Otis Smith
Otis Smith
brought energy miss passion steve
We'll miss Steve in a lot of ways. We'll miss the passion he brought for the game, we'll miss the energy he brought for the game, but I think we'll be better off in the future.
talked ways
We've talked about it. It's still a ways away. It's 50-50.
control february games january learned realize season
I think we have learned that you want to be able to control your own destiny, and as you go through the season you have to realize that December, January and February are just as important as the games down the stretch.
basketball gets head hears likes loved mindset steve stuff sure talked
I talked to Steve more about his basketball than his mindset and I'm sure he's uncomfortable right now. He likes to be loved and I know that. When he hears some of the stuff out there I know he gets his head down. But I just wanted him to know that we still love him.
goes good great player steve whether
Steve is still a good player in this league. Whether he goes from good to great is going to be on Steve.
pick season
Getting that pick this season was big for us. That was a requirement for us.
gives opportunity playing rotation seen team tough
Getting him into the rotation for a team that was playing for a championship two years in a row, that was tough for them. We haven't seen him (play). So it gives us an opportunity to see what he can do.
looking move opportunity steve
It doesn't have legs. We're not looking for an opportunity to move Steve Francis.
expect fully
I still fully expect him to be here on the 24th, but that's just the way I think. It's something that is going to go down to the 25th hour. We've still got time.
basketball change foot needed needs player shoot skilled
I think he needs a chance. He's a very skilled 7-foot basketball player that can shoot the ball from the elbow, top-of-the-key area, 15-17 foot range. I think he just needed a change to show what he can do.
areas argue bodies coming consistent knock physical presence shots somebody whether
I still think we need a physical presence inside. We've got length, but not enough girth inside. We need some bodies there. You can argue whether or not we need another shooter, somebody who can knock down consistent shots coming off screens. Those are the areas of concern.
effort
I thought it was a good-faith effort on our part to show them they're part of our future. It's one thing to say it and another thing to show it.
talked team together
We've talked with them, but we've talked to a lot of teams. I still like the team that we've assembled, but we just haven't been able to see it together because of injuries. So we're having to look at some different things. You can't just be stagnant. Like they say, if you're not getting better, you're getting worse.
closed consider forward matter practice return
We now consider the matter closed and look forward to Steve's return to practice tomorrow.