Q&A: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hoping for a fresh start
Can the sophomore guard with a pure stroke finally get some buckets to go down?
By
Matt Moore
•
2 min read
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has been trying to get right since he was drafted by the Detroit Pistons last year. He dealt with the usual rookie issues last year, along with inconsistency in playing time and the general disaster that was the team last year. In the offseason, the team went out and grabbed wings, including Jodie Meeks, who was lost to a back injury, and Caron Butler.
But KCP surprisingly looked like he took the challenge to heart. He exploded in the preseason before a knee sprain shut him down to end it. He enters the season as the Pistons' starter. He features one of the best looking jump shots of any of the sophomores, but couldn't knock down shots last year, in part because the spacing and ball movement for the Pistons consistently created awful shots.
Through two games, KCP hasn't improved, shooting just 4-of-16 from the field as the Pistons have started 0-2. But if you take out the results and focus on the process, on the smooth mechanics of his shot, of his versatility and his slick cuts to the rim, you see the promise the Pistons saw when they drafted him. I talked with KCP this week before their season opener, a tough loss to the Nuggets on the road, about how the Pistons feel about their season, how it's different from last year, and horror movies.
Has the spacing been different for this year, under coach (Stan) Van Gundy?
Yeah, we've got a lot of movement on both sides, not just people standing around.
There's the spacing effect, but you and your teammates also seem more confident in how you're running the offense and in shooting in general. What's been the difference there?
We're just taking open shots, we're not passing up good shots, we're not taking bad shots. We're making the extra pass, and sharing the ball.
How does it feel coming into the season as a sophomore as opposed to how it felt as a rookie?
I just feel more comfortable. I'm more confident this year. The game's starting to slow down a little bit for me.
Detroit added a lot of shooters and wings in the offseason, and there was some concern that you would get lost in the shuffle. But instead you seem to have really embraced the challenge.
It was a challenge, but I thrive on challenges. I like challenges. I've been working hard to get playing time, just for whatever. I'm up for whatever I can earn.
Going through the preseason, does the regular season opener feel any different?
It does, we're all excited for the first game of the regular season. We all feel good about this year.
I know you had that knee sprain, how's the health?
I'm feeling great. My knee's good, I think I'm 100 percent. No pain.
You ever look at shot charts, at all?
Uh, no.
A lot of guys have told me they just play on feel, in terms of where they feel comfortable shooting. Is it the same for you?
I don't know, it depends. If you're open in certain spots, you just shoot the ball. It doesn't matter if you're good from that spot or not. You can't get caught up on those things if you're in a good position for a shot.
What kind of movies do you watch?
I like scary movies. I like the mystery that leaves you wanting to watch the next one. I like going to see all of them in a series, and then waiting for the next one.
