Coach O'Brien Teleconference Transcript
 O'Brien |
Q: How does it affect you and the players to have increased expectations on you this season, not being able to take people by surprise?
O'Brien: Again, the emphasis has to be at the defensive end. We understand we'll be a team that other organizations want to come after, but we think if we can be tough-minded, with the idea of not letting the basketball be scored in the paint, either on drives or post-ups, that gives us our best chance under any circumstances. The NBA season is so long that clearly by the end of last year people were not taking us lightly and knew we were one of the teams to beat, so it won't necessarily be a new thing, but we'll try to be prepared for it.
Q: How is Vin Baker working out in terms of chemistry?
O'Brien: I think he's working out well. One of the strengths of our basketball team last year, and I don't see why it wouldn't be a strength this year, is our chemistry. Antoine Walker and Paul Pierce, along with veterans like Eric Williams, have done a really good job of establishing great chemistry. Vin came in in terrific shape. He's new to our system, is learning it, and we think he's doing a heck of a job picking up what we do defensively. As we understand his offensive skills inside more and more and put more offense in to get our five-man the basketball, we think we can take advantage of his skills inside.
One of the nice things in being able to have somebody like Vin, we think we can surround him with four three-point shooters to make it difficult for teams to come after him with more than one player. So we're hoping, keeping our fingers crossed that we have the best of both worlds -- a strong inside attack with a potent three-point shooting attack.
Q: How advantageous is it to be playing in the Eastern Conference?
O'Brien: I think certainly it has been clear that there are a stronger number of teams at the top of the West. The Lakers have dominated clearly over the past couple of years. But you throw Sacramento, Dallas, San Antonio into that mix, and these are quality basketball teams that are very, very dangerous basketball teams. That's not to say the East is going to take a backseat to anybody, but certainly you have to respect the talent and the strength of those four basketball teams.
I think the East is basically a crapshoot. I think everybody from top to bottom feels they have a chance to make the playoffs, and once in the playoffs, I don't think anybody [doubts their chances]. As an example, if you look at the two teams that played for the Eastern Conference championship last year, New Jersey and Boston, I think everybody in the league feels they can beat both of those teams. So the Eastern Conference is a crapshoot; it's wide open, it makes for some competitive basketball, and I would rather play for the East frankly than out there in the West.
Q: Is there a team in the conference that impressed you with the offseason moves they made?
O'Brien: I think a couple people made really strong moves. You don't have to look any further than New Jersey, getting [Dikembe] Mutombo to prowl inside; adding Rodney Rogers really improves their perimeter. I think New York really improved themselves, and it's a shame about Antonio McDyess, but certainly they were a team that could have been right in the thick of things. Atlanta proved, in getting Glenn Robinson, they're going to be a healthier basketball team.
Philadelphia has really improved their perimeter, adding [Keith] Van Horn, and has continued to work on trying to be a dominant defensive team, adding [Monty] Williams and [Greg] Buckner. Washington you have to think, with the addition of [Jerry] Stackhouse and [Michael] Jordan coming back, they're going to be a much stronger team. The Magic didn't really make a lot of moves, but getting Grant Hill back bodes well for that group. So I think everybody I mentioned, New York really improved, Washington improved. Philadelphia, New Jersey shifted people, but on paper it makes both of them stronger.
