Nov. 2 vs. Portland Trail Blazers - Sam Mitchell and Terry Stotts Pregame Quotes
Timberwolves Interim Head Coach Sam Mitchell
On defense after the first two games…
“I just think our effort and we’re trying to help each other. All teams make mistakes, and we’re still making some, but we’re just playing hard. And when someone makes a mistake, they’re just trying to cover up for each other, and that’s what good teams have to do. You’re not going to do everything perfect every night on every play. Our guys, to their credit, are playing hard. We tell them that when a mistake is made - don’t worry about it, don’t hang your head, just try to make it up, just try and cover up for your teammates.”
On getting quieter players like Wiggins and Bjelica to speak up…
“It’s just in some guys’ nature, and in others it’s not. You can talk to them about it and at some point they will do little better, but most of it’s because guys aren’t comfortable and they aren’t sure of themselves, and that’s okay. That’s just part of the growth. As they get more comfortable and as they get more sure of themselves about what they’re doing, they’ll speak more.”
On Rubio’s lack of turnovers being a physical thing or more decision making…
“I would think it’s all of them. It’s probably more decision making. We just talked to Ricky about this - just pass to the first guy that’s open. Not try and make a home-run pass, not trying to make a great pass, not trying to make the ‘ooo’ and ‘ahh’ pass, at the end of the day the fewer times you turn it over, the better your chances are of winning.”
Trail Blazers Head Coach Terry Stotts
On having so many young players on the team…
“Well, certainly in some ways it’s like Minnesota and the process they’ve gone through is that when you have veterans and there’s just a lot more teaching with the young guys it’s just different all the way around. It’s fun, it’s rewarding, it’s refreshing. But it certainly is a different type of coaching.”
On Ed Davis…
“Ed’s been terrific. I don’t know what my expectations were when we signed him. I knew he was a good player but I think he’s been better than I anticipated. He’s been very active defensively. He’s good in pick and rolls. He’s aggressive going to the boards. He does all the dirty work inside.”
On Flip Saunders and the CBA...
“There’s a CBA bond, certainly. Whether it’s a minor league bond with the D-League. I think back in the CBA days, that was a special time because everyone wanted to get to the NBA, but those times are always more enjoyable in retrospect… He was such a terrific coach in the CBA and had success wherever he was.”