“Everybody’s going to be surprised,” predicted Bobby Simmons, one of the eight (so far) newcomers on the roster. “Reason being, we have a young ballclub, and we have a lot of guys that know how to play the game. It’s not necessarily just names on the paper.”
Naturally, everyone echoes Simmons’ sentiments. “Everyone,” of course, meaning those affiliated with the team. It’s not considered especially good form for players to start figuring out the elimination magic number a month before training camp begins. So, they say, don’t be fooled by all the new faces. Or the youth—eight players on the roster have four or fewer years of experience.
“That’s fine,” guard Keyon Dooling, another summertime import, said of the low expectations. “It’ll be a challenge for us. Obviously we’re a young team, but you can only go up.
“Check everyone’s resume,” Dooling continued. “Guys have made a mark in this league. It’s a matter of getting the team together, working hard, building good habits.”
