FanHouse's Matt Steinmetz attended the big NBA draft work-out in Oakland, Calif., on Monday and Tuesday. Temple's Dionte Christmas was one of the prospects. A killer backcourt scorer, Christmas looks to be a second round selection. Christmas talked to the media after Tuesday's run. This is the transcript.Q: How did today's workout go?
A: I think this is one of my better workouts. I picked the right time to shoot the ball well, in front of a lot of coaches. I came in here and showed these coaches that I can definitely be a shooter for someone's team.
Q: Were you able to show anything else?
A: Yeah, I thought I did a great job on Terrence Williams today. He's a hot guy on the market right now and I just wanted to come in and show that I can defend a guy like him, with his abilities and athleticism. I thought I did a great job with that as well.
Q: Can you go through what they had you do today?
A: First thing they started out was a couple of light drills, a couple of crossover layups, coming off down screens and pin downs, shooting the mid-range jump shots. They wanted to see how we shot some NBA threes. Then they just let us play, a lot of 3-on-3s, a lot of 1-one-1, some post game. I thought it went well.
Q: For a player like you, a player trying to move up, is it a problem you don't have a 5-on-5 opportunity?
A: No, because I pride myself on knowing how to do a lot of things, other than playing 5-on-5. I think I'm a great halfcourt guy, a great 3-on-3 guy and I showed that today. I shot the ball pretty well and I played against some guys who are higher than me in terms of the draft and I thought I competed with those guys.
Q: Do you get the sense you're a sleeper?
A: I would say that before but right now I've been to so many workouts, a lot of teams have seen me and know what I can do. I wouldn't say I was a sleeper. I've seen all these teams before. I recognize all the faces so I wouldn't say I'm a sleeper but I'm definitely trying to keep up with some guys. Every workout I go to I've got something to prove. Against anybody. I think I'm doing a good job at that."
Q: There are a lot of athletic twos and threes coming out, maybe who aren't great shooters. Do you feel like that's something you have to show teams?
A: I can't jump 45 feet or whatever. But I can definitely shoot the ball. I think I can shoot the ball with the best of them. When they put me out there that's one thing I want to show teams: that I can shoot the ball. A lot of teams lack that, lack shooters. I think I can be a great asset for someone's team.
Q: Do you feel the extra couple of feet between the three-point line in college and the pros?
A: Oh, yeah, definitely. Sometimes I'm used to shooting deep threes but not on a consistent basis like that. I'm going to have some adjusting to do. I knocked down every three I took today, in the games, so I think I'll be OK.
