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Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: North Carolina
Age: 18
Posts: 3,143
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Walter Herrmann interview
Its translated by someone on RealGM but here it is
Quote:
Q- What an end of season! did you expect to play that much after playing that little for most of the season?
A- I was waiting for a chance, but not playing that much. It was incredible to go from only training to starter. At the beginning I thought the level was too high for me and then, after training and playing, I realized it wasn't. I was ready to play one and a half month before (I assume he's talking before his streak as starter)
Q- How do you explain it?
A- I took advantage of the few minutes I got at the beginning, thus my confidence increased and the same happened to the coach
Q- What's your balance?
A- Very positive. I even think that I should have done the jump to NBA from Fuenlabrada instead of Unicaja.
Q- Why?
A- I was 3 years under (coach Sergio) Scariolo's system, which was very structured and didn't benefit me. Nowadays, I play in the NBA the way I like.
Q- Then that's the key of your uprising
A- Yes, it's conclusive. We have systems in Charlotte, where I start open or I do a cut, but I have the chance to play my game. I'm given freedom to penetrate or take a shoot and nothing happens. At Unicaja I had a lot of inhibitions. I was even fined for taking the ball with one hand when going to the rim. Scariolo thought I was defying him and, as a matter of fact, I'm more confident with one hand than 2. The freedom I have here is a key, it's not a coincidence I started playing that well.
Q- What do you think the coach valued the most from you?
A- The attitude every time I played. He praised my intensity on attack and especially the defense. I try not to let my rival play, being intense and playing physical.
Q- Too bad Bernie Bickerstaff won't be the coach next season
A- Well yes... we knew that since 2 months ago, he told us he's leaving. I think they want me to stay but I don't know which coach will come and which players will they sign.
Q- But what do you foresee?
A- It looks like I'm staying here, but you never know... I'll just know after June 30 th, by law the first day to add players
Q- And what do you want?
A- Staying here. I'm very comfortable, I know the city and I have a good relationship with my teammates. Maybe I'd sign for a little more money somewhere else (note: his option is set at 1,944,000 dollars), but I'm not really interested.
Playoffs started and Charlotte is not there (they ended 11 in the East with a 33-49 record), but Herrmann is happy anyway, eager to start the next season.
Q- What was the best of the past season?
A- First to accomplish my goal, which was play in the NBA. And then to experiment this freedom to play. My style is respected here and I feel as comfortable as in Fuenlabrada. Out of basketball, to know another culture, learning a language. When I came here I was a disaster, they laughed at me... Now I understand and I can have a conversation
There's not only basketball in life. Walter is also comfortable with the group.
Q- Which players do you have a best relation with?
A- All of them. there are no stars here, or special treatments. Anyway, at first I was closer to Primoz Brezec, who, since he's European, has a most understandable english. Then Brevin Knight, who sits at my side in the plane and talks a lot to me. Also Gerald Wallace...
Q- Which is your role in the group? are you the funny guy or do they make fun of you?
A- They laugh at me because of teh accent and because I don't speak English well. They make fun of me because I listen to "cuarteto" (a popular music style in Argentina), they think it's salsa or merengue... they place behind me and dance... Also because I look like that Fabio, an Italian model-actor who did a lot of soap operas and is very famous here.
Q- And are you a lookalike?
A- Nooo, only the hair. But they also say that I dress like him, more european, not with big ample clothes like here.
Q- Do you have a nickname from the guys?
A- No, they asked me if I had any and I told them I didn't have any nickname. I told them Walter but they call me Fabio
Q- And do they compare you to another player?
A- Since I did a couple plays with a single hand, just like Doctor J, they call me like that. Or "Dr H.". Other people, because of the 3pt I made against Miami and Cleveland call me Big Shoot.
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Walter Herrmann interview
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