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Hey all! Media week may be over but now the fun really starts! For the next week the Phoenix Suns will conduct training camp at their new 5G Performance Facility, what they call The Lab.
The Suns will begin to conduct daily midday media sessions via Zoom, including Monty Williams and one or more players. Today, that player was rookie big man Jalen Smith.
Here are some tweets from local media on the calls today.
Stix
Stix saw a lot of "intensity" from the team as the Suns got going during their first group workout today.
— Brendon Kleen (@BrendonKleen14) December 5, 2020
Jalen Smith tried to stay in a hotel for a week-and-a-half as he got settled in Phoenix but got antsy and pulled the trigger on a new place and a car.
— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) December 5, 2020
Monty
Coach checking in from The Lab. Said the first day was just being happy to be back on the floor. Having a chance to bump and be in drills together. Rules still restricting what they can do and didn't want to say much because of the rules in the CBA. pic.twitter.com/moBmvhSATy
— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) December 5, 2020
Monty said it's been really cool to watch CP3 and Book have conversations already on offensive flow with DA, Mikal, Cam and others.
— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) December 5, 2020
BTW, Monty said he didn't want to say who did/didn't practice in order to not break any CBA rules, as was his answer in Orlando. So expect more of the same there when it comes to the unknown for players missing, as we are doing these over Zoom still.
— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) December 5, 2020
"When you love the game, you want to figure stuff out" says Monty of the relationship between CP3 and Booker.
— Brendon Kleen (@BrendonKleen14) December 5, 2020
"Striving for perfection ... can be an obstacle at times"
Wants to leave space for Paul and Booker to develop that on their own like he did with Rubio.
Monty calls Dario Saric and Jevon Carter "culture-drivers" and bringing them back maintains more continuity from last year's Suns to this year's, especially with the movement on the rest of the Suns' roster.
— Brendon Kleen (@BrendonKleen14) December 5, 2020
Health and safety could prove to be the difference in the NBA this year, says Monty Williams.
— Brendon Kleen (@BrendonKleen14) December 5, 2020
Wants to prioritize educating players on rules, but hopes veteran additions can pick up on terminology and system quickly.
Here are the interviews.