The Armor have four players with NBA experience in preseason camp.
Springfield Armor players take part in drills Monday at the Springfield YMCA, the first practice of the season for the D-League team.
SPRINGFIELD – Many may be new to the city and the franchise, but most of the Springfield Armor have been here before.
“Here” is the roster of a professional basketball team.
Of the 17 players on the Armor roster for Monday's first practice at the YMCA, 14 are considered veterans and three are rookies, which the NBA Development League defines as a player in his first year of pro ball.
“Carleton Scott, James Mays, Ben Uzoh – those guys were in an (NBA) camp. Willie Reed was in a camp and I think Shawn Taggart picked things up quick,” Armor coach Bob MacKinnon said. “We’ve got guys who have good basketball IQs along with being good athletes, and I’m really encouraged at this point where we are at.”
Scott and Mays come to the Armor from Brooklyn, where they were two of the last three players cut from the Nets, Springfield's NBA affiliate. Uzoh made the Nets as an undrafted free agent in 2010 and played in 42 games. He played in 18 last year with Cleveland and Toronto, and was in Denver’s preseason camp.
“Things went well in the Nets camp. I played hard, did myself justice and made them respect me as a player,” Mays said. “Coming here and playing hard, anything can happen.”
Mays’ experience with the Nets and with MacKinnon, who coached him with the Colorado 14ers in 2008-09, gives him a little head start in camp, along with Scott, who was on Nets' summer-league team coached by MacKinnon.
Uzoh hasn’t played for MacKinnon, but he is familiar with his offense since it is similar to what the Nets ran his rookie year.
“I’m familiar with a lot of things he’s teaching. It’s the offense the Brooklyn Nets are running,” Uzoh said. “They’re NBA sets, so there isn’t a lot to really think about. It’s almost second nature.”
For those players who have not had the good fortune of being in an NBA camp, Mays, Uzoh and Scott are sharing their knowledge to help bring everyone up to speed.
“It’s a whole new cast, but it’s a young and very talented cast. And the way Coach MacKinnon coaches, he gives players the ability to showcase their talent,” Mays said. “He allows us to run, he allows us to shoot and he allows us to showcase our talent to all the teams, not just the Brooklyn Nets.
“The one things about Coach Mac is he allows players to play. You’ll never hear a player complaining about not getting enough shots, touches. The way we play, it’s going to be fast-paced, we’re going to run and we’re going to share the ball.”
The problem for MacKinnon will be whittling the roster to 10 by Nov. 21.
“We’re probably looking to make a couple of cuts by the end of this week, and the final roster has to be in by the day before Thanksgiving,” MacKinnon said. “This is a very competitive camp, so the margin is very thin for people right now.”
ODDS AND ENDS: MacKinnon will hold a free coaches’ clinic Thursday at the YMCA, running practice from 6-8 p.m., then going over Xs and Os and taking questions ... MacKinnon has his right knee in a brace after undergoing two surgeries this summer … Armor practices are open to the public. Just call the team offices in advance.