I was fortunate enough to get a few minutes with Mike Taylor after yesterday’s game for a TrueHoop Q & A.
Here’s a sampling:
Tell me about Draft Day. Did you expect to have your name called? Were you glued to the tube?
My agent told me that I was projected late first round/early second round. I watched the draft with my family back home in Milwaukee. I stopped watching at, like, #45. I went into my room, and my phone was dead. But I left my agent my sister’s number. So a little later, my sister comes running into my room with her phone. And my agent said, “I’m not sure when you’re going to go, but the Clippers are going to make a trade for you. It was ironic, because I thought I was a higher pick, but that’s been the story of my life. Getting picked so low made me feel that I gotta prove myself. So I was satisfied.
Guarding NBA point guards is a far cry from defending PGs in the Big 12 or the D-League. And Mike Dunleavy is known as a hard-nosed, defense-first coach. How are you adjusting?
I always had a lot of energy. But in college, I was looked upon as a scorer. What I’ve tried to do here is channel that energy into playing defense. I can move quick laterally, and I don’t like anyone beating me off the dribble. I take pride in that.
Coach Dunleavy clearly likes your style, and you got your first NBA start last week. How did that go down?
He told me after we played Utah the first time. He said, “We’re going to start you the next game. It was exciting.
What part of your game do you want to work on the most this season?
Court vision. I want to continue to learn how to be an NBA point guard. It’s a learning process every day.
8 Responses
Mike has poise and for such a low draft pick he’s a steal. Already he is way better than Dan Dickau, and Smush P, though that’s not saying much. That little up an under last night right in the middle of the Dallas bigs was friggin sweet.
Posted on November 10th, 2008 at 10:32 am
Gotta like a kid who know what he needs to work on.
Posted on November 10th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Yeah, he sounds like he knows he needs work. Do you think that court vision can be learned though or is it more innate?
Love the kid.
Posted on November 10th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Sounds really level-headed and humble. I love it when guys decide to put it on the floor instead of talk themselves up. Its nice to see a kid who wants to be a Point, knows it comes from a combination of defense leading to offense and good court vision. He knows how to score too. Mike’s going to do good things around here. Love his attitude and his play.
Posted on November 10th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
ha theres a funny video from elie seckbach on mike taylor where some kids talk about him http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpM4tYT17mY I like the rookie though. maybe he can become a second round suprise
Posted on November 10th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
THat was funny, Now is that guy shooting his video in his grandma’s basement?
Posted on November 11th, 2008 at 7:48 am
Yeah I think this kid can be really good. His amazing speed and quickness will get him far in the league but the also plays defense just as well. I can easily seeing him being like a poor mans Tony Parker.
Posted on November 11th, 2008 at 8:37 am
NY post is reporting that the Clippers are trying to move Kaman. Maybe it’s more of a financial move cus of all the money they’re losing from tickets.
“The centerpiece it does involve, I’m informed, is Chris Kaman. Now that Marcus Camby (double-figure rebounding last two games) is nearing full strength, the 1-6 Clippers are open to a rational market trade for the big guy who has battened down their middle for five seasons and is owed $43 million over four seasons.
Sources say Charlotte has no one of consequence Los Angeles desires. Wallace has no appeal. Mike Dunleavy has been there, done that with Corey Maggette, and solemnly swears by Al Thornton. Therefore, the search is on for a team prepared to deal an extraneous or unwanted macho forward to augment Camby; moving Cutino Mobley ($8.9M/$9.5M) in the process or in a side deal would be cause for great celebration by the Staples Center’s stepchild. “
Posted on November 11th, 2008 at 9:57 am
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