Ask Otis: September 14, 2010

[Dan Savage]

Question: How do you expect to see the 4 spot used next season? Should we expect to see more Brandon Bass (or Ryan Anderson) at the four and Rashard Lewis at the 3 more often? – Jef Wilder

 

Otis: I think it will be a combination of both. I don’t think we will stop playing Rashard Lewis at the four. But you’ll see him play some spot minutes at the three. What happens at the four behind Rashard will be determined by Brandon and Ryan. It would be premature for us to say what’s going to happen at this point. Preseason will determine who we play, how often they play and the minutes they are given there. Guys have to find a way for a coach not to play you. And that adjusts your lineups. You want your best players on the floor all the time.

 

First year guys historically with Stan Van Gundy always have an adjustment period. Our whole team went through an adjustment when he came. Rashard went through an adjustment, Vince Carter, Mickael Pietrus, they all go through an adjustment with Stan’s system. So I expect Brandon to be a little bit better and Ryan to be a little bit better than they were a year ago, just because they’ve picked up on terminology and what it takes to play.

 

Question: Could you envision having Mickael Pietrus in the starting lineup next season? – Juan Delgado

 

Otis: That’s really not up to me. That’s up to Mickael Pietrus. I’ve envisioned him in the starting lineup since he got here. But he doesn’t envision himself there. He would prefer to be a backup for whatever reason. So I am hoping he starts to envision himself as a starter. That’s who it’s up to. It’s not really up to anyone else. I think he has the skills that it would take to start on this team at the small forward position, which is someone who can defend, hit open threes and make shots. We went out and got Quentin Richardson for similar reasons.

 

http://www.nba.com/magic/news/ask_otis_091410.html

[Jareth Cutestory]

Yawn.

[Secretly Space Jesus]

Yawn.

 

 

I'm worried about you, Jareth.

 

Reading your posts, it seems like....well....

 

Like you've lost that lovin' feeling.

 

[sharp/7/shooter]

I like to see Otis trying to motivate MP

[Franchero MVP]

Wow, he gave Peitrus alot of praise. And rightfully so!

[Emory889]

Yawn.

 

Really? I thought it was one of the more informative Otis interviews I've read.

[AddiFB]

Two things I now know about Otis Smith

 

"I like this team"

 

and..

 

"It's up to him"

 

Otis, you da man

[Emory889]

Two things I now know about Otis Smith

 

"I like this team"

 

and..

 

"It's up to him"

 

Otis, you da man

 

Well, except that isn't BS in this instance. Pietrus has a chance to start, Anderson and Bass have a chance to earn more minutes at the 4, Robinson has a chance to make the team, and Williams has a chance...ok, he has no chance to be the 2nd string pg. You can't come out and say "So and so has a hammerlock at the 4 spot" before guys are given a chance to compete.

[VCplusD12]

He didn't answer with other questions so I consider that positive. I think our team is REALLY deep and that may take a shot at our guys' confidence, but hey, it's not bad being too good.

 

Let's go MAGIC

[Waiting For That Day]

Two things I now know about Otis Smith

 

"I like this team"

 

and..

 

"It's up to him"

 

Otis, you da man

Well sad thing is that basically summed up the whole interview :svgsad:

[ApexTurbo]

Well sad thing is that basically summed up the whole interview :svgsad:

 

I would have to agree however it must have been a pretty short interview.

[Jareth Cutestory]

Well sad thing is that basically summed up the whole interview :svgsad:

 

 

This.