NBA Q&A: Raymond Felton

Posted by Unknown on Sunday, November 18, 2012 with No comments

Q: What is a realistic goal for this Knicks team?
A: We have a good enough team, we think, to go all the way.
Courtesy of Steve Serby 

 Q: You think this can be a championship contender?
A: Yeah, I do. We have everything. We have depth. we have experience. We got knowledge of the game. We got a great coach and a great coaching staff. We got everything in place. It’s all about us sticking together, staying healthy and continue to get better.
Q: What are your thoughts of coach Mike Woodson?

A: He’s a big-time defensive coach. ... He’s also a great offensive coach. I’ve never seen a guy, other than Coach [Larry] Brown, who can draw up plays on the spur of the moment and make up something that might not be in the playbook and get a great shot.
Q: How does Coach Woodson motivate?
A: He motivates in different ways. He might be joking with us, he’ll come in the next day dead serious. He’s a great coach, by far one of the best I’ve played for. Great coaches make basketball fun

Q: Any particular examples?
A: (Laugh) I don’t want to give away any secrets.
Q: You’re playing with a chip on your shoulder.
A: A lot of things were said about me not being in shape. ... I had the worst year I ever had ... just playing with a little chip to show people I’m still here.
Q: How does that chip translate to your on-court mentality?
A: Just being aggressive, and just being me.
Q: What does being me mean?
A: The type of player I am. I bring it every night. I feel like I’m a warrior. I’ll do whatever it takes to win — give up my body, jump in the stands ...
Q: You pride yourself on your toughness. What is your definition of toughness?
A: I don’t sit out no games. I don’t like to go into the trainers’ room. I have fights with my trainers all the time. They tell me, “It’s only gonna help you in the long run.” I don’t like to be sitting on no table. I’m gonna play every game no matter what, unless something’s broken. And if I can still play, I might.
Q: Why do you think you’re that way?
A: Just the way I was brought up — don’t never be scared. Don’t never let anything hold you back.
Q: You grew up in tiny Latta, S.C.
A: We feared nothing down there.
Q: You sound like a throwback.
A: There you go. I’ll take that. I’m an old-soul type of dude anyway. I hung around my daddy a lot. I hung around older guys my whole life.
Q: What did that teach you?
A: I’m not gonna say I became a man early. ... I learned a lot early.