March 26, 2009

Starting to Finish (Keyon Dooling)

We started out fairly well this season -- we exceeded a lot of expectations. But then, as most young teams do in this league, we had some hardships. We’re still trying to recover from that, but I think the development of this team is going pretty well.

It’s been fun starting these last few games. It’s awesome to play a lot and not try and cram your effectiveness into 20 minutes. It’s actually fun to just be able to let the game come to you. It slows down for you.

But you have to switch up your game. Obviously, when you’re coming off the bench, you have to bring more energy and try to do something to affect the game in a little bit of time. But when you’re a starter, you have to be solid, you have to be smart the whole time.

Delivering the Dunks
When all the stars align and the wind in the arena is just right, sometimes I can take off. But that’s few and far between, though the last few weeks I’ve been taking off a little bit. Physically I feel okay, but mentally I feel like I’m young as ever.

Mizzou's Sweet 16
I’ve been keeping track of Missouri’s run in the NCAA Tournament. Coach Anderson has been doing a phenomenal job down there. You don’t hear many “household” names on that team, but collectively, they’re very good. They play hard, they play together, they play smart. There’s no substitute for that chemistry and work ethic that they bring.

I talked to Coach Anderson this summer just to reach out to him and let him know he has my support and the program does as well. But pretty much everyone who was there while I was there is gone. It was almost a decade ago.

We play next against Memphis, and CDR, he is Mr. Memphis, so we have a little conversation going on. I’ll leave it at that.

From Where We Don't Do Winter
Getting through wintertime probably been my most different transition this season. Sometimes coming out and having to shovel snow. I had snow in college, but not to this extent – we’ve seen a lot of it this year. I just drive real slow. It’s cool though. I have no complaints.

What I did learn was that the brooms really work well to get the snow off as opposed to just the normal snow brushes. I’m getting more savvy, but it’s been different.

My kids like to play in the snow, but their immune systems don’t like the snow as much as they do. So I’ve got to keep them in when it snows.

No Time for Reading
I haven’t been reading much. I’ve got about eight books on ice waiting for an island, for an ocean breeze to come by, so I can hear that in the background and just read.

Sixth Man, But Not No. 1
My name absolutely does not belong in the Sixth Man discussion! It’s not even close – at least I don’t think so. I don’t think our team record is good enough, and I don’t think my numbers are good enough. But I think what I bring off the bench is positive and beneficial to our team, so I’m happy with that.

Obviously, Jason Terry comes to mind, even though he’s more like a starter. Manu Ginobili, even though he’s missed a lot of games, is still spectacular coming off the bench. Those are the two guys who stand out immediately. We can’t say Paul Millsap, because he’s started so many games, but there are a lot of great players off our bench, a lot of players who embrace those roles and some players who even play better coming off the bench. It is what it is.

And Nate! Let me tell you, the season that Nate Robinson’s been having has been phenomenal. It’s been fun to watch – it’s very entertaining to see somebody as small as he is, with such a big heart and such a big game. It’s been fun to watch this year.

But it was more fun to beat him in the Garden, ha. That’s a great place to play.