Then again, O’Bryant would like to have the opportunity to do anything against any team. He’s not getting any playing time and, yes, he would like to play a larger role with his new club.
“Definitely, and it’s not even because of Golden State,” said the third-year pro who is averaging only 4.4 minutes in five appearances. “It’s because I want to play. I want to be a bigger part of this team right now, but I guess Doc (Rivers) doesn’t feel comfortable with me yet, but I’m going to keep working and try to earn that comfort over the next couple of weeks or whatever it takes.”
Bryant said Rivers hasn’t spoken to him about his early tenure with the team.
“I think he’s the kind of coach … he wants me to figure it out,” O’Bryant said, “and I just have to pick up on his little cues. When he’s yelling at me in practice about something, I’ve got to take that and think, maybe this is why I’m not playing as much as I’d like.”
The reason O’Bryant isn’t playing is because Rivers doesn’t think the 22-year-old 7-footer has the fire in the belly that many of the other players have. While Rivers says that “other players are playing in front of him,” it’s obvious that once O’Bryant falls in line, he will earn that time.
“He’s starting to pick it up. He’s still got some ways to go there, but he’s much better than he was early in the year. It’s a different culture. We practice hard, probably harder than most teams, and I don’t think he was used to that.”
“I always want to play. I’m not getting paid to sit on the bench. I’d rather get paid to play the minutes so I definitely am disappointed with myself and wish I could play a lot more.”
Yet, there have been only five brief appearances, and he didn’t even dress for six straight games. That could be tough on a pro’s ego.
“I try not to let ego things come in the way,” he said. “I haven’t established myself in the league so I really have no right to have an ego about playing.”
He has to allow his strengths to speak for themselves, if only he had the chance.
“It’s just backing up Perk (Kendrick Perkins) and KG a lot, just being a seven-foot defender,” he said. “Leon (Powe) and Baby (Glen Davis) are great defenders but sometimes 6-8 isn’t tall enough to guard the Yaos and Shaqs and people of that height, and just blocking shots and getting some rebounds.”
He feels this is a terrific situation. “I love it here. Great town, great fans, everybody on the team’s great. It’s very teamlike, almost like a brotherhood.”
“He just has to wait his turn and keep working,” Rivers said. “He’s doing that.”
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