Transcript: Blazers G Allen Crabbe Interviewed On Courtside

Portland Trail Blazers rookie guard Allen Crabbe, a 2013 second-round pick, was interviewed by Brian Wheeler and Antonio Harvey on this week's episode of Blazers Courtside. Here's a partial, condensed transcript. Video via YouTube user portlandtrailblazers is below.

How is summing going?

"Everything has been great so far. Everything has been moving extremely fast. I go back to making the decision to staying in school, and then the draft came so quick, the summer league came so quick.

"I'm just getting adjusted to the Oregon area. It's nice. Coming from L.A., it's definitely going to be a big adjustment with the weather out here and everything, but things have been good. Been out here trying to get acclimated with the team. I've been out here for about three weeks now, I've been doing the workouts, everything has been going good so far."

Transition to NBA, changing role as a rookie

"Just come to practice every day, showing up, letting the coaches know that I'm here to work, putting in the extra time, just earn the respect of the coaching staff and the players. Like you said, being a focal point in college and high school, coming into a league where basically everybody is important to the team, it's a big adjustment.

"I realize coming to the NBA game is all about your mentality and how you take things, you have to be mentally tough. I know rookies, they hit the rookie wall sometimes, the adjustment period can be a struggle sometimes. It's all about staying mentally tough. Whatever happens during the season I'm going to put in work and do whatever I can to help the team out."

Recent September workouts

"It's a fun experience. Playing with a lot of veterans and a lot of young guys on the team, it's definitely a good experience. Coming from college, you've got a feel for the college game but making an adjustment to the NBA level, guys are a lot faster, guys are a lot bigger and stronger and you just learn a lot of new things, find new ways to score, just build your knowledge of the game.

"I feel like that's one of the fun things right now: looking at guys who have had success on this team already in the past, see how they thrive in the NBA, see the type of things they did to be successful, pick up little mental notes, asking for advice when it comes to learning new things. That's one of the main, important things I've done so far."

Learning from veteran players like Wesley Matthews

"He's giving advice to all the rookies, letting us know that we want to make a lot of changes as a team, that we want to be a lot better on the defensive side of the team. Picking up on areas they want to improve on this upcoming season. It's definitely good having guys who are very passionate about the game and very hungry, when you play with a group of guys who all have the same mindset and want to win and be successful, that right there can go a long way with making a successful season as a team."

Rookie treatment/hazing

"It's part of the learning curve and the process, being new to the game. It goes back to the freshman days when I was in college, guys would tell me to get the ball bags and to help the managers. I've been there before. I'm not going to be upset about it, it's just a part of the game. I've got to go through it and do what I've got to do.

"Just being in the NBA by itself is a once in a lifetime opportunity. So many guys want to be in this position and there's only 60 spots in the Draft. I'm just going to make the most of this experience. Coming in as a rookie, getting coffee and doughnuts, waking up real early, if that's something I have to do, it's not like I'm going to say I'm not going to do it. ... I look forward to doing it, if I have to do it."

Summer League

"The pace of the game, I realized in college you run a lot of set plays, in the NBA you run some plays but a majority of it is pick and roll. I realized the floor is a lot bigger, there's a lot more space on the floor. The pace of the game is something I have to get adjusted to. I feel like with that experience I'll be able to get going into training camp, learning new things. I'm excited for this season and doing whatever I can to help the team."

Crabbe was taken with the No. 31 pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. He played for Portland at the 2013 Las Vegas Summer League, averaging 4.8 points and 3.2 rebounds 25.7 minutes per game over six appearances.

Hat tip on the video: @ShemLL

-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter