Jan. 17 vs.Phoenix Suns- Sam Mitchell andJeff HornacekPregame Quotes
Timberwolves Interim Head Coach Sam Mitchell
On the players dealing with frustration…
“There’s nothing to vent. You know, everybody wants to win but they understand the process. They understand how hard this league is…. They tell me all the time how difficult it is, because how physical the game is and what they’re learning, what they need to improve. They understand that. They want to win. They are the ones out there playing. They don’t want to lose.”
On whether or not losses take a toll…
“No, they don’t, because that’s why I’m a professional. Maybe if I had not done this before, maybe if I sign up for this, maybe if I didn’t understand the process, maybe. But I’ve been through it before. I coached a team in Toronto that had 20-some wins my first year, 30-some wins my second year and won the division and made the playoffs the third year, so I understand the process. I’m excited about it.”
On walking line between positives and growth…
“You don’t walk the line. You tell the truth. You tell the truth. The truth is tough enough sometimes, you know that. When we say ‘coaching them hard,’ we’re just coaching them. It doesn’t mean we’re screaming and yelling. That’s not coaching hard. That’s just screaming and yelling. That’s something that we don’t do because if you constantly scream and yell at people, they’ll tune you out. We’re watching film, we’re teaching, we’re making corrections as they’re doing it.”
SunsHead Coach Jeff Hornacek
On the process with Devin Booker…
“When Eric [Bledsoe] was playing before he got hurt, we were trying to give Devin minutes the best we could and try to put him in some situations so he learns the game. He’s very smart, has a great feeling for the game, but since Eric got hurt it was natural to just put him in there and he’s responded. I think just like any young guys, they are going to have some good games, especially guys who know how to score.”
On when Alex Len may be coming back…
“I think they were saying they were pretty sure he’ll be back for that Indiana game. When Tyson was injured earlier, he got that stretch of like seven or eight games where he was the guy at the center position and he responded very well. Then when Tyson came back he went back to the bench and had some up games and had some down games, but then he had the hand injury. For him it’s about staying healthy.”
Thoughts on Lorenzo Brown…
“I like Lorenzo. He came in the first game and made to passes to Markieff Morris for dunks right off of the start. He understands how to be a point guard, what his role is to try and get these other guys the ball and he’s got length, he’s got size. Sometimes it’s hard for a 6-foot guy to come off screens and see the openings and make those passes, but Lorenzo’s got the length, he’s got the size and it becomes an easier pass for him. We’ve been impressed with what he’s been able to do.”