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**Basel57** · 04-07-2008, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Luke on how his innate understanding of the game and on-court demeanor have served as rocks for him this season:

Q. Have you always been a cerebral player?
A. I think everybody that’s made it this far picked it up a little more naturally than most of their friends. It’s something that always made sense to me, playing the game or the way that it flowed and I think that’s true for most everybody in the NBA or we wouldn’t be here.

Q. What players did you admire growing up?
A. Growing up, my heroes were Larry Bird and Kevin McHale. I used to love watching the Lakers and the Celtics battle in the ‘80’s, but since I’ve gotten older, I’m more worried about my own game and being my own player.

Q. What’s it like getting the opportunity to play with seasoned passers like Derek and Kobe?
A. It’s great because you can see stuff. When you have playmakers, you see stuff developing. If I can see a play developing, that means Fish can see it happening too and I can skip the pass ahead to Fish and normally we’re on the same page and he can hit whatever big man is running down the lane or vice versa so it makes it a lot easier.

Q. Derek and Kobe are both noted for their even-keel attitude on the floor. Have you always had a calm demeanor on the court?
A. It’s definitely developed. I’m still working on it. I still get pissed off a lot and I still get jacked up a lot. It’s something I’ve been working on—trying to stay at the same level throughout the game.

Q. How has Coach Jackson helped you remain at ease throughout this season despite the different obstacles you’ve had to overcome?
A. It’s a long season. You’ve got to stay mentally focused throughout and that’s one of the things Coach Jackson really teaches is to try to stay even and not get too high and too low so you can stay on the same plane so you execute your offense.

Luke on how he’s adapted to his changing role on this year’s team:

Q. You’ve played with both the starters and the reserves this season. Do you have any preference for which lineup you fit better with?
A. I enjoy starting, but I like playing with the guys coming off of the bench too. They allow the bench to run more, to get out there and make plays in the open court and I like playing like that too.

Q. What adjustments do you have to make when you’re starting or when you’re coming off of the bench?
A. You’ve just got to prepare differently. It’s different when you’re starting and coming in with limited minutes as a bench player.

Luke on his injury struggles this season and how he’s overcome them:

Q. Have you felt an increase in pressure this season due to the different challenges you’ve been faced with?
A. There’s a ton of pressure, especially playing in L.A. in a big market on a really good team, there’s a ton of pressure, but it comes with the territory. It’s something you learn to deal with and that you have to deal with because there’s always going to be something.

Q. When you were out with injuries, is there anything you did to help keep your game honed, at least mentally?
A. Absolutely. You take DVD’s, you watch the play on T.V. and you don’t just watch the game to watch it, but you actually try to pick up tendencies of what other players do—if they like to drive left or right or pull up and shoot or what they do. The film guys do a good job here of giving you breakdown edits on that.

Q. Have your teammates said anything to help you this season?
A. Just keep playing, have confidence in yourself and your game will take care of the rest.

http://www.nba.com/lakers/news/08040...yofwalton.html

ceejaynj · 04-08-2008, 10:02 AM

This question was actually edited out of the interview:

Q. Many fans feel that you have not lived up to your hefty contract, and your development as a player has gone backwards instead of forward. How do you respond to that?

A. They are correct.

Plastic Man · 04-08-2008, 10:15 AM

^^Touche.

**Basel57** · 04-08-2008, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ceejaynj

This question was actually edited out of the interview:

Q. Many fans feel that you have not lived up to your hefty contract, and your development as a player has gone backwards instead of forward. How do you respond to that?

A. They are correct.

elcap15 · 04-08-2008, 11:25 AM

Talk about a candy interview. Why didnt they just say, "Luke, we are going to suck your nuts for a couple minutes, just relax and enjoy"

I have been a defender of Luke all season, and even I wanted to see some more pointed questions than that.

**DANNY** · 04-08-2008, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elcap15

Talk about a candy interview. Why didnt they just say, "Luke, we are going to suck your nuts for a couple minutes, just relax and enjoy"

I have been a defender of Luke all season, and even I wanted to see some more pointed questions than that.

his relationship with richard jefferson?

elcap15 · 04-09-2008, 02:28 PM

maybe.

something like, "we all know that you are pass-first type of player, but this year you seem to be physically afraid of the basket, why?"

or how about, "you have had nagging injuries all season that has affected your play, what are you going to change in your offseason workout regimen?"

I would like to ask something like, "Dont you think you should spend more time in the gym workin on your downright ugly 15 ft jumpshot than on the set of The Young and the Restless or with a camera crew for Luke's Life?"

ceejaynj · 04-09-2008, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elcap15

maybe.

something like, "we all know that you are pass-first type of player, but this year you seem to be physically afraid of the basket, why?"

or how about, "you have had nagging injuries all season that has affected your play, what are you going to change in your offseason workout regimen?"

I would like to ask something like, "Dont you think you should spend more time in the gym workin on your downright ugly 15 ft jumpshot than on the set of The Young and the Restless or with a camera crew for Luke's Life?"

KDOS · 04-10-2008, 01:04 AM

Luke why are you so ugly?

Luke do you feel offended when your claim to fame is supposedly your High basketbal IQ? Isnt that like a slander in disguise?

Luke, does Lindsay Lohan swal...nevermind.

Luke honestly, when you watch your dad talk about basketball in TV, do you have this urge to just punch him the face, next time you see his ugly mug?

Luke, Bill was a hippie back then, does he incorporate pot sessions with you in the offseason? Is this the reason why your IQ and god given basketball skills *coughs* are dropping steadily?

Luke besides finding new and successful ways to digress your basketball skills this coming offseason, what kind of other detrimental practices do you have in mind to continue that trend next year?

Luke, does Richard Jefferson really prefers men or women, both?

Luke do you ask for god's forgiveness, knowing that you pretty much tricked a decent soul like Mitch Kupchak to commit 30 million dollars on you?

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