Kenrich Williams | Thunder Practice | Nov. 09, 2021
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00:00 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:03 >> Go ahead guys.
00:05 >> Can the past two games you guys come back from big deficits, but
00:09 seem to be able to remain poised and composed even when the shots not falling.
00:14 Just how difficult is that?
00:16 But also what does that say about your group that you guys have been able to do
00:18 that?
00:19 >> It says a lot.
00:21 Of course it's hard.
00:24 We put ourselves in that position to kind of dig ourselves out of the hole.
00:28 But coach talks about it every day.
00:31 All the coaches talk about it's a 48 minute game.
00:34 So just continue to play even when things aren't going our way,
00:39 shots aren't falling.
00:42 Just continue to play knowing it's a 48 minute game.
00:46 >> One thing I was just curious to ask you, you guys only had three fouls in that
00:50 first half against the Spurs and then the coaches challenged you to bring more
00:53 physicality.
00:54 But the fouls didn't necessarily ramp up in the second half when you added that
00:58 physicality.
00:59 Is that a tough balance to strike, adding more physicality on the defensive end but
01:02 also not going out of control in fouling?
01:06 >> It's not too tough.
01:07 The main thing is just you wanna make guys kind of feel you there.
01:14 In the first half, we kind of didn't do that and
01:19 the fouls indicated that as well.
01:22 But second half, it was a little more physical.
01:25 Of course, a lot of foul calls weren't called, but I'd rather that than
01:30 just a thousand out of ten being called.
01:35 So I love playing like that.
01:39 >> A little extra one on one time with the ball today?
01:42 >> Yeah, always man, always have to use the ball.
01:46 >> It was hitting me the other day, Kendrick,
01:47 was that I think you've only now played four games as a member of the Thunder with
01:53 fans in the building.
01:56 It seems like you've been here for so long, but to just only be there for four.
02:00 How does that feel for you?
02:01 What's that like for you having played all last year for this team, for
02:05 this organization, and then just now sort of getting the opportunity to be
02:08 here with the fans?
02:09 >> Man, it feels like a whole different atmosphere at the games.
02:13 The fans do a great job just giving us energy, kind of what we needed.
02:19 When the game's flat or like I said, things aren't going our way,
02:24 the crowd gets us into it.
02:27 So I mean, I love it, I'm loving it so far.
02:29 >> This may be sort of weird just to feel or know or even recognize out there, but
02:35 it does sort of feel like the fans know your game,
02:38 despite not having been in the building.
02:40 And so when you do certain things, they're sort of reacting to you.
02:44 What's that feeling like for you of them kind of understanding how you play,
02:49 despite having not seen you in person before?
02:52 >> Yeah, no, it's a good feeling, man, just to kind of be recognized with going out
02:57 there and just doing the little things, playing hard for the team.
03:00 And it's a good feeling that the fans recognize that
03:07 that part of my game is well respected, so I'm definitely appreciative.
03:13 >> It's not every fan base that will cheer for a rebound tap out.
03:19 >> Right. >> Or those types of things.
03:22 Can fan bases, in your experience, shape how players play?
03:26 Does that make sense?
03:27 Like if they kind of cheer and reward certain things?
03:30 >> Yeah, definitely, man, definitely.
03:32 I mean, a lot of times, a person who scores the most,
03:39 gets the majority of the love, but here, it's pretty much spread out.
03:46 The love is spread out, and that's from the coaches, that's from the fans,
03:50 teammates, everybody is treated equally.
03:54 So no one has a player, and that's a good feeling,
04:00 just to be able to feel that, so yeah, definitely.
04:05 Thank you guys, y'all.
04:07 >> Anybody else in the room?
04:10 All right, we'll go to Christos Sotas on Zoom.
04:14 >> Hey, Ken Rich, hope you're doing well.
04:16 Two questions for you.
04:17 The first one is, two wins in the last couple of games.
04:21 With your game, with your performances,
04:23 what did they represent those performances about your identity as a team?
04:29 >> I mean, it just shows you that we can beat anybody in the league.
04:33 I feel like being down in those two games,
04:39 it gives you the confidence to where if we find ourselves in this position again,
04:47 we've kind of been in one game where we've been down.
04:53 So just kind of gives you that confidence as a team, and yeah,
04:59 that's a good feeling.
05:01 >> And the second question is about Josh Giddy.
05:04 What did you see about his progress, and
05:05 how big part of your growth as a team he is so far?
05:09 >> Can you say it again?
05:12 >> Speaking about Josh Giddy, what did you see about his progress as a zone goal?
05:18 So how big part of your growth as a team he was so far?
05:22 >> Man, I think his growth has been great, man.
05:26 Josh is a rare rookie.
05:32 When I say that, I mean he's very, very poised as a ballplayer.
05:36 Kind of sees the game, has a high IQ for a game.
05:41 So his development throughout the year is gonna be huge.
05:46 But no, he's been great so far.
05:50 And we just want to continue to keep going and
05:55 keep playing, and do the things he does.
05:59 >> All right, anybody else?
06:00 Thank you, Jerry.