Jan. 23 vs. Memphis Grizzlies - Sam Mitchell and Dave Joerger Pregame Quotes
Timberwolves Interim Head Coach Sam Mitchell
On the positives from the Dallas game…
“We got things to work on. It was good, we’re just trying to build on it. (We’ve) just gotta come out and continue to
play. We got a chance to practice yesterday, so just continue to work on things that we need to continue to get better
at. There’s positive things, but our goal is to win the game.”
On the experience of the Grizzlies…
“Yeah, it’s their experience. They’ve been together for a long time and those guys, when you got eight or nine years
in the league, you know all the tricks, you know things that officials are going to let you get away with and they know
each other. Karl and Andrew Wiggins, they got 41 games together. Our guys are still learning each other, learning
what they like to do.”
On players getting into routines…
“Just seeing like the other day we had an off day. Just seeing guys come in on an off day, starting to develop a
routine, treatment, weight lifting, getting shots up on a day off. That’s what you want guys to understand. It may be a
day off… but it’s something I still need to get in the gym and do. If nothing else, just taking care of your body.”
Grizzlies Head Coach Dave Joerger
On injured players…
“[Marc Gaso]) is going to try to go. Tony [Allen] is going to try to go. We’ll see. Tony’s out there warming up right now,
so I’ll talk to him in a little bit, but it’s going to be tough. Mike Conley’s still in a walking boot and went lighter than light
this morning. Try to keep our legs and focus ready for tonight.”
On the challenge of switching lineups…
“It’s really tough. I always had conversations with Flip about stuff like this because had I not gone through the minor
leagues, I would not be able to handle (this). In the minors, guys get called up, guys get overseas, guys get injured,
you can’t get a guy in Bismarck or Sioux Falls, South Dakota or North Dakota on the drop of a hat.”
On the lineups in the beginning of the game…
“Yeah… It’s who’s engaged? Who’s not? Who’s in on the weak side defensively? Who is a good matchup? It’s all
matchups in the NBA. One-on-one, can you stay in front of your guy a little bit? Can you stay in front of your guy a
lot? Those kinds of things over the course of a game.”