Post by 78 on Aug 26, 2014 22:13:25 GMT -6
Owner Lowell Ramos and GM/Head Coach Seventy Eight are here at the Summit for today's press conference.
RAMOS: We want to thank everyone for coming here today. Last season was bounce back financially with the team increasing in profits from the 1994 season to last season compared to dropping in profits from 1993 to 1994. Our fans have done a great job with selling out every game for 3 straight seasons. We have loyal fans in this market and we want to reward them for their loyalty, but not providing a winning team on the floor, but also a winning environment at the arena. The Summit has served as a great homecourt advantage for the last 20 years, and hope that it can remain that way, but however it is currently lacking in the modern amenities to sustain a competitive advantage compared to the rest of the league. One example is in Chicago where the Bulls had a profit of over $50 million despite a rebuilding season where we have only profited around $16 million at our best season. We need club seats, more luxury seats and possibly a new TV deal in the future since we are aggressive in signing players who can help us win. Hopefully we can continue our efforts to work with the city to reward our fans for their loyalty. Thank you and now I will pass it on to Seventy to talk about the basketball operations.
Seventy-Eight: Last season was a disappointment overall with winning less than 50 games for the first time in 3 seasons and losing in the first round of the playoffs. The offense had trouble getting going all season as we were 20th in offensive efficiency and defensively the team suffered with fouling all season which neutralized our otherwise top 10 defense. Also our perimeter shooting declined and shots in general were not falling as in the previous two seasons.
Seventy-Eight: This offseason didn't see too many changes. We were offered deals for Brian Shaw to possibly help us get under the luxury tax, but those deals weren't gonna help us in that department while just weakening the team drastically. Shaw is a key member on this team and its too early just to let him go for nothing. We were fortunate to be able to match P.J. Brown's offer as he has become a valuable starter on this team and has the potential to get better each season. Free agency basically brought a goal to improve our bench with guys who have provided production from us in the past. We signed back Chris Morris who has played 5 out of the last 6 seasons for us as well as bringing back Scotty Brooks who was a key bench member two seasons ago. We also resigned Eric Riley, Donald Hodge, Sedale Threatt as well as bringing in veterans Alvin Robertson, Brad Lohaus, and David Wingate.
Seventy-Eight: On the floor we will go with our same starting five as last season. Shaq will be our starting center and our go-to-guy offensively. He's one of the premier players in the game and he's improved each season. For his hard work, we're gonna reward him with the responsibility of taking this team as far as he can. He's one of a kind on the floor and off the floor. PJ Brown will be our starting power forward. He brings good post defense, shot-blocking, inside scoring, and solid jump-shooting. Ron Harper will be our starting small forward. He brings scoring at the rim, solid shooting, and strong perimeter defense. Hersey Hawkins will be the starting shooting guard with his scoring, perimeter shooting, and perimeter defense. He has been on our organization from day one and we want him to reward him with a deep playoff run. Brian Shaw will run the point for the 4th straight season. He brings scoring, play-making, rebounding, and defense.
Seventy-Eight: The bench will consist of Eric Riley as the backup center beating out last year's backup Donald Hodge. Chris Morris will be the backup power forward and small forward edging out Keith Askins, and Scotty Brooks will be the backup shooting guard and point guard beating out Alvin Robertson.
Thank you and now we will take questions.
RAMOS: We want to thank everyone for coming here today. Last season was bounce back financially with the team increasing in profits from the 1994 season to last season compared to dropping in profits from 1993 to 1994. Our fans have done a great job with selling out every game for 3 straight seasons. We have loyal fans in this market and we want to reward them for their loyalty, but not providing a winning team on the floor, but also a winning environment at the arena. The Summit has served as a great homecourt advantage for the last 20 years, and hope that it can remain that way, but however it is currently lacking in the modern amenities to sustain a competitive advantage compared to the rest of the league. One example is in Chicago where the Bulls had a profit of over $50 million despite a rebuilding season where we have only profited around $16 million at our best season. We need club seats, more luxury seats and possibly a new TV deal in the future since we are aggressive in signing players who can help us win. Hopefully we can continue our efforts to work with the city to reward our fans for their loyalty. Thank you and now I will pass it on to Seventy to talk about the basketball operations.
Seventy-Eight: Last season was a disappointment overall with winning less than 50 games for the first time in 3 seasons and losing in the first round of the playoffs. The offense had trouble getting going all season as we were 20th in offensive efficiency and defensively the team suffered with fouling all season which neutralized our otherwise top 10 defense. Also our perimeter shooting declined and shots in general were not falling as in the previous two seasons.
Seventy-Eight: This offseason didn't see too many changes. We were offered deals for Brian Shaw to possibly help us get under the luxury tax, but those deals weren't gonna help us in that department while just weakening the team drastically. Shaw is a key member on this team and its too early just to let him go for nothing. We were fortunate to be able to match P.J. Brown's offer as he has become a valuable starter on this team and has the potential to get better each season. Free agency basically brought a goal to improve our bench with guys who have provided production from us in the past. We signed back Chris Morris who has played 5 out of the last 6 seasons for us as well as bringing back Scotty Brooks who was a key bench member two seasons ago. We also resigned Eric Riley, Donald Hodge, Sedale Threatt as well as bringing in veterans Alvin Robertson, Brad Lohaus, and David Wingate.
Seventy-Eight: On the floor we will go with our same starting five as last season. Shaq will be our starting center and our go-to-guy offensively. He's one of the premier players in the game and he's improved each season. For his hard work, we're gonna reward him with the responsibility of taking this team as far as he can. He's one of a kind on the floor and off the floor. PJ Brown will be our starting power forward. He brings good post defense, shot-blocking, inside scoring, and solid jump-shooting. Ron Harper will be our starting small forward. He brings scoring at the rim, solid shooting, and strong perimeter defense. Hersey Hawkins will be the starting shooting guard with his scoring, perimeter shooting, and perimeter defense. He has been on our organization from day one and we want him to reward him with a deep playoff run. Brian Shaw will run the point for the 4th straight season. He brings scoring, play-making, rebounding, and defense.
Seventy-Eight: The bench will consist of Eric Riley as the backup center beating out last year's backup Donald Hodge. Chris Morris will be the backup power forward and small forward edging out Keith Askins, and Scotty Brooks will be the backup shooting guard and point guard beating out Alvin Robertson.
Thank you and now we will take questions.
.
