 October 30, 2008 What’s up fans? James Posey here, checking in with my first blog entry on Hornets.com. Being the new guy on the team (again), I think this is a great way to let fans get to know me a little better, both on and off the court. BONDING EXPERIENCE Training camp is finally over, and we’re about to kick off the regular season. This training camp we traveled to Berlin, Germany and Barcelona, Spain to take part in the NBA Europe Live Tour. This was the second year in a row that I was able to take the trip overseas, as I was able to take part in the tour last year with the Celtics. The experience is so beneficial for a team, because it brings everyone closer together. When we’re back home, after practice we all go to our homes and to our own families, but here we get to be with our other family, our team, for a week straight. No one is in their comfort zone on these trips, especially when not a lot of people speak English, so we definitely latch on to one another and really get to know each other on and off the court. It is definitely a great experience, and I feel lucky to have been able to take part in it twice. PERFECT PRESEASON So many people are making a big deal out of the fact that we went 7-0 in the preseason. The fact of the matter is, it’s really not a big deal. At the end of the day, the only thing that is going to matter, and the fans are going to remember, is what we do during the regular season, and what we do in the playoffs. We have room to improve on everything, there’s no such thing as a perfect game. Different teams approach the preseason in different ways, and we definitely did not come in saying ‘Alright, let’s go perfect in preseason.’ Our goal was to improve and work on things. We definitely did that, but we still have plenty of room to improve. These games are just part of the process to getting us to that title. For me personally, I’m continuing to improve on being on the same page as my teammates on both ends of the floor. Like I said before, I’m the new guy again, so I need to work that much harder to be able to read my teammates, and know what they’re going to do out there on the court before they do it. The better I understand their game, the better we will all work together out there on the court. Just like our team can improve on everything, I can improve on everything. Rebounding, shooting the ball, everything. I’m never satisfied so I’m always going to be working to improve. ONE GOAL I know a lot of people have been saying that I was the most coveted free agent this off-season, and that I’m the missing piece to the Hornets’ puzzle. To me, it’s just the nature of the beast, and it is what it is. I believe and know that I’m a winner, and that I can fit into the system here. I know how to approach the game, and it’s all about winning at the end of the day. That’s my main goal here, and getting everyone on the same page and seeing the big picture; winning a championship. That’s what I came here to do, and that’s exactly what I intend on doing. The past three teams I’ve played on, I’ve been very fortunate to play with some of the game’s elite players. In Miami where I won my first ring, I was able to play with Shaq and Dwyane Wade, and then last year in Boston I was able to play with the new “Big Three” of KG, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen, and we were able to raise (championship banner) #17 up into the Garden rafters. This year, I’m really lucky again. I get a chance to play with one of the best point guards in the game, Chris Paul. His ability to play his position and lead the team are amazing. He is able to get all of his teammates involved, and that’s so important for the point guard to be able to do that. It was one thing to play against Chris and watch him on TV, but to be able to play alongside him this training camp has been great. He works really hard, so it’s going to be a fun ride. Alright guys, that’s it for this edition of “Pose Knows.” Come check me out on Hornets.com again next month, and remember to come out and support us, and together we’ll help bring a title to New Orleans! If you’d like to ask James Posey a question or comment on the “Pose Knows” blog, send an e-mail to jime@hornets.com. Please include “Pose Knows” in the subject of your e-mail. The next edition will appear in early December, prior to the team’s Dec. 12 trip to Boston, where he’ll receive his 2008 NBA championship ring. Other Pose Knows Entries Pose Knows - Mar. 20 Pose Knows - Feb. 4 Pose Knows - Dec. 8 |
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