Happy Ourer: “We’re here for a special sit down conversation with the Linndale GM. Thank you for you time”
GM: “Thank you, Happy.”
HO: “It was a disappointing season and there’s a lot to cover. I think most people figured Harrison Mann would be departing, but no one saw Ramon Sanz Garcaa’s departure. How badly did that hurt the team?”
GM: “The phrasing of that question makes it sound as if Harrison’s departure didn’t hurt us and only Ramon’s did. That’s not accurate. Happy, let me be clear. We possibly could have survived Harrison’s departure. Added to Ramon’s departure? No. That was a huge blow; our rebounding and interior defense took a huge hit in the short term. However, we believe we’re prepared to address those concerns internally. We expected improvement from the guys we have here, and we’re already seeing it. We expect good things from this group going forward.”
HO: “Walk us through why you say that. We’re not very familiar with Genipabu, and Pemweiser hasn’t been here very long.”
GM: “Leo is every bit the defender and rebounder Ramon was. He’s a solid shot blocker and free throw shooter. He brings some of the same things Ramon brought, with the potential of a better offensive player.”
HO: “You’re also high on Damian Hatfield. What do you see that excites you so much?”
GM: “He’s really young but has the things we wanted in place. When we got him, we didn’t have a big with the ability to guard the perimeter like he can. He’s also got some ball skills; there’s a scenario where he could see time at small forward. He’s got that kind of versatile skill set. Like Leo, his offense will dictate where his ceiling is.
HO: “Where does Pemwieser fit in?”
GM: “He’s got ball handling and shooting skills. He can score inside and out. He’s a competent rebounder and defender. We have high hopes for him going forward.”
HO: “You’ve said that Harrison and Ramon couldn’t be replaced individually. It sounds as if you are trying to replace them by remaking the group and upgrading the collective skills.”
GM: “We are. Damian Hatfield is a prime example. He can guard the perimeter or interior. We didn’t have a big who could do that. Now, like Floyd Hearn or Pemwieser, Damian can handle it and drive. Pemwieser has shooting skills we didn’t have from a big. Pemwieser isn’t a shot blocker. Floyd and Leo are. It’s about the group complementing each other. As a group, it gives Pio Reina the ability to mix and match based on matchups, but it also protects the team in case of injury. One injury doesn’t limit the group’s or the team’s flexibility.
HO: “You’ve consistently mentioned ball skills. That seems to be a point of emphasis.”
GM: “Turnovers are something our coach detests. It’s no secret that the ball handling is a point of emphasis. His focus on defense, rebounding, free throws, and limiting turnovers is what you’ll expect to see on the court.
HO: “There’s been a lot of talk about two-way defenders. Explain what that is and how many do we have. What does that mean for the team?”
GM: “A two way defender is a player who can defend the perimeter and the paint. We have 7 players we consider two-way defenders. The other 7 players are either skilled defensively in their primary area, or developing that skill. If you can’t play defense, Pio will not give you court time.”
HO: “Who deserves the blame for this season’s failure?”
GM: “I do. Pio shouldn’t take a hit for my mistakes. Transactions could and should have been done sooner. That’s all me.”
HO: “Was Pio happy about the moves?”
GM: “Pio and I have a good working relationship. No coach and GM will get along or agree every single time. At the end of the day, we are on the same page and have the same vision. We may disagree on how to get there sometimes, but we know the other is working towards the same thing.”