David Lee Interview on knicks.com
As the start of a new season — and a new era — of New York Knicks basketball draws closer, NYKnicks.com will sit down with the players, coaches and others closely associated with the
team to discuss their thoughts on the outlook for 2008-09.
We begin the series with Knicks forward David Lee, who discusses the off-season roster changes and his thoughts on playing in head coach Mike D’Antoni’s system.
NYKnicks.com: You recently had your first practice with the other guys when you were in Las Vegas, and had an opportunity to start to learn Mike D’Antoni’s system. How did that go?
David Lee: I’ve been around Coach D’Antoni a little bit when I practiced with the Olympic team last year, and he’s got a specific way that he wants the game to be played, and that’s up-tempo and intense. It’s a different speed than the one which you play, and the only way that you learn that style of play is by doing it in practice. Even when we had those practices out in Vegas, everything was that you’ve got to run, run, run. We’ve got to learn that style of play now if we want to do it and do it well during the season, so that was a good experience.
NYKnicks.com: Right after D’Antoni got hired, did you talk to any of your teammates about what to expect?
Lee: Well, when we ran into each other of course it’s going to come up, but the key is that we are all on the same page in that we are excited about it and what we can all do together. From the outside looking in, everyone says it’s got to be fun to play that kind of style of play. I don’t know too many basketball players who don’t enjoy getting up and down the court and fast-breaking. Now, I know it takes a high level of commitment to be in shape, and that’s why I’ve been working as hard as I have this summer. But it’s a fun system.
NYKnicks.com: What were your thoughts in the past when you would go up against D’Antoni’s Phoenix teams?
Lee: Oh man … tired! (laughs) They wear you out! That style of play — or I should really now say our style of play — it’s something that if you don’t prepare for every single day, it’s ridiculous. I mean it’s just flat-out tough. There were times where we would come back from a game where we would face a half-court team and then have to play Phoenix, and it seems that they are going 1,000 miles per hour, but they are used to playing that way. You can usually handle it for a quarter or two, but then about the third quarter, they are still going full speed and you are getting tired and are sucking wind. So it’s an interesting style to play against and I’ll be happy to be playing for it this year.
Not sure why I posted this, sure I do it’s August. Here’s your typical fluff piece. No mention of the contract status or dealing with trade rumors. If you’re inclined, read the rest here.
