Cuonzo Martin on how close he is to figuring out a rotation: "Not close, really. I don't say we're far, either. And again I don't go into games. The one I always like to try to have if possible is a starting five. And I've never been a guy to try to change the starting five every other game, but not to say that it would never happen, but I like to get into a starting five because even if you’re coming off the bench, you’d like to know when you are getting your minutes and when you’re going into the game, and I don’t want to shuffle guys just every other game, try this five try that five. I mean, my biggest thing as a coach is always try to get that starting five and after that you have different lineups, late game two-minutes left in the game, you need a defensive stop, offensive possession you need to make free throws, then that varies, but I like to try to get a five going into the season. We’re close, but we’re not there yet.”
Cuonzo Martin on the possibility of guys having different roles: “Yes, possibly, and again for me, the most important thing is winning ball games. They have every right to be starters and I don’t have a set lineup before the season starts, so ‘ok, here’s the starting five, whatever happens’, they have to earn it. They’re working towards earning it and solidifying it. Because, again, I never want to go into a situation three games later, lets change the lineup. Outside of a guy being injured or sick.”
Cuonzo Martin on whether or not he’s committed to Kingsley Okoroh or Kameron Rooks starting: “If they earn it. Yes.”
Cuonzo Martin on whether or not he’s close to solidifying a starting five: “We’re on pace to get a starting five, I think we’re probably seventy-five percent where I think we will be.”
Cuonzo Martin on whether or not they’re on track to have either Kingsley Okoroh or Kameron Rooks in the starting five: “If they earn it. If they earn it.”
Cuonzo Martin on whether or not Jaylen Brown and Ivan Rabb have solidified their places in the starting five: “I think so. They worked toward it. Yes. Yeah.”
Cuonzo Martin on whether or not Roman Davis could redshirt: “That’s something we talk about as a staff and again that’s a decision that, you’re talking about Roman, right? I think that’s a decision that we’ll make and ultimately I have to make and doing what’s best for Roman. Because the last thing you want to have is a young man play 15 minutes a game, doesn’t play 3 minutes, 4 minutes, and he doesn’t benefit from that. A whole year, I think really a wasted year, so it’s just ultimately I have to make a decision on what’s best for Roman and our team.”
Cuonzo Martin on how Roman Davis has played: “Played hard. Plays extremely hard and I think that’s a gift. And nowadays I think it’s more considered a skill when a guy plays as hard as he plays.”
Cuonzo Martin on whether or not they’ll add another walk on: “I would never rule it out, but we haven’t added anyone yet. But I wouldn’t rule it out. But no one as of yet.”
Cuonzo Martin on what Nick Kerr brings to the table: “He’s a guy that can make shots. He’s a guy that can make shots and he’s also a good guy in the locker room. Because, again, he’s been in a championship locker room, so he knows that feel whether he played in that game or not he knows what that feels like. He’s seen it, he’s been around his dad. I mean, I guess he’s been in a championship locker room probably since he was a kid. So, and that rubs off because again, he’s able to speak through guys and speak to guys about ‘here’s my two cent’ and this is a group of guys that really embrace that, they appreciate it. This is a humble group. These aren’t arrogant guys from the standpoint of ‘I don’t need that information, you’re not a starter, you’re not playing a lot, so why does it matter?’ These guys respect and applaud that information and he’s willing to give it.”
Cuonzo Martin on whether or not Nick Kerr can get minutes this season: “If he earns it.” (Reporters including Coach Martin start to laugh).
Cuonzo Martin on whether or not Ivan Rabb is more of a 4 or a 5: “Well, I think if he’s blessed to be on the path he’s on, I don’t know, and I’m not saying this to sound sarcastic, but I don’t know if there’s a traditional center like Shaquille O’Neal anymore, I think at that level or this level, he’ll be a power forward, he’ll be a center. I mean, you look at the championship game, this last NBA Finals, there was a situation where Draymond Green was playing the center, so I think those days are over. I just think what you present, how you match up against other teams, so I think he’ll be at both positions when it’s all said and done.”
Cuonzo Martin on whether or not he likes smaller lineups: “Yes. Yes. We’ve had him at the 5 quite a bit. Especially when King was out for a couple of weeks he was at the 5, so yeah, he’s been at the 5, he’s been at the 4. Most cases he’s been at the 4 for us, but late game situations he’ll probably be at the 5.”
Cuonzo Martin on the health of the team: “Everybody’s healthy as of right now.”
Cuonzo Martin on difficult matchups that Ivan Rabb can create at the 4: “Yes, because he can make a shot. He has a really good shot.15-17 foot shot. But even at the center spot if you got a bigger guy on him, he can get around him make plays. Yes.”
Cuonzo Martin on Ivan Rabb’s ability to play defense against guys bigger than him: “He’s made adjustments. It was tougher for him in June and July, even some spurts in Australia, but he’s been a lot better at it because he knows how to block shots, he knows how to use his length, and just getting used to it.”
Cuonzo Martin on the possibility of guys having different roles: “Yes, possibly, and again for me, the most important thing is winning ball games. They have every right to be starters and I don’t have a set lineup before the season starts, so ‘ok, here’s the starting five, whatever happens’, they have to earn it. They’re working towards earning it and solidifying it. Because, again, I never want to go into a situation three games later, lets change the lineup. Outside of a guy being injured or sick.”
Cuonzo Martin on whether or not he’s committed to Kingsley Okoroh or Kameron Rooks starting: “If they earn it. Yes.”
Cuonzo Martin on whether or not he’s close to solidifying a starting five: “We’re on pace to get a starting five, I think we’re probably seventy-five percent where I think we will be.”
Cuonzo Martin on whether or not they’re on track to have either Kingsley Okoroh or Kameron Rooks in the starting five: “If they earn it. If they earn it.”
Cuonzo Martin on whether or not Jaylen Brown and Ivan Rabb have solidified their places in the starting five: “I think so. They worked toward it. Yes. Yeah.”
Cuonzo Martin on whether or not Roman Davis could redshirt: “That’s something we talk about as a staff and again that’s a decision that, you’re talking about Roman, right? I think that’s a decision that we’ll make and ultimately I have to make and doing what’s best for Roman. Because the last thing you want to have is a young man play 15 minutes a game, doesn’t play 3 minutes, 4 minutes, and he doesn’t benefit from that. A whole year, I think really a wasted year, so it’s just ultimately I have to make a decision on what’s best for Roman and our team.”
Cuonzo Martin on how Roman Davis has played: “Played hard. Plays extremely hard and I think that’s a gift. And nowadays I think it’s more considered a skill when a guy plays as hard as he plays.”
Cuonzo Martin on whether or not they’ll add another walk on: “I would never rule it out, but we haven’t added anyone yet. But I wouldn’t rule it out. But no one as of yet.”
Cuonzo Martin on what Nick Kerr brings to the table: “He’s a guy that can make shots. He’s a guy that can make shots and he’s also a good guy in the locker room. Because, again, he’s been in a championship locker room, so he knows that feel whether he played in that game or not he knows what that feels like. He’s seen it, he’s been around his dad. I mean, I guess he’s been in a championship locker room probably since he was a kid. So, and that rubs off because again, he’s able to speak through guys and speak to guys about ‘here’s my two cent’ and this is a group of guys that really embrace that, they appreciate it. This is a humble group. These aren’t arrogant guys from the standpoint of ‘I don’t need that information, you’re not a starter, you’re not playing a lot, so why does it matter?’ These guys respect and applaud that information and he’s willing to give it.”
Cuonzo Martin on whether or not Nick Kerr can get minutes this season: “If he earns it.” (Reporters including Coach Martin start to laugh).
Cuonzo Martin on whether or not Ivan Rabb is more of a 4 or a 5: “Well, I think if he’s blessed to be on the path he’s on, I don’t know, and I’m not saying this to sound sarcastic, but I don’t know if there’s a traditional center like Shaquille O’Neal anymore, I think at that level or this level, he’ll be a power forward, he’ll be a center. I mean, you look at the championship game, this last NBA Finals, there was a situation where Draymond Green was playing the center, so I think those days are over. I just think what you present, how you match up against other teams, so I think he’ll be at both positions when it’s all said and done.”
Cuonzo Martin on whether or not he likes smaller lineups: “Yes. Yes. We’ve had him at the 5 quite a bit. Especially when King was out for a couple of weeks he was at the 5, so yeah, he’s been at the 5, he’s been at the 4. Most cases he’s been at the 4 for us, but late game situations he’ll probably be at the 5.”
Cuonzo Martin on the health of the team: “Everybody’s healthy as of right now.”
Cuonzo Martin on difficult matchups that Ivan Rabb can create at the 4: “Yes, because he can make a shot. He has a really good shot.15-17 foot shot. But even at the center spot if you got a bigger guy on him, he can get around him make plays. Yes.”
Cuonzo Martin on Ivan Rabb’s ability to play defense against guys bigger than him: “He’s made adjustments. It was tougher for him in June and July, even some spurts in Australia, but he’s been a lot better at it because he knows how to block shots, he knows how to use his length, and just getting used to it.”
