| An Interview With Jason Hamm Authored by Michael Morris - March 27, 2009 - 11:32 am
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MM: How did you expect the team to do early in the year, and why do you think they have, or haven't, lived up to your expectations?
JH: I expected us to struggle this year. We are a very young team in a re-building stage. I thought we could win 30-40 games this year with the initial roster, but when Kevin [Martin] was injured early that was a big blow to the team. That took 25-30 points out of the line up instantly. Since the trade we don't have any real 'veterans' on the team outside of Bobby Jackson and in this league you can't win without them. Portland went through the same thing the past 3-4 years and now look at them. People have to be patient and trust in Geoff [Petrie] and his plan to get us back to the top of our division.
MM: From your standpoint, have you seen a difference in the team since Kenny Natt replaced Reggie Theus as coach?
JH: Sure, there has been a change. Kenny is more of a disciplinarian and a bit more structured. Our offense has changed completely with the insertion of the Princeton style. We are getting back to running the same type of offense they ran here during their successful years. And defensively we have had to change to accommodate the youth on our team. We have become much more simple in our approach.
MM: Take me through a regular day at practice.
JH: First, Kenny we will clean up any offense or defense from the previous night's game. Then we will get them stretched out and warmed up and ready to start practice. We start with full court lay-ups, three-man weaves, and things of that sort. We then get into a transition offense/defense drill. From there we typically go into a full court shooting drill, or at times a ˝ court shooting drill where we split the team up and utilize all five baskets. At that point we are ready to get into the meat of practice. We normally start with defense and then move to offense. Typically we will pick a few scenarios that are giving us trouble from a defensive standpoint and defend those sets live 5-on-5. Each team has to get a specified number of stops before getting off on defense until we have covered all scenarios. Then we flip to offense and we will run through our offensive sets against defense. Here, although we are concentrating on offense, I will continue to work on our defensive principles. So although it is a offensive drill, we are still concerned and coaching both sides of the ball. By the time we finish with that we are somewhere near an 1˝ -2 hours, so we will typically break up and shoot again than come back together one last time to scrimmage.
MM: Besides Sacramento, you have coached at Memphis and Golden State. In your opinion what is this team missing that other teams are not?
JH: Again, as I previously stated, the biggest absence on this team are veterans, guys who have played in the league for 5-9 years that are mature in their games and as adults. It's a lot of pressure to put on these young guys to go out and compete against the 'World's Best Athletes' night-in and night-out when some of them should still be, or are eligible to be in college. Maturity plays such a big role in your success level in the NBA. The playoff teams are full of veteran players who have experienced how to play and to make each other better. We are getting there, but patience is important to their growth as well.
MM: What strengths do you see in this team and what skills do they have that they can build on?
Our team is a very skilled team from top to bottom with players who can play multiple positions and who can all shoot and pass the ball. Our basketball IQ as a whole is very high and that is very important to success in the NBA. Our youth, although right know it is part of the problem, it is also one of our greatest strengths going forward. We hope to have this group together for a very long time and just add the necessary pieces.
MM: What do you think the future of the Kings will be? Do you think Sacramento is the best place for the team?
JH: I have no true insight into that. That decision is for Joe & Gavin, the Maloof Family and the City of Sacramento to decide. I do know this, Joe & Gavin love this city and would love nothing other than to keep it here. But again they must also do what is right for the Sacramento Kings as a organization and business.
MM: Seventy games into the season, you have been able to see everyone play in person. From what you have seen, who do you like to make it in the Finals this year?
JH: The Lakers and Celtics. They are just too good with their starting five and they are as deep as any two teams in the league. Their 6-8 men would be starters on several other teams throughout the league.
MM: Even though South Alabama isn't in the tournament, what teams do you like this year? And if you filled out a bracket who do you have in your Final Four?
JH: My final four is as follows - Pitt vs. UNC and Kansas vs. UConn. |
