Up Close with Brandan Wright

Up Close with Brandan Wright

Talk about rookie initiation. Brandan Wright has already gone up against the Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons, and Utah Jazz. This week, he took on the title contending Boston Celtics. Brandan Wright handled the pressure like a pro and posted seven points and nine rebounds in less than 15 minutes. He talked to HOOPSWORLD about his first game against the Big Three.

You're still getting acclimated to the NBA but what did you think about the Big Three specifically?

"They're tough, man. I think they're pretty good on defense, they can all score the ball. If it's not one, it's the other. It's just tough to defend them, especially when guys can make shots. The players are that talented and the role players are doing their jobs."

Which one of the Big Three impressed you the most?

"I was impressed with KG because he can demand so much attention. When he catches it down low, it's pretty much a basket. Even a little bit out on the block he can hit that fade away jumper. He's just so tough to stop because he's so long and athletic."

How did you prepare for this game differently knowing that you'd be going against Garnett and the Celtics?

"Every game is something different. I wouldn't say it was tough -- we didn't execute as well as we wanted to -- but we just had to make plays and we didn't knock down open shots. That's the biggest thing we didn't do. But we did an alright job on those guys, we just didn't knock down open shots. They were really crowding the paint and putting KG in the middle, him being a big presence. We just didn't knock down open shots."

What did you learn from this game?

"I learned there's going to be ups and downs. We just came on the road and lost a game. We've got a game in a few days against Washington and we've got to regroup and move on. We'll see those guys when they come out to Cali."

So when the Celtics go out to California, what are you expecting from that team? Will you guys be out for payback?

"I wouldn't call it payback, you've just got to go out there and play ball and play your game. I don't think we had many fast break points tonight. I think we missed a lot of open shots, shots we usually knock down. It's going to be a totally different game. I think we shot 33% tonight, and we shoot the ball much better than that."

Brandan Wright and the Warriors will travel to Washington on Friday to take on the Gilbert Arenas-less Washington Wizards. Golden State is 2-3 on the road.

BRANDAN WRIGHT one of the fastest rising stars in the basketball scene.