Hubie Brown on coaching Jason "White Chocolate" Williams:
"I don't care if a player has got a style, as long as he makes no turnovers," Brown said. "As soon as you turn the ball over, then you've got to be accountable."
1.09.2009
1.08.2009
KEVIN GARNETT & HARD WORK
"My game is not perfect, by any means. But I do work hard on it. We all need to work on every phase of the game," said Garnett.
When I was with the Timber Wolves Kevin McHale would grab me and we would go through footwork on the post countless times, and I've been able to acquire some of his knowledge.
Sam Mitchell once told me, "If you want to get better, then show me. If you want it, then you'll work on it." They are in the back of my mind and carried me to this point.
"Now it's my turn as a vet to try and instill this in some of the younger guys. Whether they want it or not, I'm here to give it to them. At the end of the day, it's whether they want to be better players or not. If you want to work on things, I'm in here every day. I have a bit of a cold, but I'm in here. My leg is messed up, but I'm in here. So, if those younger guys are willing to work hard, I'm here," said KG.
"Ask anyone who worked with me, I never had a problem staying in the gym countless hours. I was obsessed with the ability to get better, I always watched Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon and their go-to moves, moves they are comfortable with and had the confidence to use in big time games and big time moments."
"I was always infatuated with how you work on something, from footwork to confidence, and how the better you get at it the more confidence you have. This game is all about confidence in yourself and your ability. "
"There is nothing like going out there and showing off your art, nothing like going out and showing people what you work on, seeing if your stuff actually works. That's the beauty of working hard, is when you see the results."
When I was with the Timber Wolves Kevin McHale would grab me and we would go through footwork on the post countless times, and I've been able to acquire some of his knowledge.
Sam Mitchell once told me, "If you want to get better, then show me. If you want it, then you'll work on it." They are in the back of my mind and carried me to this point.
"Now it's my turn as a vet to try and instill this in some of the younger guys. Whether they want it or not, I'm here to give it to them. At the end of the day, it's whether they want to be better players or not. If you want to work on things, I'm in here every day. I have a bit of a cold, but I'm in here. My leg is messed up, but I'm in here. So, if those younger guys are willing to work hard, I'm here," said KG.
"Ask anyone who worked with me, I never had a problem staying in the gym countless hours. I was obsessed with the ability to get better, I always watched Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon and their go-to moves, moves they are comfortable with and had the confidence to use in big time games and big time moments."
"I was always infatuated with how you work on something, from footwork to confidence, and how the better you get at it the more confidence you have. This game is all about confidence in yourself and your ability. "
"There is nothing like going out there and showing off your art, nothing like going out and showing people what you work on, seeing if your stuff actually works. That's the beauty of working hard, is when you see the results."
JAMES HARRISON - STEELERS LB
The list of past NFL Defensive Player of the Year winners is impressive: Joe Greene, Lawrence Taylor, Mike Singletary, Deion Sanders, Reggie White, & Ray Lewis.
Yesterday, for the first time since the award began in 1971, an undrafted player has won it.
Steelers LB James Harrison, who'd been cut three times by Pittsburg and played in NFL Europe, made the team's 2004 roster after the starting LB went down with an injury, forcing the team to bring in Harrison "literally hours" before the start of training camp.
That same season, when another starter was suspended, Harrison moved into the starting lineup.
Harrison is an excellent example of someone who (1) worked hard and stuck with it and who (2) took advantage of his opportunities.
"Somebody else’s misfortune is somebody else’s fortune," said Harrison, who sometimes works out three times a day in the offseason. "It’s just hard work, perseverance and little blessings here and there. People said I couldn't do this or couldn't do that," he noted. "I was too short, too slow. Basically, I play and prepare myself in the offseason with the thoughts of what people said I couldn't do. I have been persistent and I never took any shortcuts."
Yesterday, for the first time since the award began in 1971, an undrafted player has won it.
Steelers LB James Harrison, who'd been cut three times by Pittsburg and played in NFL Europe, made the team's 2004 roster after the starting LB went down with an injury, forcing the team to bring in Harrison "literally hours" before the start of training camp.
That same season, when another starter was suspended, Harrison moved into the starting lineup.
Harrison is an excellent example of someone who (1) worked hard and stuck with it and who (2) took advantage of his opportunities.
"Somebody else’s misfortune is somebody else’s fortune," said Harrison, who sometimes works out three times a day in the offseason. "It’s just hard work, perseverance and little blessings here and there. People said I couldn't do this or couldn't do that," he noted. "I was too short, too slow. Basically, I play and prepare myself in the offseason with the thoughts of what people said I couldn't do. I have been persistent and I never took any shortcuts."
DOING WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN
Good quote from Washington Wizards forward Dominic McGuire in a story on Hoops Addict.
Over the last nine games, McGuire's minutes have jumped from 10-12 a night to about 30 a night as WAS coach Ed Tapscott has moved McGuire into the starting Small Forward spot.
According to Coach Tapscott, McGuire is "one of those guys that does those other things people normally don’t speak about. He rebounds the ball, he defends well and... he works at it and embraces his role."
Despite his expanded role, McGuire says he'll keep doing what he's been doing:
"I’m just practicing hard and working out when I wasn’t playing. So I just tried to keep the same routine and just be prepared. I don’t really worry about who they tell me to guard. I just go out there and do it to the best of my ability. That’s what I do on this team, and that’s how I’ll hopefully stay in this league."
Over the last nine games, McGuire's minutes have jumped from 10-12 a night to about 30 a night as WAS coach Ed Tapscott has moved McGuire into the starting Small Forward spot.
According to Coach Tapscott, McGuire is "one of those guys that does those other things people normally don’t speak about. He rebounds the ball, he defends well and... he works at it and embraces his role."
Despite his expanded role, McGuire says he'll keep doing what he's been doing:
"I’m just practicing hard and working out when I wasn’t playing. So I just tried to keep the same routine and just be prepared. I don’t really worry about who they tell me to guard. I just go out there and do it to the best of my ability. That’s what I do on this team, and that’s how I’ll hopefully stay in this league."
1.04.2009
EVERY DEFENSE HAS A WEAKNESS
Denver Nuggets coach George Karl, after the Nuggets beat the Knicks recently, on what Mike D'Antoni brings to New York:
"I know that defense is extremely important. But deep down inside, every defense has a weakness. Every defense gives you something. Now can the team on the court, the players on the court, find what it gives you?
That's what Mike teaches. He makes it fairly simple, fairly easy to read. Even though we won, watching them on film, I knew that we would have moments of frustration. Because of their intensity to play the way they like to play, you never totally control them.
My recollection of New York is the city game, the street game, the playground game. And he plays as fast and free as any coach I've ever played against. I know the Knick (teams) have been based on defense. But I was kidding with one of my assistants that I would like to see Mike D'Antoni get a Carolina or Kentucky or Kansas job, because people don't think (his style) can win. People don't think it can win championships. And I think that's crazy.
I think if you get the best players, [Coach D's] style will be incredibly difficult to play against –- impossible, maybe, to play against. But we have so many experts who think that you have to play defense, you have to rebound, you have to be a possession coach, you have to execute. I just laugh. Explosive offense is scary when you don't know how to stop someone.
"I know that defense is extremely important. But deep down inside, every defense has a weakness. Every defense gives you something. Now can the team on the court, the players on the court, find what it gives you?
That's what Mike teaches. He makes it fairly simple, fairly easy to read. Even though we won, watching them on film, I knew that we would have moments of frustration. Because of their intensity to play the way they like to play, you never totally control them.
My recollection of New York is the city game, the street game, the playground game. And he plays as fast and free as any coach I've ever played against. I know the Knick (teams) have been based on defense. But I was kidding with one of my assistants that I would like to see Mike D'Antoni get a Carolina or Kentucky or Kansas job, because people don't think (his style) can win. People don't think it can win championships. And I think that's crazy.
I think if you get the best players, [Coach D's] style will be incredibly difficult to play against –- impossible, maybe, to play against. But we have so many experts who think that you have to play defense, you have to rebound, you have to be a possession coach, you have to execute. I just laugh. Explosive offense is scary when you don't know how to stop someone.
KOBE BRYANT
There are few things more important to Kobe Bryant than his portable DVD player. The Lakers' 10-time All-Star stares at his 10-inch screen, watching basketball clips of the players he'll be guarding. It's part of his longtime commitment to studying video, one of the foundations of a career still going strong in its 13th NBA season.
The Lakers have had dozens of great players over the years, but according to the team's director of video services Chris Bodaken, "Hands down, he's the biggest video fiend we've ever had. I didn't know if it was possible to be more competitive than Magic was, but I think he might be. It carries over into his preparation, and this is part of that."
The Lakers' video staff goes "through an opponent's last few games and find key plays from the players Bryant will guard, presenting him with eight to 12 minutes of edited footage."
The goal is for Bryant to pick up tendencies of rival players. Have they added any new moves? Do they prefer to pull-up right and attack the basket driving left? Have they been aggressively driving to the basket or have they been settling for outside jump shots?
Kobe's objective is "to find ways to take away comfort zones from opponents."
"It's a blueprint," said Bryant, an eight-time member of the NBA all-defensive team. "So if something goes down, it's not something you haven't seen before. Everybody's got tendencies.You've got to take him out of his spots. That's the key."
Says Patrick O'Keefe, another member of the Lakers' video staff:
"It's like a straight-A student who still goes to all the extra study sessions."
The Lakers have had dozens of great players over the years, but according to the team's director of video services Chris Bodaken, "Hands down, he's the biggest video fiend we've ever had. I didn't know if it was possible to be more competitive than Magic was, but I think he might be. It carries over into his preparation, and this is part of that."
The Lakers' video staff goes "through an opponent's last few games and find key plays from the players Bryant will guard, presenting him with eight to 12 minutes of edited footage."
The goal is for Bryant to pick up tendencies of rival players. Have they added any new moves? Do they prefer to pull-up right and attack the basket driving left? Have they been aggressively driving to the basket or have they been settling for outside jump shots?
Kobe's objective is "to find ways to take away comfort zones from opponents."
"It's a blueprint," said Bryant, an eight-time member of the NBA all-defensive team. "So if something goes down, it's not something you haven't seen before. Everybody's got tendencies.You've got to take him out of his spots. That's the key."
Says Patrick O'Keefe, another member of the Lakers' video staff:
"It's like a straight-A student who still goes to all the extra study sessions."
CLAY MATTHEWS - USC WALK ON
Imagine trying to play D-1 college football as a 166-pound linebacker.
Now imagine trying to play LB at one of the premier college programs, USC, at that weight.
When Clay Matthews was coming out of high school in 2004, most college scouts told him he was he was "too skinny, too weak and too slow."
But he had a couple things going for him. First, he has good genes. His father was an All-America LB who played in the NFL for 19 years and his uncle is a Hall of Fame offensive lineman. His grandfather also played in the NFL.
Second, he was willing to work hard to get better.
"I thought it was intriguing," USC coach Pete Carroll says of Matthews' arrival. "He had that big family background. So I thought, 'OK, is there some magic in here somehow?' And I didn't see it. He looked like just a good, hardworking kid who was undersized and skinny and just not physically ready to match up."
Matthews' USC teammates marvel at how far he's come, earning All-Pac 10 Second Team honors and being mentioned as a third- or fourth-round pick in the NFL draft. As one put it, "I just remember how little he was but he was always in the weight room. He would work so hard."
Says Matthews:
"I knew if I came to USC and they gave me a shot, that I could play. I also knew if I was going to hang with these guys, I'd have to work really hard and be really persistent. I just kept working and working and getting bigger and faster and better. I'm sure the coaches thought I was crazy," Matthews says. "Most walk-ons … they're just here to contribute to the scout team or maybe special teams. But I was aiming for much more."
According to Coach Carroll, walk-ons are a valued part of the Trojans football program:
"Clay has done so much and he's come so far. He's really transformed his whole makeup. It's a remarkable story, because he was just a skinny kid who wanted to play football."
Now imagine trying to play LB at one of the premier college programs, USC, at that weight.
When Clay Matthews was coming out of high school in 2004, most college scouts told him he was he was "too skinny, too weak and too slow."
But he had a couple things going for him. First, he has good genes. His father was an All-America LB who played in the NFL for 19 years and his uncle is a Hall of Fame offensive lineman. His grandfather also played in the NFL.
Second, he was willing to work hard to get better.
"I thought it was intriguing," USC coach Pete Carroll says of Matthews' arrival. "He had that big family background. So I thought, 'OK, is there some magic in here somehow?' And I didn't see it. He looked like just a good, hardworking kid who was undersized and skinny and just not physically ready to match up."
Matthews' USC teammates marvel at how far he's come, earning All-Pac 10 Second Team honors and being mentioned as a third- or fourth-round pick in the NFL draft. As one put it, "I just remember how little he was but he was always in the weight room. He would work so hard."
Says Matthews:
"I knew if I came to USC and they gave me a shot, that I could play. I also knew if I was going to hang with these guys, I'd have to work really hard and be really persistent. I just kept working and working and getting bigger and faster and better. I'm sure the coaches thought I was crazy," Matthews says. "Most walk-ons … they're just here to contribute to the scout team or maybe special teams. But I was aiming for much more."
According to Coach Carroll, walk-ons are a valued part of the Trojans football program:
"Clay has done so much and he's come so far. He's really transformed his whole makeup. It's a remarkable story, because he was just a skinny kid who wanted to play football."
THE SPIRIT OF A HUMAN BEING
Great quote from University of Cincinnati football offensive coordinator Jeff Quinn,
"I always said you don't underestimate the spirit of a human being. You don't know what's going on in their chest and between their ears. You just don't know."
"I always said you don't underestimate the spirit of a human being. You don't know what's going on in their chest and between their ears. You just don't know."
12.27.2008
TEX WINTERS 7 OFFENSIVE PRINCIPLES
1. The offense must penetrate the defense. In order to run the system, the first step is to break through the perimeter of the defense, usually around the three-point line, with a drive, a pass, or a shot. The number-one option is to pass the ball into the post and go for a three-point power play.
2. The offense must involve a full-court game. Transition offense starts on defense. The players must be able to play end-to-end and perform skills at fast-break pace.
3. The offense must provide proper spacing. This is critical. As they move around the court, players should maintain a distance of 15-18 feet from one another. That gives everybody room to operate and prevents the defense from being able to cover two players with one man.
4. The offense must ensure player and ball movement with a purpose. All things being equal, each player will spend around eighty percent of his time without the ball. In the triangle offense, the players have prescribed routes to follow in those situations, so that they're all moving in harmony toward a common goal.
5. The offense must provide strong rebounding position and good defensive balance on all shots. With the triangle offense, everyone knows where to go when a shot goes up to put themselves in a position to pick off the rebound or protect against the fast break. Location is everything, especially when playing the boards.
6. The offense must give the player with the ball an opportunity to pass the ball to any of his teammates. The players move in such a way so that the ballhandler can see them with a pass. That sets up the counterpoint effect. As the defense increases the pressure on one point on the floor, an opening is inevitably created somewhere else that the defenders can't see. If the players are lined up properly, the ballhandler should be able to find someone in the spot.
7. The offense must utilize the players' individual skills. The system requires everybody to become an offensive threat. That means they have to find what they do best within the context of the team.
2. The offense must involve a full-court game. Transition offense starts on defense. The players must be able to play end-to-end and perform skills at fast-break pace.
3. The offense must provide proper spacing. This is critical. As they move around the court, players should maintain a distance of 15-18 feet from one another. That gives everybody room to operate and prevents the defense from being able to cover two players with one man.
4. The offense must ensure player and ball movement with a purpose. All things being equal, each player will spend around eighty percent of his time without the ball. In the triangle offense, the players have prescribed routes to follow in those situations, so that they're all moving in harmony toward a common goal.
5. The offense must provide strong rebounding position and good defensive balance on all shots. With the triangle offense, everyone knows where to go when a shot goes up to put themselves in a position to pick off the rebound or protect against the fast break. Location is everything, especially when playing the boards.
6. The offense must give the player with the ball an opportunity to pass the ball to any of his teammates. The players move in such a way so that the ballhandler can see them with a pass. That sets up the counterpoint effect. As the defense increases the pressure on one point on the floor, an opening is inevitably created somewhere else that the defenders can't see. If the players are lined up properly, the ballhandler should be able to find someone in the spot.
7. The offense must utilize the players' individual skills. The system requires everybody to become an offensive threat. That means they have to find what they do best within the context of the team.
TYRONN LUE
Now in his 11th NBA season, Ty Lue has been with three teams over the last three seasons, starting three games during that span.
Now with the Milwaukee Bucks, Lue comes off the bench for coach Scott Skiles, who relies on the 6-foot guard to produce despite sporadic minutes.
As an example, take this five-game road swing that MIL just wrapped up:
Against the Lakers, Lue played 21 minutes. Two nights later against the Suns, Lue played two minutes. The next game, against the Warriors, he logged 14 minutes.
Then against Miami, he played just one minute. Against the Knicks in the final game of the Bucks' five-game road trip game, he saw 20 minutes of action.
Lue is able to do something that many players can't: Get into the flow quickly and always be ready to produce.
"It's very difficult because you can't get in a rhythm but I have no control over that. The only thing I can control is being ready to go when I get subbed in. If you know you come in at the 2-minute mark of the first quarter, you can get your body and mind right and be mentally prepared. You can get in a rhythm throughout the course of the season, when you know when you're going to go in and know when you're going to play. What I've been doing is difficult, but I've been able to produce so far in playing that role."
"I just stay focused on the bench, watching the flow of the game and seeing what the team needs so if I get a chance to play I know exactly what I need to bring for the team to be successful. I try to stay in tune and stay focused during the game so I'm ready to go when the coach needs me."
"I never get discouraged. I know how to play the game and I never lose confidence. I try to play the same way all the time, whether I'm starting or coming off the bench."
Now with the Milwaukee Bucks, Lue comes off the bench for coach Scott Skiles, who relies on the 6-foot guard to produce despite sporadic minutes.
As an example, take this five-game road swing that MIL just wrapped up:
Against the Lakers, Lue played 21 minutes. Two nights later against the Suns, Lue played two minutes. The next game, against the Warriors, he logged 14 minutes.
Then against Miami, he played just one minute. Against the Knicks in the final game of the Bucks' five-game road trip game, he saw 20 minutes of action.
Lue is able to do something that many players can't: Get into the flow quickly and always be ready to produce.
"It's very difficult because you can't get in a rhythm but I have no control over that. The only thing I can control is being ready to go when I get subbed in. If you know you come in at the 2-minute mark of the first quarter, you can get your body and mind right and be mentally prepared. You can get in a rhythm throughout the course of the season, when you know when you're going to go in and know when you're going to play. What I've been doing is difficult, but I've been able to produce so far in playing that role."
"I just stay focused on the bench, watching the flow of the game and seeing what the team needs so if I get a chance to play I know exactly what I need to bring for the team to be successful. I try to stay in tune and stay focused during the game so I'm ready to go when the coach needs me."
"I never get discouraged. I know how to play the game and I never lose confidence. I try to play the same way all the time, whether I'm starting or coming off the bench."
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