Ott views Tobe Awaka's offensive rebounding against Khaman Maluach as valuable early reps showing the rookie what the NBA level demands.
“Wings come in, you can't double team the 5, he has one versus Man Man and he got the better of Man Man. So I think those reps are great for Man Man to get right now early in the preseason just to see exactly what it takes at this level. It's every possession and it's only going to increase.”
Maluach will defend in space and in pick-and-roll with drop coverage still an option.
“We feel comfortable with Man-man all over the floor, up the floor, in pick-and-roll, and then obviously we can drop it back to protect the rim, but he's gonna get into some of those scenarios. In games, you get cross-match in transition. He's gonna have to know personnel, and he understands it, and the biggest piece, he wants to take the challenge to that.”
Booker challenging reserves and depth players to step up.
“I know we built the lead, but we were talking to that second and third group, everything is an audition. It's going to be a point and time that one or two of you guys, we're going to need you guys to get a win. Treat it like a regular season game, do anything we can to get a win.”
Kennard is adding paint attacks and mid-range shots because teams are taking away his usual looks.
“you've got to add something else because teams are taking that away. You've got to find something else to do... I like getting to the paint, either finishing it in mid range shot or just making the right play out of it.”
Peat is not a shooter so his path is cutting and finding other ways to impact games.
“He's not known as a shooter, right? You can't hide that. So what are other ways that you can impact the game? And if guys don't guard him, is he going to be a 45 cut kind of guy where he can just find those opportunities for himself?”
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