TP interview: TP aims at the le.

[kace]

a little interview from the french paper "L'Equipe". Nothing really new but TP still very straight as usual.

http://www.lequipe.fr/Basket/breves2...-le- re.html



Tony, after a disappointing season, SA was on fire on the trade market. The recruitment was impressive...

I like what we made. It's all that we ask: have a chance to win it all. All the teams say they want to win the le. But the truth is that only four or five can really do it. After that, a good recruitment isn't enough. You have to stay healthy. And the opposition is very harsh.


Who will be your main opponents for the le ?

There are a lot of good teams on the west: LA, Denver..... and on the other side, there are Boston, Cleveland, Orlando. It will be a very interesting season. LA is the frontrunner, they won last year et has made a good recruitment. but i think we have what it takes to compete with them.

What exactly ?

We have especially a lot of offensive weapons. Manu is back, Jefferson is coming. It's nice. With the big three, we have a window of two years to win again. After, with Tim and Manu at 35 years old, it will be harder.


Your role will change compared to last year where, with Ginobili and Duncan injuries, you had to carry the load ?

My role stays the same: be aggressive being one of the team's leaders. But it's true that i won't have to do as much because we'll have to share the ball.


In the same time, Pop seems to give you the keys of the team more and more....

It's been like this for two or three years now. He wants me to be the leader. We have less systems. It will be my responsability to create. It's a great challenge.


Do you have a personnal goal for this year ?

To win the le ! There isn't any other. I'm coming from my best year. With Tim and Manu out, i could show a lot of things. But what makes you the happiest at the end, it's to be a NBA champion.


Where do you think you are in your career ?

I think i'm going in my best years. I hope that the three, four next years will be my best ones.


You want another individual recognition, be MVP ? You think about it sometimes ?

You can always dream. When i came in the NBA, i just wanted to be in the team and play some minutes. And i started to dream, i became a starter, i won a NBA le, became all-star and finals MVP. It goes so fast. So, why not ? But i prefer to win another le. It's really a lot more satisfying.

[Bukefal]

Nice, Go Tony! Carry this team to victory!

[spursfan09]

You can always dream. When i came in the NBA, i just wanted to be in the team and play some minutes. And i started to dream, i became a starter, i won a NBA le, became all-star and finals MVP. It goes so fast. So, why not ? But i prefer to win another le. It's really a lot more satisfying.

Spoken like a true teammate and a true champ!

[TIMMYD!]

That is all that matters.