Rodney Carney Interview
By InsideHoops.com | Oct. 30, 2006
Philadelphia 76ers rookie Rodney Carney is talented, versatile and has the ability to be an impact player in this league. Big things are expected from the athletic, 6-7, 205-pound swingman. InsideHoops.com editor Jeff Lenchiner recently met with Carney for an exclusive interview.
InsideHoops.com: How's the adjustment been to the NBA for you?
Rodney Carney: It's taking a little time. I'm kind of going 100 miles an hour and I'm not slowing down. In the NBA you have to stop and think, and I'm not doing that right now, so I have to really think about certain things I do. It comes along with practice, doing some good things. That transition is going to come slowly, but I'm going to get it.
InsideHoops.com: How'd you spend your summer?
Rodney Carney: I worked out a lot, but it came to a certain point where I was going back and forth from Philly to Indianapolis, moving. It was a lot of stuff to get done. I wish I had worked out, but, I had to get some stuff done with my place and everything. So, it was a hard transition but I moved everything. It was alright.
InsideHoops.com: Talk more about adjusting, what's easy and what's a bit harder?
Rodney Carney: I don't think it's going to take long to adjust my skills and everything. I'm good enough to play out there. I can get past guys, I can hit shots and I can create my own shot and everything, but I just got to slow down and think a little more. The game is so fast, people so strong, you just have to use your advantages and right now I'm not.
InsideHoops.com: The season hasn't even started yet so it's a bit early to ask you this, but how do you compare the NBA and college, on the court?
Rodney Carney: It's kind of similar, but the NBA is a lot bigger and stronger. Bigger, stronger, more talented. In college you can leave people open and they aren't going to hit a shot, ever. In the NBA, naw. Everybody's going to hit a shot. You can't leave them open. You just have to help and hope they miss.
InsideHoops.com: You can get away with a lot more chances defensively in college.
Rodney Carney: College you can pack the lane and triple and double-team around the court. Here, there's rules and you have to abide by them more, or it's a penalty.
InsideHoops.com: Are there other rookies taken in the first round that you're tight with, that you've been talking to so far in training camp and preseason?
Rodney Carney: It's a tight-knit group that I mess with. It's me, Randy Foye, Rudy Gay and Maurice Ager. So I keep up with them. They're doing good. Maurice is doing good. So we communicate a lot, and I'm happy for them.
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