spectre
11-11-2009, 03:50 PM
Hoopsworld (http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=14281)
While the Charlotte Bobcats don't know exactly what they're going to do long-term with Ray Felton, they are pretty sure that fellow point guard D.J. Augustin is going to be around for a very long-time. He talked about his future with the franchise, as well as discussing the keeping-or-losing-Felton debate in this recent exclusive interview with HOOPSWORLD's Joel Brigham.
How much easier is it for you to know that you've got a full year of experience under your belt? Is it easier having seen everybody in the league at least two or three times now?
"It's kind of easier because you know what to expect from guys' game, what kind of moves they do. You're familiar with their scouting reports, so you have a better idea of what to focus on."
What is it mean to you now that even if Ray Felton doesn't come back next season that the organization seems to have a lot of confidence in you as the potential Point Guard of the Future?
"I'm not really looking at that right now. I'm just focusing on getting better, learning as much as I can from Ray and the veterans, and coming out with the same energy as them."
You say you're learning a lot of Ray—what specifically have you picked up working with him?
"Just how to be a point guard. It's not just what you do out on the court; you've got to be able to handle yourself off the court as well. And there's certain situations where you've got to know what to do, so I'm just learning things like that from him."
If Felton does stay on this team, do you see yourself being able to play on the floor with him long-term?
"Yeah. A lot of teams can't trap us because we're both point guards and both can handle the ball. It's fun putting teams in that situation. I like playing with Ray. He likes to move the ball around and find open guys. It's fun."
This is a pretty different team from last year—especially with guys like Tyson Chandler and Flip Murray coming in—how different is the vibe around this team than last year's group?
"Man, it's a totally different team except for me, Gerald, and Ray. Pretty much everybody else is new, so we're trying to build chemistry right now. It's starting to work for us, so hopefully we can keep it going."
In only his second year, Augustin has very high expectations placed upon him for a franchise dying to get into the postseason. For now he's content playing alongside the more experienced Ray Felton, but eventually it's very possible that he may have to take the reins of this team by himself. If that happens, the hope is that he'll be ready. Based on his demeanor and confidence in only his second year in the league, it seems pretty likely that he will be.
While the Charlotte Bobcats don't know exactly what they're going to do long-term with Ray Felton, they are pretty sure that fellow point guard D.J. Augustin is going to be around for a very long-time. He talked about his future with the franchise, as well as discussing the keeping-or-losing-Felton debate in this recent exclusive interview with HOOPSWORLD's Joel Brigham.
How much easier is it for you to know that you've got a full year of experience under your belt? Is it easier having seen everybody in the league at least two or three times now?
"It's kind of easier because you know what to expect from guys' game, what kind of moves they do. You're familiar with their scouting reports, so you have a better idea of what to focus on."
What is it mean to you now that even if Ray Felton doesn't come back next season that the organization seems to have a lot of confidence in you as the potential Point Guard of the Future?
"I'm not really looking at that right now. I'm just focusing on getting better, learning as much as I can from Ray and the veterans, and coming out with the same energy as them."
You say you're learning a lot of Ray—what specifically have you picked up working with him?
"Just how to be a point guard. It's not just what you do out on the court; you've got to be able to handle yourself off the court as well. And there's certain situations where you've got to know what to do, so I'm just learning things like that from him."
If Felton does stay on this team, do you see yourself being able to play on the floor with him long-term?
"Yeah. A lot of teams can't trap us because we're both point guards and both can handle the ball. It's fun putting teams in that situation. I like playing with Ray. He likes to move the ball around and find open guys. It's fun."
This is a pretty different team from last year—especially with guys like Tyson Chandler and Flip Murray coming in—how different is the vibe around this team than last year's group?
"Man, it's a totally different team except for me, Gerald, and Ray. Pretty much everybody else is new, so we're trying to build chemistry right now. It's starting to work for us, so hopefully we can keep it going."
In only his second year, Augustin has very high expectations placed upon him for a franchise dying to get into the postseason. For now he's content playing alongside the more experienced Ray Felton, but eventually it's very possible that he may have to take the reins of this team by himself. If that happens, the hope is that he'll be ready. Based on his demeanor and confidence in only his second year in the league, it seems pretty likely that he will be.