Kris Humphries: Former Gopher adjusting to new role off the bench Brooklyn Nets forward Kris Humphries has had to make two significant adjustments this season: get used to a new head coach and, as a result, get used to coming off the bench. Under coach Avery Johnson, fired Dec. 27, Humphries made 18 starts. Under new coach P.J. Carlesimo, the former University of Minnesota standout has been a reserve the past eight games, a role he tolerates but hasn't totally accepted. In Humphries' previous two seasons with the Nets, he started 106 games. "Everybody wants to start and play as many minutes as you can, whether it's me or somebody else," Humphries said before the Nets' 91-83 victory over the Timberwolves on Wednesday night, Jan. 23, at Target Center. "Obviously, it's a different mind-set for me. I have to give instant energy and try to lift the team since you're not playing the same amount of minutes." Humphries said his new role is easier to cope with because the Nets are winning. Heading into Wednesday's game, the Nets (25-16) were 11-2 with Carlesimo, an assistant under Johnson, leading the team. Included in that surge was a 17-point win at Oklahoma City. The Nets also held on for a three-point win Monday over New York, a game in which Humphries made his presence felt with 11 points and 13 rebounds in 27 minutes. In three of the Nets' past six games, he has scored in double figures. Humphries only had two points Wednesday night but pulled down eight rebounds and had two assists in 21 minutes. Carlesimo said he can count on Humphries but that a "logjam" with his power forward-center rotation has made it difficult to keep the eight-year veteran and former Hopkins High School star in the starting lineup. Humphries missed six games because of a sore abdominal muscle and sprained left ankle and has been trying to work his way back. "I don't think he's happy with it, but he's handled it well," Carlesimo said. "It's not a comfortable situation for any of our big guys. Our rotation hasn't been real predictable. It's about who's playing well on a given night. That's how we've gone with it." Carlesimo said he hasn't talked with Humphries about his situation, nor to any of the other forwards and centers caught up in the logjam. That the Nets have been playing well has eased tensions. "Any change is difficult to adjust to, but the most important thing right now is that we're winning," said Humphries, averaging 6.9 points, 7.0 rebounds and 21.6 minutes. "Everything else doesn't matter. I'm just trying to do the best I can with it." Humphries might be having an easier time dealing with his reserve role than developments in his personal life. His failed marriage to reality TV star Kim Kardashian generated negative publicity for him in the sports pages and gossip columns. Humphries declined to answer questions about Kardashian, now linked to hip-hop star Kanye West, but he indicated his off-court drama has not affected his concentration on basketball. "I've never had problems staying focused on basketball," Humphries said. "I love the game. Basketball has always been an outlet for me." When Deron Williams caught wind of the latest Dwight Howard trade rumors, he felt compelled to chat with his teammate, Brook Lopez, who is always on the other side of these things. “You can’t get a break, huh?” Williams told him. “No matter what you do.” Lopez is having the best season of his career, blossoming into an aggressive defender and an All-Star candidate. The Nets are a lot happier with having Lopez over Howard – who has become a running joke amongst players – than they were last season. “We’re happy with Brook,” Williams said. “Brook is our center. He’s having an All-Star year. I don’t see Brook going anywhere.” As the Daily News reported Wednesday, the Lakers have been turning down trade inquiries about Howard. The feeling around the league is the Lakers will call Howard’s bluff and re-sign him in the offseason. Still, there’s always a chance the Lakers can change their mind and deal Howard before the Feb. 21 deadline. “(Lopez and I) talked about it last night,” Williams said. “All it is is rumors and sources. Sources are not credible to me. Until you put a name to a source, it’s not credible. “I’d be really surprised if Lopez doesn’t make (the All-Star reserves, which will be announced tomorrow). I don’t know how you could leave Brook off. What he’s meant to this team on both sides of the floor. He’s been the most consistent throughout this season. I think he’s an All-Star. …I think in general he just came in with a chip on his shoulders, being in thrown around in trade rumors for the last two years and being hurt last year and people doubting him, so I think he definitely came in ready to go this year and really confident. Hopefully people are taking notice.” Howard is certainly a better defender and rebounder than Lopez, who is progressing in those areas this season. But Lopez is certainly a better free throw shooter than Howard, which is most important late in games. Lopez is shooting 74 percent from the line this season and 79 percent for this career. Howard’s numbers (50% this season, 58 percent for his career) are less impressive. “That’s definitely important,” Williams said. “You don’t have to do a lot of subbing in and out for defensive purposes, offensive purposes. He can hit free throws. He’s one of our best free throw shooters, so it’s definitely a plus having him out there at the end of games.” Added PJ Carlesimo: “It makes a huge difference because it means you can go inside to somebody late in the game and he can still command a double team and people can’t feel good about fouling him. So it’s a very important dynamic. Some of the best big men in this league are notorious for not being able to throw them the ball at the end of the game, you’re just going to foul him. So the fact that he’s a good – and I still think can be an even better free throw shooter is a big plus.” ---- 对於自己目前在球队的替补角色，篮网队内线大个子Humphries也在今天的比赛前给出了 他自己的想法。 “每个人都想打先发，都想打更多的时间，不管是我还是其他的任何人。”Humphries说 道。 Humphries表示，这对他来说是一个调整，他表示即便自己不会得到和之前一样的上场时 间，他也需要在走上场後马上提供能量。 “任何的调整都是有难度的，但是最重要的是我们现在在赢球，那样的话一切都没什麽问 题了，我只是想尽可能地做好我所能做的。”Humphries说道。 本赛季，Humphries场均上场21.6分钟，可以贡献6.9分7个篮板。 “我永远都会对篮球保持专注力，我爱比赛，篮球永远是我的一种发泄方式。” Humphries说道。 小胖听到Lopez和魔兽的交易流言时，他觉得要和自己的队友聊聊。 Lopez本赛季的表现可以说是生涯最好的一个赛季，防守更具侵略性，也成为了全明星赛 的候选人。 小胖说：“我们很高兴队里能有肉配汁，他是我们的中锋，他打出了全明星水准的一年， 我不觉得他会去别的地方。” 对於Lopez和魔兽的交易流言，小胖说：“Lopez和我昨晚聊过了，那些不过就是流言和消 息人士。消息人士对我来说是不可靠的，除非你加上名字，不然就是不可靠的。如果 Lopez没能进入全明星，那我会很惊讶。说到他对这支球队在攻防两端的贡献，我不知道 怎麽才能把Lopez给漏了。他是本赛季表现最稳定的，我认为他是全明星...我觉得他本赛 季是带着责任的，他最近两年都陷於交易流言中，去年还受伤了，人们也质疑他，所以我 认为他今年肯定做好了准备，而且相当有信心。希望人们能意识到这一点。” 虽然魔兽的篮板和防守比Lopez更好，但是Lopez本赛季在这两方面都在进步，而且Lopez 的罚球无疑比魔兽稳定得多。Lopez本赛季的罚球命中率是74%，生涯罚球命中率是79%。 小胖说：“这肯定是很重要的，这样你就不需要因为防守和进攻而频繁换人了，因为他能 命中罚球。他是我们最好的罚球手之一，所以比赛最後时刻让他在场肯定对我们有帮助。 ” http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_22437029/kris-humphries-former-gopher-adjusting-new-role-off? --

※ 发信站: 批踢踢实业坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 114.44.76.8 ※ 编辑: oppo5566 来自: 114.44.76.8 (01/24 22:17)