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| Ivan Saldajeno |
TAGUIG--After a breakthrough playoff season last year, New Orleans slumped this season, leading to the relegation to the draft lottery.
Point guard Norris Cole believes there are some things the turbulent Pelicans season can be attributed to.
"It's a tough season. We had a lot of injuries, and sometimes things just don't go your way," Cole told some sportswriters during a pocket press conference at the NBA Cafe inside SM Aura on Wednesday.
Star big man Anthony Davis took the most injury hits as he lingered pain on his hip, back, and his knee among others.
Even Cole, who played backup to Jrue Holiday for most of the season, did not evade the injury bug as he hurt his back late in the NBA year.
With the season now over for them, Cole says the vacant time is an opportunity for him and his teammates to get their acts back to where they were last year.
"Right now, my focus is on getting some rest, building my body, and getting my game back in a level where I could make the playoffs," he specifically bared a sketch of his offseason plans.
On the other hand, he believes his former club, the Miami Heat, can steal the postseason spotlight from the top contenders.
"They have a shot. They look good in Game 1. We'll see how they'll go in Game 2," Cole said on his outlook for the team that gave him two NBA titles.
However, he thinks it is still anyone's ballgame.
"You never really know.... It's wide open. Anybody can beat anybody at any given day, and that's what the playoffs is all about. So I'm just looking forward to watching each of the games," Cole further said.
On the other hand, he thinks Davis, his present main man at the Pelicans camp, is out of this world.
"He is not human. Look at the things he can do in the court. He's only 23 years-old. He's unbelievable. He's a special player, and he's only gonna go better.... You won't find that special kind of player everyday, so you have to take advantage of it--watching and being able to play with them."
Cole and WNBA legend Taj Franklin are special guests at the Jr. NBA National Training Camp that will take place over the weekend at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
Star big man Anthony Davis took the most injury hits as he lingered pain on his hip, back, and his knee among others.
Even Cole, who played backup to Jrue Holiday for most of the season, did not evade the injury bug as he hurt his back late in the NBA year.
With the season now over for them, Cole says the vacant time is an opportunity for him and his teammates to get their acts back to where they were last year.
"Right now, my focus is on getting some rest, building my body, and getting my game back in a level where I could make the playoffs," he specifically bared a sketch of his offseason plans.
On the other hand, he believes his former club, the Miami Heat, can steal the postseason spotlight from the top contenders.
"They have a shot. They look good in Game 1. We'll see how they'll go in Game 2," Cole said on his outlook for the team that gave him two NBA titles.
However, he thinks it is still anyone's ballgame.
"You never really know.... It's wide open. Anybody can beat anybody at any given day, and that's what the playoffs is all about. So I'm just looking forward to watching each of the games," Cole further said.
On the other hand, he thinks Davis, his present main man at the Pelicans camp, is out of this world.
"He is not human. Look at the things he can do in the court. He's only 23 years-old. He's unbelievable. He's a special player, and he's only gonna go better.... You won't find that special kind of player everyday, so you have to take advantage of it--watching and being able to play with them."
Cole and WNBA legend Taj Franklin are special guests at the Jr. NBA National Training Camp that will take place over the weekend at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
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