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Chat Reel: Penny Hardaway
'We're really serious about the Lil Penny campaign.'
Posted: Wednesday April 19, 2000 04:35 PM
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Penny Hardaway talks about the Suns' return to the playoffs and the possible return of Lil' Penny. Stephen Dunn/Allsport |
CNNSI Host Thank you for joining for our chat with the Phoenix Suns' Penny Hardaway. Welcome Penny.
Penny Hardaway: Thank you for having me.
From Big O: Do you think this Phoenix team is strong enough to make it to the NBA finals or do you think it needs a dominant center to complete the package?
Penny Hardaway: I think we're strong enough to make it. I think it's a matter of gelling at the right time and getting a little luck. That's what the playoffs are about -- getting a little luck and making the plays. Yes, I think we're strong enough to make it to the finals.
From Jason Rucker: Penny what do you think Todd Day can bring to the team during the playoffs?
Penny Hardaway: I think he can bring shooting -- he's an excellent shooter. And some energy off the bench on the defensive end.
From Guest: What do you think of Charles Barkley's decision to play one more game?
Penny Hardaway: I can't blame him, because nobody wants to retire on an injury. If he's able to come back, I commend him on that. It just shows how much he loves this game.
From Carlos Carrizosa: My question is, where do you see the team chemistry right now after the injuries going into the playoffs, and will it be difficult to change that chemistry you guys have going if you guys get past the first round and Kidd returns?
Penny Hardaway: Our chemistry when our two main guys went down wasn't there right away, but we felt like we made chemistry with the team we have on the floor right now and it can take us the whole way. We have a lot of confidence in each other and our chemistry is coming together at the right time.
From tigerfanami: Penny, how do you plan to step up in the absence of Jason Kidd during the playoffs?
Penny Hardaway: Well, I may have to do it on the defensive end, and hopefully the defense will generate good offense for us. Every part of my game has to go to another level -- defense, shooting, passing, shot blocking -- if this team is going to win.
From Brooks Brown: Penny, Have you had a chance to speak with new Memphis coach John Calipari? In his press conferance he said he welcomed all the ex-players to use the new facilities on campus. Any plans to take him up on the offer?
Penny Hardaway: *Laughs* I was going to even he would have said 'no.' I haven't had the chance to speak with him yet. I'll be very excited to speak with him and see what his plans are for the university. I feel great about him, because he has the experience -- he's coached great teams, NBA and college. He's an awesome coach. The college level -- he's a great motivator, so he'll be able to get behind these college guys and take them a long way.
From L. Harper: Outside observers have said and written a lot about Coach Skiles getting the team to perform heroically in the face of adversity. What is your take on this? How important is it for the Colangelos to keep Coach Skiles from bolting to Indiana or somewhere else?
Penny Hardaway: Well, Coach Skiles and his staff have done a great job after all the adversity this team has gone through. He has been positive and helped us believe in ourselves and that we can beat any team. We've been really happy to have him there... he's a former player and a feisty player and he coaches the same way. He signed a five-year-deal yesterday, so he's not going anywhere, and we're glad to have him.
From Jake Goodman: What was your reaction when you did not make it on the All-Star team this year? Will that motivate you to make it in next year's?
Penny Hardaway: I wasn't disappointed this year because I had an injury, and I knew it would keep me from being voted in. That was the only good thing about it, because my feelings would have been hurt if I had been healthy and not motivated in. The motivation for next year is that I haven't been in the past two years, with the lockout and this injury, so that'll motivate me, to get back.
From tigerfanami: Penny, you are a terrific team player, you seem to bring out the best in those around you. Which Penny can we expect to see against the Spurs? The one who scorched the Heat for 40 points a game during the playoffs a few years back? Or the one who's really mixed in well with the Suns. A little of both Maybe?
Penny Hardaway: I think you can expect a little bit of both, because I do have to be aggressive on the offensive end. But I know how to do it, getting my teammates involved.
From Cliff: During your career, you've been part of a dynamic duo with Shaq, then Orlando's main man and for most of this season, just one of several talented players on the Sun's roster. Which role do you prefer, if any?
Penny Hardaway: You know, it really doesn't matter to me. I don't have to be The Man on a team -- or for someone to think that -- for me to play hard and have fun. It was great in Orlando to be the go-to guy, and it's great in Phoenix to be around all this talent. I enjoy both, honestly.
From Q-Spectacular: Who is the toughest player you face in the league?
Penny Hardaway: Guarding someone defensively, I'd say Kobe Bryant is pretty tough. Offensively, being guarded, Gary Payton is probably the best ball defender in the league.
From Edster: Do you see yourself as a player that has to carry his team on his back night after night, or as a player that tries to make everyone around him better?
Penny Hardaway: I think I try to make everyone around me better. I understand that I'm one of the main guys and that a lot of guys are going to look for me to do great things on the floor, but I try to make my teammates and the people around me better.
From Guest: How did you get the nickname Penny?
Penny Hardaway: My grandmother gave it to me a long time ago. She was calling me "Pretty," and with her Southern drawl, a lot of my friends thought she was calling me "Penny."
From Mesha Davis: What's up with Lil Penny?
Penny Hardaway: Well, right now, it's strange that you said that, there's a campaign on the Internet asking that question. People are sending emails to Nike, trying to figure out how to bring him back. I thought it was flattering because everyone loved those commercials and Nike just started making them. They're going to start doing it through my fan club because all the kids sent in email to Nike, so that's what's happening.
From Guest: Who is the funniest teammate you've ever played with?
Penny Hardaway: Probably Todd Day or Darrell Armstrong.
From Tre' Mone: Penny Can you tell me about your eating and work-out regimens? I can't find it anywhere on the web.
Penny Hardaway: I'm a pretty good eater...mostly fish and chicken. During the season, we work out twice a week, one upper body, one lower body. In the offseason, it's mostly what you want to do... pasta, fish, chicken eater. I work out probably four times a week.
From Guest: So, now you've played in Orlando and Phoenix, two of the best places to live in the world, how would you react to a trade to, say, Cleveland?
Penny Hardaway: Oh, my goodness. That'd be kinda hard to take, to go to a city like Cleveland after being in Orlando and Phoenix.
From John M. Odorzynski: What is the difference in the atmosphere between being coached by Coach Ainge and Coach Skiles?
Penny Hardaway: Well, Danny is more of a laid back coach. He's one of those coaches who expects you to do everything on your own. He doesn't hammer it in. Coach Skiles is an in-your-face kinda guy. He's going to tell you what to do because you're getting paid to do it.
From Guest: Do you think you will get more post-ups come playoff time?
Penny Hardaway: You know, I'm not sure. We don't know the game plan for the playoffs yet. That's going to come up tomorrow. Hopefully I will.
From Zaid Nasser: Is it odd at all, being coached by a former teammate (Scott Skiles)?
Penny Hardaway: It's really weird, because playing with them and then being coached by them is pretty crazy. I never thought it would happen. Scotty always wanted to be a coach, but I never knew it would happen and that I would be playing for him.
From Robby Hale: How hard was it to adjust from the collegiate level to the pros and do you think that going pro right after high school should be allowed?
Penny Hardaway: You know what, it was hard to adjust because of all the travel and guarding great players every night. It's like every single night you're going to play against someone with skills at your level, so it was really tough. As far as high school kids go, if they have the talent, they should be able to go right out into the NBA, if they have the talent to do so.
From Durand Hartin: First off, I want to say congratulations for the good season you had coming off of injury and being the leader you always have been. Since you guys are playing San Antonio, how do you size up your teams up tempo style to their halfcourt game?
Penny Hardaway: Our tempo is definitely going to have to be a fast-paced tempo. You don't want to get into a halfcourt game with Robinson and Duncan in the middle. We're going to have to double-team those guys and make it hard for them.
From Randy K.: Do you have any aspirations for coaching/front office work when you finish your career?
Penny Hardaway: I could never say never, so if it presents itself, maybe I will. I'm not thinking about being in the front office of any team right now.
From Guest: Do you think the NBA should start a minor league?
Penny Hardaway: I think that's what Isaiah Thomas is trying to do is trying to make a farm league. If their skills aren't good enough to where they aren't at that level, they can work on them there. I think he's trying to do that right now.
From tigerfanami: Will you be having a charity basketball game in Memphis this summer, and if so, who do you look at trying to bring in?
Penny Hardaway: No, I'm not going to have a game this summer... probably next year. We're really serious about the Lil Penny campaign, so we're going to try to start that first. If we do that, we'll start everything back over... the camp and the game and things like that.
From Isaac Burnett: How far do you think the Phoenix Suns will go in the playoffs?
Penny Hardaway: I think the sky is the limit for this team. I think we can beat any team in this league. Hopefully the first round, we'll be able to get an identity of who we are and what we want to do as a team.
CNNSI Host: That's all the time we have today with Penny. Thanks for joining us and good luck in the playoffs.
Penny Hardaway: Thanks!
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