Here’s some interviews I stumbled upon. The first two by Maurice Brooks at nba.com, J-Wills off of the nba.com/heat
BRIARCLIFF MANOR, N.Y., Aug. 20, 2007 – Two years ago, Alonzo Mourning and Shaquille O’Neal teamed up to help the Miami Heat win an NBA title. On Monday, the twin towers, along with Donald Trump, hosted the 4th Annual Zo’s Million Dollar Shootout at the Trump National Golf Club. NBA.com hung out with the two legendary centers on the 13th hole, between Mourning hitting the ball into the water and O’Neal swinging and missing.
Catching Up With Zo
Maybe Mourning will have a second professional sports career when he is done playing hoops. On second thought …
(David Dow/NBAE/Getty)
By Maurice Brooks
Brooks: What’s up, Alonzo? The East is going to be completely different this season with the Celtics acquiring Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. Talk a little bit about what Boston’s offseason deals do to the conference.Mourning: I think it is going to be great. This makes things more interesting and gives the East a totally different look. Everybody is always quick to label the East as a jayvee league, but we won the championship two years ago and the Pistons won it a couple of years before that.
I think Garnett will balance the league. Bringing over a great player from the West will help make things more competitive and I’m excited about the challenge. This is my last year and I expect my team to go out with a bang. I think this is great.
Brooks: You guys just got a little deeper by picking up Anfernee Hardaway. Do you think he still has anything left?
Mourning: I think Penny coming back is good for us. He’s healthy, he’s hungry and he wants to prove to the world that he can play this game at a high level. He’s talented and versatile and he can play the one, two and three, which gives us another dimension off the bench. People aren’t going to recognize him. He’s in great physical condition. He is going to shock the world when people see how well he can play the game right now. He has fresh legs and he is hungry. He’s going to get back in there and showcase his talents.
Brooks: He is not the only former star traveling the comeback trail. Allan Houston and Reggie Miller, two of the best shooters in NBA history, are also talking about lacing up the sneakers again.
Mourning: All you got to do is get Allan open and he can knock it down. I don’t know how well he is going to play defensively. You never know. He’s been out the game a little while, but if he gets into a rhythm he can be a very good player. He won’t be the player he was a couple of years ago, but he will be a very good addition to a team.
Brooks: What about the Knick killer (watch this)?
Mourning: Reggie is a Hall of Fame-type of player who can provide leadership off the bench. He is a veteran who will give a team a lift. He is a guy who is not trying to prove anything. He simply wants to help out and be a part of the process.
Brooks: A year after winning the title, you guys got swept by the Bulls in the first round of the playoffs. What happened?
Mourning: We had health problems last year. We were out of sync. We had some guys who came into the preseason very complacent. We had a lot of different health issues that affected our rhythm.
Chatting With The Diesel
Don’t let this picture fool you. Unless it is for charity, Shaq has no business holding a golf club.
(David Dow/NBAE/Getty)
By Maurice Brooks
Brooks: What’s the deal, big fella? What are your thoughts on the Celtics getting Kevin Garnett? Does it remind you of 2004 when you were on the Lakers with Kobe, Karl Malone and Gary Payton?O’Neal: Yeah, I played on the most stacked-deck team in the history of the game and we didn’t win the championship. Obviously having KG come over is going to make the Celtics better, but now they have a lot of pressure on them. They’ll be the most watched team in the league. They have a lot of heat on that team. A lot of heat. Ray (Allen) was the go-to guy. KG was the go-to guy. Paul (Pierce) was the go-to guy. One or two of those guys is going to have to make some sacrifices.
Brooks: Does this make Boston one of the top three teams in the East?
O’Neal: I never really thought about it like that. Cleveland is going to do what they do. New Jersey is going to do what they do. We’re going to do what we do. It’s going to be competitive. Boston is top five I guess.
Brooks: I talked to Alonzo earlier today and he was going on and on about how Penny is in tremendous shape.
O’Neal: Yeah, Zo said Penny looks fabulous. He says he looks good, but I haven’t seen him play yet. You can tell he wants to play because he signed a non-guaranteed contract. He wants to come out and prove himself. Hopefully he comes in and plays well.
Brooks: I read that you said you were going to get Yao 24-inch car rims as a wedding gift. Did you keep your word and what made you think of that as a gift?
O’Neal: They asked me what I was going to get him and that was all I could come up with. I haven’t got them for him yet, but I live in Houston, too. I may just go by his house one day and take his car.
Brooks: I’ve been checking out your golf swing. Do you play much?
O’Neal: I don’t play at all. Zo asked me to team up with him two years ago for his charity and I’m here for a good cause. I’m having a good time.
Brooks: Let’s talk hoops for a second. The postseason didn’t end well for you guys. What went wrong?
O’Neal: Last season wasn’t our time. We had a lot of injuries and stuff like that. It just happens. This is the first time in my career that I’m going to have over four months to rest in the offseason, so this year there are no excuses.
Insider Interview with Jason Williams
Want to know what your favorite HEAT player is up to during the dog days of summer? HEAT Insider sat down with Jason Williams for this exclusive interview to discuss his knee, the HEAT off-season moves and his future with the team.
HEAT Insider: How is your summer going, and how do you stay busy during the off-season?
Jason Williams: “I don’t do too much. I have a house up in Orlando , so I spend much of my time there. Other than that, I work out preparing for the season, play a lot of golf and hang out with the kids.”
HI: How about your knee? How is that coming along?
JW: “It feels great – just about pain free. This is the best I’ve ever felt. I’ve been doing a lot of weight training on my knee – about five days a week. You wouldn’t even know that I had surgery. I should go into the season at 100 percent.”
What preventative measures are you doing on your part to keep healthy this season?
JW: “I’m keeping a positive attitude and hoping for the best. I’m going to continue taking care of my knee. The best thing I can do for it is making sure it’s stretched.”
HI: The HEAT has made several new additions to the team, such as Smush Parker and Penny Hardaway. Are you excited about playing with these guys?
JW: “Yes. I’m excited, but being in the NBA you get used to roster changes. Ever since I’ve been in the league, I’ve had new teammates every year. It’s something that you get used to. Pat (Riley) knows what he’s doing, so if we have new guys here, you know they can play and they deserve to be here. I can’t wait to get back on the floor and play with my new teammates.”
HI: Are you expecting the team to bounce back this season?
JW: “I expect to win the championship every year. If you don’t expect that why even play? We’re going to get back here in October (for training camp), take it one day at a time and see how good we can be. Hopefully, we’ll be hoisting the trophy come June.”
HI: You’re heading into the last year of your contract. Are you looking to end your career in Miami?
JW: “I would love to end my career here. I love the city and the fans. If it’s up to me, I’ll stay here. All I can do is play well and hopefully everything else will work out.”
Tags: Off The Court, Local Topics, Miami Heat, NBA, News, 2007 Offseason, Uncategorized by Groves
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