were high IQ guys
that loved the game of basketball, that wanted to be great pros.
I think they�ll only grow� with the experience they had actually being
utilized during the course of a season by having game experience. They
no longer have to guess coming into next year�
You look at Bogues, you look at B-Rush, those guys missed a big part of
the season� but we had great depth with guys being able to step in and
fulfill their roles.
-Q: What are your thoughts about your contract? Do you expect and want
your option for 2014-15 picked up soon?
-JACKSON: That�ll take care of itself. I�m not concerned about that at all.
-Q: You want it? Would you feel insecure if your only guaranteed next
season and not beyond?
-JACKSON: Truthfully and I mean this from the bottom of my heart, I�ve
never been insecure in my life. That will take care of itself.
That will play itself out. Whatever it is, I trust God and I believe
it�ll work out.
I�m in the best hands possible and I don�t mean Arn Tellem. (Laughs.)
-Q: What does Tellem�s role�and his relationship with Bob Myers�do for
this situation?
-JACKSON He�s the best in the business. Obviously, they have a
relationship. But that�s not why Arn Tellem is my agent.
He was my agent as a player and I did not know when I hired an agent as
a coach that you can do both until I saw that�Steve Kerr and Avery
Johnson had player-agents and in asking, I don�t remember which one it
was� I think it was Steve Kerr�
He said if an agent represented you as a player he can represent you as
a coach also. Once I found that out, it was a no-brainer.
Arn�s the best in the business.
It didn�t just happen. He�s been my agent for months now.
-Q: Did the playoffs at all change how you might use David Lee given
that the small lineup was very successful at times?
-JACKSON: No. David Lee is our All-Star power forward. And had a great
year and had a lot to do with our success.
I think there were some good things that occurred when we went small.
But there are things that he brings to the table that we can�t replace.
His ability to score on the block, he demands a double-team at times,
play-making ability.
You can utilize both (big and small lineups) but certainly it won�t
change the way I�m going to utilize him. He�s an All-Star power forward
and a star player for us.
-Q: Can what Curry did carry to the regular season?
-JACKSON: I think there was no surprises. The thing with Steph is I
thought he did a good job of mixing it up especially in that San Antonio
series, putting on the floor and attacking, did a better job of that�
He had an incredible year for us, I think he separated himself from a
lot of point guards and a lot of players in the league to the point
where a lot of people recognize him as one of the best.
There�s no secret he�s our best player and he certainly enjoyed a
stellar year.
-Q: Do you think (2012 2nd-round pick) Ognen Kuznic can help you next
season?
-JACKSON: Going to be a big summer for him, also. Going to be playing
with us in the summer league. He�s a big body, he�s a guy that�s played
a lot of basketball.
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