Practice notes and quotes: October 23

The mood was cheery as the media entered the practice facility during shootaround, and Tyrone Corbin led a team huddle to cap the practice. Michael Malone didn’t address reporters, but Ryan Hollins and Nik Stauskas spoke at the podium.

Players Notes and Quotes

• Rudy Gay and Ray McCallum ran isolation drills at the top of the arc against each other. They switched possessions after each shot attempt. McCallum held his own against Gay, who is five inches taller and 40 pounds heavier, though the small forward pulled up and connected a jumper in the guard’s face. McCallum managed to blow by Gay’s left shoulder but botched the layup.
• Ryan Hollins on the Kings’ progress: “We have a lot of things that we need to fix, but I like that we’re tightening up the lineup. That was a really great game versus San Antonio, and even though we lost, our guys came out and competed and we see the things we need to work on. I feel like we’re right where we need to be, I like the pace that we’re on and the level of intensity has definitely stepped up.”
• Ryan Hollins on what needs to be fixed: “Just our discipline and our spacing. Guys are competing, so we (need) to take that and do it every single night. Not just one night, or for the big teams but not for the little teams, but being able to bring it every single night, and just the little things like spacing and discipline. Guys are getting used to each other. We’ve got a lot of new guys on the team this year, so that’s a big factor.”
• Ryan Hollins on the Kings’ mentality: “We’re trying to change things around here. We’re going to go down fighting. Whether it’s win or lose, you’re going to have a fight when you play us. That mentality has to start with practice, and with coach (Malone). He’s our leader, and he showed that yesterday. Him coming in and getting under guys’ skin and getting guys ready to go, it’s the same intensity that we need in the games. That stuff is contagious, that’s exactly what we need.
• Ryan Hollins on the last preseason game: “Just making sure our guys get ready, and we (have) to set the tone for the season, so we’re trying not to approach this as preseason but as a regular season game, and do the things that we’re going to do once the season starts. We (have) to be ready to roll.”
• Ryan Hollins on individual roles: “Just keep it simple. The best thing about this team is that all we have to do is be ourselves. For me, it’s diving to the rim, possibly shooting a 15-footer, catching and making decisions off the (dribble hand-offs), so just doing what we already do. That’s the beauty of this. We don’t have to do anything but play hard and play together to have a successful season. We just (have) to learn that, easier said than done.”
• Nik Stauskas on the end of preseason: “I think everyone is kind of excited to get to the regular season. I don’t know what the difference is really. I’m just trying to learn and trying to fit in with these guys. I’m excited to get going.”
• Nik Stauskas on the upcoming regular season road trip: “I think the first time it hit me when the schedule first came out and I looked at the first month and you see game, day off, game, day off, game, and then you see every single one is in a different city. And you realize, man, we’re about to be traveling every single day. So, we’re playing some good playoff teams this first month and a lot of road games too, so it’s going to be a difficult challenge for us.”
• Nik Stauskas on the Kings’ progress: “I feel like we’ve made some good strides so far. We’ve shown signs of playing really well together offensively and defensively. At this point, it’s about us being consistent. That’s what separates the good teams from the great teams is the ability to do it every single night for 48 minutes. I think we’re on that path. We just (have) to keep working.”
• Nik Stauskas on sitting out the Spurs preseason match: “(My shoulder) was pretty sore that day. We just didn’t want to risk anything and keep aggravating it, so that day definitely helped, getting treatment and doing what the trainers told me to do.”
• Nik Stauskas on the cause of his injury: “I don’t know. We played Maccabi, it was later that night when it started stiffening up and I had trouble moving it. I don’t really know what happened but I’m fine. (Doctors) pretty much it was tendinitis or a strain, overuse or something. Maybe I’m shooting too much.”
• Nik Stauskas on the Kings’ turnovers: “That’s something we can control. Sometimes you can’t control whether the ball is going in or not. We can control making good decisions and taking care of the basketball. I feel like we (have) to slow down and make the right decision on offense, and I feel like the more we play with each other, the more we get comfortable, the easier that will be.”
• Nik Stauskas on NBA physicality: “I think our guys have done a good job of getting me ready in practice. Everyone is pretty physical with me, so I know what to expect come game time. I (have) to keep embracing it, and keep getting stronger.”

Today was the Kings’ last practice before traveling to Las Vegas to play the Los Angeles Lakers Friday in their final preseason game.