Steve Clifford Press Conference - 10.5.23
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00:00 >> Yeah, we did it different today, like a little bit different,
00:03 but the intensity today was the best it's been.
00:07 And obviously, you're just hopefully getting a foundation.
00:13 But one of the other things about, even as good as these guys are,
00:18 is every year, besides getting a foundation of play,
00:21 it's the right intensity, the right concentration, like that.
00:25 And that, we've been great.
00:27 And the older guys are setting the tone.
00:32 And again, when you're better players, you're veteran players,
00:36 practice like Gordon and Terry are, everybody else is gonna follow.
00:41 >> You spoke previously really highly of Randy,
00:43 I mean, he did what you've seen from him.
00:46 So once you got into this particular strategy,
00:48 did you notice anything more about how he plays and jumps himself?
00:52 >> No, just, I mean, again, he has IQ.
00:56 I mean, when you watch him play, his decision making makes sense.
01:03 You can't teach that.
01:05 That's not, guys that play like Steph,
01:09 I mean, the skill level is one thing, but
01:13 the decision making is, you don't change that.
01:16 Guys that struggle to make decisions always struggle to make decisions.
01:20 You can get him not to try to do stuff.
01:22 Guys like him, it's just, he naturally, he just has a feel for the game.
01:28 >> His demeanor seems like he's very easygoing and-
01:32 >> He's a really good competitor though.
01:35 And he's good with his teammates, but he has an edge, well, you saw it last year.
01:41 He likes to compete, and he has an edge when he plays.
01:45 >> He's also, he seems in a good spot, because number two pick usually come in
01:49 right away without a lot of expectations, but for him, he has guys around him
01:53 that are here and you don't throw them in right away into the park, so to speak.
01:55 What about his, just coming in here and
01:57 being able to kind of just put in the way you want to right away?
02:00 >> Yeah, and I think he's also, we spend time with him.
02:03 He's a very grounded guy.
02:06 I mean, he's not coming in here with, talk to him,
02:11 he'll talk to you about team stuff, this rotation or that drill or whatever it is.
02:17 But I mean, he's, yeah, no, no, he's, I mean,
02:23 his dad playing football at Alabama, I'm sure, helped right along the way.
02:27 I'm sure his parents have helped him a great deal, played in a great college
02:31 program, played in a lot of big games, but no,
02:35 he brings a lot of intangibles to a young guy.
02:38 >> A few days in, how does Miles look, and how long do you feel like he'll get integrated in?
02:42 >> Good, I mean, again, today was his best day too.
02:45 He shot the ball, it's hard when you don't play for that long.
02:51 He's actually surprised me with just how in rhythm he is.
02:56 He must have, I don't know, but he spent a lot of time in the gym last year just
03:01 working out because the skill parts, like he has in, I mean, again, surprised me.
03:08 >> He must be doing a lot of scrimmaging too, kind of get the guys rhythm the way
03:13 you want to, how's that going for you a little bit of straight up?
03:16 >> No, it's great.
03:17 What happens is obviously like, look, you do it one of two ways.
03:22 You either do a bunch of drills and structured things, and
03:25 you're gonna be more organized early.
03:28 And when you do it like this, it's like to me, you can get your intensity better.
03:33 But we're not very detailed right now in the club, but you can't do everything.
03:38 So we do some drills too, but
03:42 I like to look, I worked for a lot of different guys.
03:46 Guys do it different ways.
03:48 This was the Van Gundy way, both of them.
03:51 Like we always scrimmage a lot, and then as we get to the end of training camp,
03:56 we'll try to make it better.
03:58 But I have a comfort level with this.
04:00 Even if we're not as purposeful early in the year,
04:05 I just think it's the best way to go.
04:07 >> Coach, are there any position battles or
04:09 rotation spot battles that you're noticing starting to shape up here?
04:12 [MUSIC]
04:16 >> I mean, obviously, some of it's just, they all gotta be ready.
04:21 Because what's different when you only have five guys is,
04:24 it's just they're not all gonna play really cheap games.
04:28 So I don't really look at it so much that way as making sure I have an idea in my
04:33 mind and obviously the staff weighs in on this too and Mitch is,
04:39 where's this guy, where's this guy, where's that guy?
04:43 It's different now, seeing just because guys don't go in the season thinking
04:47 they're gonna play every game of this.
04:49 So you gotta have a lot of guys that are gonna contribute.
04:53 >> By scrimmaging too, how much does that help because of those guys being so
04:56 injured last year, playing that much?
04:58 >> Yeah, no, I think it does.
04:59 I think it does.
05:01 And the other thing is they like it.
05:02 So I repped a little bit today, that didn't go well.
05:10 But that was a good practice.
05:12 >> How many teams you give out?
05:14 >> I don't do the teams.
05:17 No, I don't do teams.
05:18 >> [LAUGH] >> Listen,
05:19 I know where the coach stands in the NBA.
05:21 If I'm having battles, it's not gonna be over technical fouls.
05:25 >> I'll tell you that.
05:27 >> Good?