Steve Clifford Press Conference 10.3.23
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00:00 >> I mean, a lot of it, we had done quite a bit in September.
00:05 So today was the first time we played five on five where it was more stop,
00:11 teach, correct, more organization.
00:15 But no, we had good, it was good practice.
00:18 I mean, we got up and down a lot.
00:20 We put a lot of offense in, we did some more defense.
00:26 So, but good spirit and a lot of good things.
00:30 >> Players talked a lot yesterday about their excitement to kind of get back and
00:33 go.
00:34 For you personally, what does today feel like?
00:36 >> It's the most enjoyable time of the year this month,
00:41 because this is when you gotta get your team gaming.
00:47 Like after this, it's a lot different than it used to be.
00:50 We just don't, with the way the schedules are, we don't practice like we used to.
00:55 So it puts more onus on this first 22 days, so and that's the fun of it.
01:02 >> What are your first impressions, at least having them here, of Edmond and
01:06 Frank, two guys that can potentially play some guard for you this year?
01:09 >> Frank is an elite defender.
01:14 He has an elite skill.
01:15 I mean, it's not effort, like I've watched those guys play a ton.
01:21 You don't wait and watch them the first day.
01:23 You do your work before they get here.
01:25 So Frank actually fits our team really well to me.
01:28 Like I said, he's an elite defender.
01:31 Played a lot of NBA minutes, so he had a good day today.
01:38 >> Are you surprised by anything today?
01:40 Anything surprise you out there?
01:41 Or anything that might take you just performance wise?
01:46 >> No, not really.
01:46 I mean, I think the next couple days will be more interesting because,
01:50 particularly for the younger guys, you see who can,
01:54 you gotta be able to put a lot of stuff in, coverages on defense and
01:59 then sets and stuff on offense.
02:01 And they gotta learn it, and that's a lot different than college.
02:04 So that'll be part of it for the younger guys.
02:09 >> Steve, you talked yesterday about Brandon Miller, how he's IQ,
02:13 one of the smarter guys, rookies he's been around.
02:17 Can you give us a little more example of what you talked about today?
02:22 >> Well, I think there's two parts of it.
02:24 There's organizationally, which he even showed today,
02:28 he's good, where you put something in and you can do it.
02:35 Which is, it's a big deal.
02:38 And then the second part of it is, when he plays basketball,
02:42 it all makes sense to me.
02:43 He's open, he shoots it, he's not, he moves it.
02:46 There's a driving lane, drive him.
02:48 And that's the stuff you don't teach.
02:51 Guys, people don't understand that guys let, instinctively, play well.
02:58 It's not cuz they play for some good coach somewhere.
03:00 It's like, you watch a guy play the first time, and you can say,
03:05 that guy has high IQ, that guy better play conservatively.
03:09 That's just something they're born with.
03:11 >> You mentioned doing five on five today.
03:13 What's it like having Mellow back out there?
03:15 >> Good. >> You guys.
03:16 >> He made a lot of good plays too.
03:18 Good for him, he'll get his rhythm back.
03:21 He worked hard.
03:22 It was good.
03:23 >> Does he have any limitations?
03:26 >> No, we just gotta watch.
03:28 We're just telling him, if you start to feel fatigued or
03:31 start to feel weak, tell us so we can get you out.
03:34 Today, he was fine.
03:36 >> Yesterday you mentioned he's gonna wear ankle braces this year.
03:40 For you guys as a staff, I guess,
03:43 how much do you look upon him to actually be out there for you guys?
03:47 Cuz you know how important it is to have him out there for you guys,
03:50 to do what you wanna do out there in the field for the most part.
03:53 >> Yeah, I mean, look, you can't lose one of your best players.
03:56 I mean, he's an all-star caliber player.
04:00 He has a chance to be a superstar.
04:02 He works hard.
04:03 He's a great team.
04:04 I mean, you can't, no team wins when you lose guys like him.
04:08 So yeah, of course, absolutely.
04:10 >> Steve, Mark talked about his three-point shot yesterday.
04:13 He's getting more confidence in it.
04:14 Where's your confidence level on it?
04:15 Do you feel like he can- >> He's wide open.
04:16 It'll help us as he goes to make a couple of stuff.
04:21 It'll have little or no bearing on what kind of year he has.
04:25 >> So you have a couple of guys in here today, Patrick,
04:29 a couple of other guys who you obviously know and like.
04:32 >> Well, Patrick's working for us.
04:33 >> Okay, well, what's gonna happen?
04:35 Just people like him and just, obviously, the owners around us today.
04:38 >> Yeah, Patrick's gonna be a consultant, so he's gonna be around a lot.
04:42 And he'll be a huge asset for us.
04:46 >> Going back to Nick, I don't wanna compare players, but
04:48 do you kind of envision him replacing Dennis McJunior in that kind of role?
04:51 Just kind of a defensive stopper.
04:55 Frank, I'm sorry, Frank, go ahead.
04:57 >> I think that he definitely has that type of skill set, yes.
05:01 I think there's a good chance.
05:03 >> Thanks, guys.