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00:00 How would you compare your emotions?
00:02 How do you feel today, second season,
00:05 as opposed to what it was like being a rookie here?
00:09 Yeah, it feels good, obviously.
00:12 You know, having a sense of expectation,
00:14 you know, knowing what you're getting into.
00:16 I feel like last year I was kind of just more of a sponge,
00:19 you know, just not knowing what I was really going to expect.
00:23 But obviously having a year under my belt,
00:25 definitely excited, definitely a little more familiar.
00:28 As a follow-up, yourself, Nick Rich,
00:31 your teammates, all you guys are starting to kind of
00:34 go over the top, form a community,
00:37 go front and forth.
00:38 What would you say is kind of the key
00:39 and can be a key to that front and forth union
00:42 that you guys have added?
00:45 Yeah, just all tough guys, all guys that are,
00:49 you know, getting better every single day
00:51 and obviously trying to do whatever it takes to win.
00:54 Mark, we heard a lot last year from you
00:56 that the three-point shot is going to be a part of you
00:59 at some point.
01:00 Has that progress come along?
01:02 Do you feel like that's something that you unleash
01:05 and start to see yourself?
01:07 Yeah, you know, I feel confident in taking that shot.
01:12 Obviously, if I'm in rhythm, it'll go up.
01:15 But, yeah, I feel good shooting.
01:17 You mentioned having a sense of expectation.
01:20 Now, how has it changed the way you approach offseason,
01:25 knowing that you have the full offseason,
01:27 knowing what it's like?
01:28 It's not quite, you know, fun to be able --
01:32 How do you keep that edge and make sure that, hey,
01:34 you're still trying to get better
01:36 and have progress to get to?
01:39 Yeah, I think always having that edge
01:41 is going to be really important.
01:42 You know, whoever you're going up against
01:44 is always going to try and, you know, get the better of you.
01:46 So I think for me, just going out there,
01:48 having that sense of aggression, that sense of urgency
01:50 is going to be important for me every single night.
01:53 You said that you guys probably had some of the most talent
01:57 that you've seen at the beginning of the season.
02:00 How evident is that in a limited run?
02:03 I'm sure you guys have done that when it comes to the offseason.
02:06 Yeah, yeah, yeah.
02:08 Definitely. I mean, just playing pickup,
02:10 just being around the guys.
02:12 You know, everybody's been working hard.
02:14 Everybody's really, really talented,
02:15 so we're really excited.
02:20 How are you feeling health-wise right now?
02:23 Yeah.
02:24 Doesn't shoot at all, I guess.
02:26 It's awesome to kind of get the weight into you.
02:29 Yeah, I had that surgery in June.
02:32 Feeling pretty good now.
02:34 But that time I was unable to use my right hand.
02:36 I got a lot of left-hand work, which is, you know,
02:38 honestly probably a good little blessing in disguise.
02:41 I was able to navigate it in the weight room.
02:45 I mean, now I feel good.
02:46 You know, body feels good, feels strong.
02:49 And obviously I'm 100% now, so.
02:52 Cliff, I mentioned the small, simple size this month.
02:54 I talked about this fellow, Terry,
02:58 P.J. out there, somebody else, whatever.
03:02 When you hear about the small, simple size,
03:04 about what you guys can do on the floor,
03:06 what does that do for you now that motivation's
03:09 kind of going forward?
03:10 Yeah, obviously it gives me a sense of confidence.
03:12 But at the same time, you know, my teammates,
03:15 just starting to build in that chemistry
03:16 with whoever I'm with on the floor
03:17 is going to be really important, you know,
03:19 for us to win games and, you know,
03:21 just have the year we want to have.
03:24 Mark, I asked Coach Clipper about this,
03:27 but in terms of your ability to play defense
03:31 and pick and roll situations,
03:32 where do you typically drop coverage?
03:34 But how would you assess yourself
03:35 in terms of coming to the level,
03:37 switching, all that type of stuff?
03:39 And is that something that you're trying to work on?
03:41 Yeah.
03:43 You know, we sort of danced with it a little bit
03:45 towards the end of the year last year.
03:47 But, I mean, I feel comfortable guarding anybody.
03:51 So, I mean, if that's the situation he puts me in,
03:53 I'll be more than happy to do that.
03:55 So, whatever it is, I'll deal with it.
03:59 And then switching over to the offensive side,
04:00 they try to fall out of the fellow's hands a lot
04:03 in the pick and roll situation.
04:05 Is there a point of emphasis for you
04:06 to become a better player in the short roll,
04:09 become a better passer,
04:10 because they do like to pick the ball out of his hands?
04:12 Yeah. I think for me, just, you know,
04:15 if I'm in the short roll, making sure I'm patient,
04:18 making the right play, whether it's for me to attack,
04:20 to make that kick out, just sort of being composed
04:24 and making the right choice for me
04:25 is going to be really important.
04:26 But, yeah, I feel comfortable in that situation, too.
04:29 Mark, let's talk about A,
04:30 are you most confident right now in the left-hand part
04:32 of the game?
04:34 What's your approach?
04:37 I'd say I hang my hat on the defensive side of the ball.
04:40 I feel like it's been that way for me for a little while,
04:42 and I'll just, you know, continue to do that.
04:45 And then to improve on, I mean,
04:47 I think you can always improve on anything.
04:50 Both sides of the ball, offensively, defensively,
04:52 there's always things I can work on,
04:55 you know, to try to become the best player I can be, so.
04:58 Last one.
04:59 Mark, do you have the thoughts of playing
05:01 in the muscle of the South Sea?
05:04 Yeah. Glad somebody noticed.
05:06 [Laughter]
05:08 Yeah. Yeah, I'm close to 260 right now.
05:13 You know, obviously a lot stronger,
05:15 you know, my lower body, upper body.
05:18 Like I mentioned, you know, that time off,
05:19 I was really able to be in that weight room
05:21 when I had that surgery, especially working
05:23 on my lower body.
05:24 And then, obviously, when I got all 10 digits back,
05:28 just being able to get, you know,
05:30 continued upper-body strength, so.
05:34 Yeah, I was playing in like 245s, 8s, so.
05:41 Yeah, I brought like 10, 12 pounds of muscle on me.
05:43 Do you feel stronger?
05:45 Definitely.
05:47 At the same time, I still feel explosive.
05:50 You know, I didn't want to lose that in the process.
05:52 So, yeah, I continue to have that same balance,
05:55 that same explosiveness is important for me.
06:02 Yeah, yeah, yeah.
06:05 All right.
06:06 [BLANK_AUDIO]