The Pro Training Center

My blog entry from April 2006 that was erased.

This Championship Gator team should be studied!

 I almost don’t know where to start. To say that I expected this

is somewhat irrelevant, as in basketball what we expect is often different than what actually happens. Since mid-November I thought Florida had the look of a team with the necessary components to win a National Championship. By January they proved me right, ripping off 17 straight wins. And after getting healthy (after 2 key injuries and 6 SEC losses) they resumed their butt-kicking performances, and in my estimation, looked like the team to beat along with UCONN. When they beat Kentucky on the Wildcats home floor-on Senior night no less and by 16 points, it was clear to me that they were the nations best team. Name another team that could have done that? Winning the SEC tournament title, but only earning a 3 seed to the NCAA’s, provided the final detail ensuring a Gator celebration last night. You see, along with a long list of things that this team has taught us all, PLAYING WITH A PURPOSE may be the most important lesson gleaned from these orange and blue competitors. And PURPOSE is exactly what these guys have-along with pride and a trophy. No pre-season rankings? Fine. Mocking the 17 game streak to start the year? No worries. Too young to do anything in the tournament, and a recent history of tourney failures? A 3 seed for the SEC tourney champ? All proved to be driving forces in Gator practices each day, to be sure. And that is what I hope all coaches and players around the world take from this terrific team. Because make no mistake about it-this team won a championship at practice each day, and the evidence is overwhelming.

 Practice is the place where a team and coaching staff bonds-or doesen’t. Where leadership is earned, and roles are defined. Find me a college team in recent memory with better chemistry and leadership than this team. We all know Joakim Noah is their best player, a likely top 5 pick whenever he enters the NBA. But he refers to Florida's lone senior, Adrian Moss, as “Boss man”, and said last night after the game that he’s proud to be on Moss’s team.  MOSS’S TEAM!!  Did your best player think, or say, anything similar to that after the season?  Last week in a press conference, when Noah’s teammate Taurean Green gave a short answer describing the solid play of a seldom used player off Florida’s bench in an early round win, Noah jumped in to the discussion to add how hard that player has worked each day in practice. For press conferences, that is the equivalent of a player getting a quadruple-double, it basically never happens, as players only answer questions directed to them. Even after the game last night, Noah told the press that sharpshooter Lee Humphrey “was a monster on D”. When your best player speaks that glowingly about his teammates, it is easy to get refined roles and avoid petty jealousy.

Florida’s best players are SO INVESTED into winning, playing with incredible heart and unselfishness, that it is clear to us they don’t care about individual stats. Can you say the same about your team?

 But chemistry is not the only class this team aced this year. BASKETBALL SKILLS 101 was on their schedule as well, and Professor Donovan and his assistants mentored their class to perfection. This team gave clinics all year on court spacing, shooting, feeding the pivot (relentlessly), beating pressure, and finding the open man. Last night’s efforts, the Gator’s final exam, showed just how much they learned in Donovan’s class. Dribbling and passing are skills that can be worked on all year, not just the off-season. Anyone who watched the Gators all year could see their skills improving as the season progressed. Green and Humphrey combined for 10 turnovers in their Coaches vs. Cancer Final 4 victories back in November over WakeForest and Syracuse. In the real Final 4, with hundreds of millions of people watching and a National Championship at stake, and against 2 excellent (if not incredible) defensive teams, they committed only 3. That’s 2 players, playing a combined 142 minutes as primary ball-handlers, and turning it over 3 times. Wow. Joakim Noah went from scrub to mega-superstar in one season. There are 10 basic statistics in college basketball, Al Horford improved in 9 of them from last year (the 10^th was 3 pt shooting %, and he did not attempt one in either season). His backup, Chris Richards, improved in 8. Florida’s has redefined the term “skill position”, demanding all of its’ players to improve their skills. The wins and stats prove their successes. They led the country in FG%. Led the SEC in FT%. And on and on and on…

 Perhaps most importantly, this team taught all of us the importance of “living in the present”. Moreso than any team I’ve seen in years, this team seemed to love playing for their school, their coach, their fans, and each other. No worries about previous seasons, or their future careers. Who scored and rebounded mattered not at all-that somebody did it was all they cared about. Can your team say the same?

 As I wrote in this column back in January, this team should be studied by coaches and players for years to come. They played basketball the right way, and have now become a legend in the process. I hope your team can say the same thing next year.

It's the Shooting, Stupid! (and the poor defense, too)

Basketball is, at its' heart, a simple game.  The team that either shoots better, or forces the other team to shoot poorly, almost always win.  There's a reason why coaches are always preaching defense, as the saying goes, "because we'll need it to win a game when our shots are not falling".  It is an accurate, if overused, axiom-but one that was hugely relevant this morning in Japan.

There will be much hand-wringing about Greece's "upset" win over Team USA, but their well-earned victory boiled down to 2 simple truths; America shot poorly, and couldn't keep Greece from shooting it well.  Here are the numbers that matter most; the USA was outscored by 3 points from the three point line, and 3 points from the free throw line.  3 + 3 =6.  Greece won 91-85.  Katanoo?(Greek for "understand?").

That the Americans shot 10 more three pointers and 4 more free throws than the Greeks only underscores how poorly they shot the ball.  That Greece shot 63% from the field shows how poorly America defended, but also how well the Greeks knocked in shots, contested or not.

You see, you can not fairly analyze a game from just one perspective.  And my red eye perspective suggested to me that Greece came in with the attitude of  "let's work for good shots, hope they go down more than they have in the past, and also hope America has a bad shooting night".  Doesen't sound too Greek to me.  That is sound strategy, one employed by teams like Villanova and NC State in their upset wins in the 80's.  One of the benefits of being an underdog is that you tend to play "looser".  Loose muscles can perform to their expected levels-tight muscles can not.  And favorites do tend to tighten up when they are being outplayed and are in danger of losing.  Despite all of Coach K's efforts at freeing up our guys to just load up and shoot, our shooters looked tight to my trained eye.  Tired too.  Tight and tired will typically lead to 32% three point shooting and 59% from the line. 

We can delve deeply into the why's and how's at a later date-there are certainly ample  discussions to be entertained,  including topics such as "men vs. boys", "where was Battier(12 minutes)?", "what happened to our press and run team?", etc.  And I would love to introduce Bron Bron and some of his teammates to a term called "help defense".  Especially against the pick and roll.   But for now we need to give the Greeks their due.  They shot it much better than Team USA, period.  And in a do or die playoff, that is all they needed to do to advance.

Coach K's gambit

gam·bit    ( P )  Pronunciation Key  (gmbt)
n.

1. An opening in chess in which a minor piece, or pieces, usually a pawn, is offered in exchange for a favorable position.
2. A maneuver, stratagem, or ploy, especially one used at an initial stage.

 Ok, why am I opening this column using a chess reference? Simple-we’re seeing this type of action in Team USA’s games in the World Championships.   Coach K’s gambit is to create a fast paced tempo, and he is willing to give up some easy shots and take some quick ones to ultimately gain a favorable position in not just a game, but the entire tournament. Let’s explore what he is doing, then why it just may be the best strategy possible.

Defensively, the team is playing aggressively in the passing lanes, rarely helping off their man who is on ballside(that is-the defenders who are guarding a man on the same side of the floor as the ball), and looking to jump on guys in the backcourt after made baskets. This type of action has 3 distinct results; more steals that are easily converted into points, more 5 on 4’s and 4 on 3’s that give the offense a better chance of scoring, and a faster tempo to the game (unless the offensive team refuses to attack the basket even when they have the numbers to do so).

Offensively, the team is shooting the ball quickly, often before 2 passes are made, even against a zone defense.   The announcers are even making mention of this when the game seems a little tight and someone takes what appears to be an ill-advised shot.

So the big question is, WHY?   Why would Coach K allow this type of basketball when many people feel that his team has the most talent?   The answer is-EXACTLY!!    It is because they have the most talent, and the deepest talent, that the coaches feel like playing this style gives them their best chance.   And I agree!!   Here’s why:

1. A game with more possessions      always favors the team with the better players. Think of it like this: a high school team plays the Miami HEAT, and each team gets one possession. Could the teenagers win?  Shaq gets a dunk,  some 14 year old throws up a prayer from half court-it goes and they win by one!!   Now they play again, and each team gets 20 possessions. The high school team’s chances go to the floor.   75 possessions(a typical game)?   The chances go through the floor and halfway to China.   Which brings me to Team USA’s game against China and Yao Ming on Sunday. No one on America’s roster can shut down Yao.   Had America played a slow down style,  playing fundamental man to man and turning down quick shots for better shots, Yao’s importance would have grown, as his teammates would have had more opportunities to get him the ball. But the tempo of the game was at full throttle, forcing China’s guards to make decisions on the fly. The result; China had 89 possessions, but Yao only took 8 shots.   Eight.   Add in 13 free throws and divide by 2 and factor in 3 turnnovers and 3 assists-and you have the best big man on      the floor registering 21 important touches.   Less than 25%.   Forget about steals, which America leads the tournament in, or turnovers forced (38 in 2 games),   because it      is tempo that Coach K is after.
2. As the deepest team in the tourney, this style has allowed each player (save Brad Miller) to play enough minutes to feel part of the action without getting worn down.   I’m sure they have had numerous practices where they exerted more energy than the games they have played thus far. Come the medal round, this will factor in America’s favor.   Players like Ginobli and Gasol will have to log major minutes to secure wins in the medal round,      then face an American squad that will force an even faster tempo.
3. We all know about America’s struggles from the field in recent international competition. Simply put-they’ve shot the ball horribly. Previously good shooters have looked  awful when playing for their country.   Why?   One reason is that for their own teams in the NBA, they're  “green lighted” to shoot .   A player who knows he is  allowed to shoot any shot will be more confident and focused.    Ever wonder why Duke, or Phoenix,  seem to always shoot so well?   It’s because they know they can shoot any shot without repercussions. Coach K is trusting his guys this week to take shots they can make, period.   It serves 2 purposes,   growing their confidences and forcing  tempo.   Teams play zone against America not to just force long distance shots but to also slow them down, hoping  they will be more patient. Team USA has done a nice job of picking their “patience spots” while normally chucking away.   And while they are a mere 15-47 from 3,   they have helped create the tempo they want.   Imagine a game where they go 12-20 from long range. It will happen.

 Sure, the team can play better fundamental defense. They can slow down their offense and only take the highest % shots. They can limit their rotation to 7-8 players. In short, they can play an NBA style. Just like they do all year. And like they have in the last 2 international tournaments, featuring NBA coaches’ Brown and Karl. But Team USA’s  governing body did not want a repeat of those 2 events, and Coach K didn’t either.   So it’s off to the races-better tighten up your laces and your handle,  ‘cause this team is sprinting for Gold.

Exporting hoops

I have a question that I would love to have somebody answer for me. Why does TEAM USA have to win gold in Japan this month? And then in China in 2008? Ok, I slipped a second question in, but for a good reason. It seems that every pundit and fan I speak to is saying or writing things pertaining to getting America back to being the dominant team in the world. As if going a decade or so unbeaten is a worthy, or attainable, goal. I’m not someone who typically looks for the negative in a given situation, but I must confess some truth as I see it here.

America will never, ever, dominate international basketball the way we once did. And I would not have it any other way.

 Who dominates golf? The Scots, who basically invented the modernized game of golf? Um, no. A young man from California is far and away the best in the world, before him was a Golden Bear from Ohio, and a Palmer preceded them both. All Americans. The game was initially played in primitive form in western Europe, but the South Africans today are likely just behind America in producing champions, not the Germans or the French. So, are the Scots miffed that they no longer destroy the competition? Or are they thrilled and honored to have helped refine and export their wonderful game so that millions of people around the world can enjoy it? We all know the answer.

 The Greeks began a wonderful sport called Track and Field. Canadians basically modernized what we call Hockey. But neither sport is dominated by their founding countries. That a man from Massachusetts invented basketball, and Americans were the first to play it in an organized fashion, are facts that will never change. But why are sports invented, and practiced, and refined? My view is simple-sports at a young age, and an older one, provide for recreation and fun. But there are larger forces at work that benefit us all. Life lessons can be learned, and should be taught, utilizing a sport to better citizens and societies. I know that in my experience, because I can help young players make more shots, or jump higher, or dribble better, my players tend to listen to me about more important life skills with a little more attention than I might otherwise receive. So it is my duty to impart those lessons-along with thousands of other coaches in America and millions around the world. I’ve had the great pleasure of coaching players and teaching coaches on 3 continents, and nothing is more warming to my heart than to give a coach the gift of being able to effectively communicate with a student, through the language of basketball. Men like Hubie Brown, Bobby Knight, Mike Fratello, and hundreds of other long-time American coaches have traveled the world teaching this wonderful game. Because of them, the world has learned to shoot, pass, and defend much better on the court, and far more importantly, learned the true meaning of words like selflessness, dedication, caring, and hope. Men like Jordan, Magic, Bird and Dr. J have inspired young players around the world to dream big, and to chase those dreams by listening to their coaches. So coaches the world over, and their players, worked and worked and improved and improved. That Americans didn’t is a subject for another day. That work has helped the world “catch up” to us as players, and in some cases even surpassed us. But it also helped millions of players find a focus in their life, and hopefully a happiness too. And that is the point of sports. That America exported their game to help the world makes me beam with pride, and love this game even more.

 And we are still doing it-as anyone who has read about the Playing for Peace initiative in the
Middle East knows. Again, using basketball as a tool to teach important life lessons. Like learning to live in peace with your teammates while your governments are at war. And giving a friendly face to your enemy. It’s hard to hate someone who just threw you a beautiful pass for a layup. Those players in the West Bank and Israel are no different than any other set of teenager in the world that play hoops on a slab of concrete. It’s about teamwork, and effort, and fighting over picks, not land. Basketball has kept millions of kids away from gangs, or drugs, or many other demons. Perhaps it can now keep a group of kids from one day killing each other, and many others in the process. I know it can.

 So we may win some gold medals, and we’ll lose some too. But that seems an incredibly small price to pay for helping the world play together, doesen’t it? My high school coach used to always say “basketball players don’t get sick”, to inspire us to take care of our bodies (and not miss practice). But I think a new slogan is in order, with respect to the world we live in today, featuring young men and women who want to blow themselves up-and others too- to further their cause. My slogan is simple but powerful, energized from all the great things Americans have done in bringing basketball to the world.

 “Basketball players have hope”. Hope for winning games. Hope for a special play. And most importantly, hope for a better life. The world may beat us in many International competitions, but they are really saying “thank you for teaching us this special game, it has made our country a better place to live”.

 Well, your welcome, but here comes Bron Bron, ‘Melo, and the Flash, so lace them up and may the best team win!!

Team USA vs. Brazil

Deep breath, everyone. Just because Team USA barely eked out a win yesterday over a decent Brazil team is not a reason to feel we are doomed to witness another disappointing finish in an international event. There were many factors that caused a performance that was less than average, and most of them do not concern me at all. And there was one that does.

 Let’s start with some of the issues that can be dismissed-stuff that should not happen again. Getting outrebounded 41-26 is shocking, but anyone who has traveled that far to play 2 games on consecutive nights can recognize that the team was clearly suffering from what I call “travel lag”. Our hearts were willing, but our legs were just a step slow to make the plays in those “50/50” balls. Brazil got them just about every time. That we played well in the first half, but couldn’t make a play in the second, is rather common. When your legs go, they just go.

 Our shooting-making 27 shots but missing 40, is also something that can be somewhat attributed to our poor energy. Open looks were there, but front rimmed shots were commonplace in the second half. That we took almost half our shots from 3 (29 three attempts in 67 shots overall) is also a direct result of a lack of energy in attacking Brazil’s zone defense. I’m sure the USA coaches will spend more than a little time bringing up that statistic in practice today. That, and fresher legs, will ensure a better zone attack in future games.

 Losing 2 of the team’s 3 best perimeter player almost simultaneously early in the 2^nd half hurt us the most, I felt. Carmelo was the best player on the floor before getting hurt, and D-Wade played a total of 10 minutes before fouling out. Combined, these 2 players scored 20 points in 22 minutes, while LeBron and Chris Paul scored the same 20 points in 50 minutes. Wade is a guy who can really “figure things out” as the game goes on-as I personally witnessed in game 5 of the championship series against Dallas.   He had a horrendous first half, but finished the game with 43 points and made all the big shots late. He and ‘Melo would have been a huge upgrade in those last 10 minutes against Brazil over anyone else that lined up in their place.

 I’m not concerned about our energy in future games, or Carmelo’s knee, or our zone attack. I am concerned, however, about the same thing I cautioned in my last blog. Leadership. The lack of it was evident early in the 2^nd half yesterday as Brazil made their first run. Chris Paul never took the reigns of the team, in fact, he did just the opposite. He allowed us to lose our control and tempo and never dictated anything. Hinrich wasn’t much better, and the 2 of them combined for 9 turnovers in 45 minutes. Again, bad wheels make for bad passes, but I would have liked to see one of our point guards play with more authority when the game was slipping away. Of course, I would like to have seen ANYONE step up and control the team. That it didn’t happen may be because of Wade and ‘Melo’s absence.

 Who else can serve that role in their absence? Who can lead us in a tough game? Leadership does not come from sounding like a leader, it comes from acting like one. My dictionary defines leadership as “breathing spirit into the hearts and minds of others”. Everone recognizes that Lebron James is a world class player and passer. But read his quote from after the game and you’ll wonder if he will ever provide the “spirit” this team needs in crunch time:

 “Some of the guys were a little nervous of course being in this position for the first time. But, I've been in this position before, playing in the games before. And I know what to expect when games get close”.

 What guys? What position? First time? Is he saying that there are players on this team who are not as experienced as he is in playing important games on the road? After all, LeBron did not play in college and has played a grand total of 13 playoff games in his career. Wade played that many playoff games as a rookie. In fact, James is surrounded by players with little playoff experience. Only 3 guys, Brad Miller, Bruce Bowen, and Wade, have what would amount to serious playoff experience. Those 3 players account for 181 playoff games and 3 World Championships. The rest of the team has 115 playoff games-TOTAL, and no rings. Let’s look at college, where the intensity is just as high in road conference games and NCAA tournament experiences. Jamison’s Tar-Heels made it to the Final 4.  Hinrich played in the Big 12, and an NCAA Championship game. So did Arenas and Brand, at Arizona and Duke. ‘Melo won a title. So did Battier. Those players must be shaking their heads at LeBron’s quote. Yes, he made the winning basket after a rather poor performance. Yes, he is mega-talented, and probably the best wing transition player in the world. But no, he is not yet a leader. Had he said “this team is made up of young players who have played for numerous NCAA and World Championships and we are confident that we’ll rise to the occasion again and again”, I’d be impressed. That’s the spirit our team needs, because WE ARE YOUNG. We need the most famous basketball player on our team to instill confidence in his teammates, not get them to be confident in him. Until that happens, I fear that the next time the team is in a tight game, we will not come out on top.

TEAM USA needs some "Magic"

After watching TEAM USA’s awesome team effort in pounding an undermanned Puerto Rican team last night, there is one glaring weakness, to my eye, that will take some serious work to fix.

It’s not shooting that concerns me, the bugaboo that  bit previous teams the past 6 years. 7 players shot over 35.6% from 3 last season, led by Bruce Bowen at 42.4%. 3 of our players who can “play big” canned better than 38.4% from 3; Shane Battier, Brad Miller, and Antawn Jamison. Throw in D-Wade’s 37.8% three pt shooting in the just completed playoffs, and you have 8 guys who can shoot well enough to bring their opponents out of a zone.

 
It’s not rebounding either. Dwight Howard is a human rebounding machine. Elton Brand is a human double-double. Wade, Lebron, even Chris Paul, all rebound well for their position. And with good shooting, offensive rebounding becomes less of a factor.

 It’s not flexibility of the rotation (almost every player on the team can play multiple positions well), defensive potential, or anything physical. We have great free throw shooters (numerous players over 80%) and great one on one players (try guarding Chris Bosh, or “Melo, or Wade by yourself!). In fact, I think this team may have more skilled athletes than any team since the one and only Dream Team of ’92.

 And I love the coaches-all of ‘em. Coach K is the perfect leader of a group of young men, his demeanor fits our team to a “T”. He’ll let our players play, and with the team using the Phoenix Suns’ offense, play and run they will.

 So what is it that this team lacks, and has me fearful of a loss or two? One word. Leadership. Now, don’t think this team does not have it’s share of leaders-because it is chock full of them. But they are all leaders ON THEIR OWN TEAMS, and leading a group of your equals is another thing entirely. Interestingly, the players who are in the best positions to lead due to age and experience are the least likely to offer much simply because they are not mega-superstars. Brad Miller and Bruce Bowen could clearly provide the necessary stewardship to guide this team to gold, but I have a hard time believing Bron-Bron, ‘Melo, and Flash would follow them anywhere but the dinner table.

 Go back to 1992 with me for a moment. July to be exact. I’m coaching at a very talented Five-Star basketball camp where Bobby Hurley was giving a lecture to the campers. Hurley had just arrived from training with the Dream Team, and I had the opportunity to ask him some questions about that experience. I’ll never forget his answer to the question “who’s team is it?”. Meaning, is it Michael’s, Magic’s, Bird’s, or Barkley’s? Hurley said “let me put it like this-when Coach Daly wants to put in a new play, he simply shows it to Magic, then sends him back on the floor. Magic then brings the play to life with the 4 other players, WHILE WE’RE PLAYING DEFENSE!”. Magic simply took the reigns of the team that summer, and everyone trusted him completely. They knew he was all about winning, and getting the ball to the player in the best position to score. We all know the results of that Olympics, but do you know who led that team in scoring? It wasn’t MJ (who finished 2^nd), but his buddy Barkley, who took 30 less shots but scored 25 more points. And Magic, a career 20ppg scorer in the NBA, scored just 8ppg to finish as the 10^th leading scorer. Magic’s selflessness and the trust the team and coaches had in him helped carry that team more than the talent they possessed.

 So who can provide that kind of trust and leadership this summer? The other day Lebron said “I'm trying to be a leader here. That's always me. You can ask some of the players here how good of a leader I am. I'm always gonna try to be a leader every time I step on the court”. Well, I don’t want to have to ask your teammates. I want them to say it themselves. I want to see it on the court. Would Lebron be willing to finish 2^nd on this team in scoring? How about 10^th? Wade has the calm demeanor and the Finals MVP trophy, but I’m not sure he will be allowed to assume that position. Our point guards, Hinrich, Paul, and Arenas, are all mega-talented but lack the “rings and things” a true lead guard at this level seems to need to lead.

 Our one big hope is that Coach K manufactures a trusting environment so that a leader can emerge from somewhere.  Leaders are not needed in easy wins, where Coach K’s own leadership can deliver terrific efforts from his players. In front of your own fans, making the extra pass and sprinting with a purpose comes easily, with the raucous cheering and positive vibes overwhelming every other vibe in the arena. It’s how we’ll react in crunch time, down a few points in the 4^th quarter, that has me concerned. Who will be willing to be the playmakers? Who will take the tough shots without fear of “what my teammates might think? Who will not complain with poor body language when he is not in the rotation in that 4^th quarter? After witnessing Game 5 of the NBA Finals in person, seeing D-Wade get 43 points after a poor first half, I believe he is the 3^rd best offensive player on the planet (behind Kobe and Dirk), and maybe he is one of the top 3 overall players. He has every right to be the absolute leader of this team. But will he grab the reigns like Magic did 14 years ago?

 Coach K is masterful at crafting team chemistry, in games, practices, and the overall environment.  I believe in him, and the talent this team possesses. I believe teams will struggle to defend us. I believe we’ll be better on defense and in transition than we have in the past. But I also believe we’ll need a leader to emerge to carry us through the game where our shooting is faulty and our opponents are hot. And I’m not sure I believe we’ll find one.

 

Podcast with thoughts on Team USA

Killer Crossover interview

podcast on the NBA

June 15, 2006

podcast discussing the NBA

Quick draft analysis

One year ago, Alexander Johnson came to Clearwater to engage in intense training in hopes of improving his overall play at Florida State.  At 255 lbs., he was a special athlete, though his skill set was average at best.  On the day he arrived he asked me one question.  "Coach, what do I have to do to be a first round pick next year?".  My answer surprised him.  He averaged only 6 ppg as a sophomore, struggling through a torn hamstring, so I know he expected me to say "score a bunch of points and grab a bunch of rebounds".  My answer, though, was far more simple.  "Win, and get FSU to the dance".  All season long, as we talked, I wrapped up my advice to him within the concept of helping his team win games and get to the NCAA tournament.  Playing on college basketball's biggest stage is the best way to ensure NBA teams that you can help their franchise win.  Want proof?  Check these numbers out from the draft last week:

24 American players were drafted in round one.  21 of them played for teams who made it to the NCAA's.  That is right-21 of 24, meaning 87.5% of the American first rounders played in the dance and 70% of all the first rounders.  But let's look even further into the numbers:

Of the top 17 players taken overall, 12 played in the Sweet 16 or better, 7 in the Elite 8 or better.
Which means that when we were watching the Sweet 16's in March, we saw 16 total 1st round picks, 12 of which got drafted in the top 17.  Add Joakim Noah and Al Horford to this mix(surefire lottery picks), Josh McRoberts as well, and you'd have 15 of the top 20 players drafted having played in the Sweet 16.

Johnson lost 31 lbs last summer, worked out for 23 teams during this year's draft process, and in most cases played extremely well in those workouts.  But his team was upset in the first round of the ACC tournament, and lost their bid to the dance that day as well.  With it went AJ's best shot at going in round 1.  I'll have many players contact me this summer and fall asking me the same question AJ did last year.  And my answer will be the same.  Nothing helps your chances more than winning games and getting your team to the Dance.  Period.

HEAT and the Champ

6/21/06

 

It is hard to put into words my feelings about the HEAT winning it all last night, and Udonis playing such a key offensive role when it mattered most. 99% of the fans really do not understand just how unlikely it is that Haslem is a starter on a world championship team. Undersized, undrafted, and playing a role wholly foreign to him all his life, “Champ” ( I officially changed my nickname for him from ‘UD’ after last night) shattered the odds and the expectations in a meaningful way. And should prove to be an inspiration for many who’s dreams are not answered on draft night. By the way, I call him Champ now because he has played for the championship in 4 of his last 10 seasons. He won a Florida State Basketball Championship in both is junior and senior seasons at Miami High, lost in the NCAA title game his sophomore year at Florida(but scored 27 pts on 10-12 shooting) and now has a World Championship in his 3^rd year in the NBA. He is such a proven winner, and so mentally tough, that it is alarming he went undrafted 4 years ago. The NBA gets so caught up with size, as it relates to height, instead of of size as it relates to heart and effort. And that is what makes Champ so unique. His drive to win is so powerful. It really is a way of life for him. The more people doubt him, the hungrier he becomes. I really believe that he was so emotional after the game last night BECAUSE the rage inside of him simply had to melt-along with the doubters-and simply turned to tears. No one predicted he could, in 3 short years, become a deadly face-up player, a dominant rebounder and defensive player with a strong but lean body, and start at power forward for the World Champions. Nobody, that is, save him, his agent and trusted friend Jason Levien, and me. In the end, that is all that matters. When you dream big, surround yourself with people who love and believe in you, ignore the others, and start chasing. And trust me, you have not heard the last from Champ. He’ll be here this summer working to improve, shocking people next year with some new skills, and helping the HEAT defend their title. Remember, he and D-Wade are the only 2 guys who have played on their run from being a terrible team to 3 straight playoff trips and a title. Champ just turned 26. Wade is 24, and the newly crowned Finals MVP. They are tight friends, operating with similar heartbeats. What free agent wouldn’t want to play with them and live in South Beach? It was the Lakers and Celtics(and Sixers) in the early ‘80’s. Pistons in the late ‘80’s. Bulls in the 90’s. Then the Spurs. Now, all eyes are on Miami.

Draft musings

6/20/06

With the NBA finals and draft coming down to the wire, I find myself spending more and more time wondering…

 Why would the Bulls promise Tyrus Thomas at #2? Answer-they wouldn’t. It’s possible they have completed a trade that requires drafting him and then trading him, but since he only has worked out for Chicago and Portland(who were scheduled to see him again this week but Tyrus cancelled the trip), who else would make a trade sight unseen? It seems to me that Chicago would WANT TYRUS TO WORK OUT FOR OTHER TEAMS, so promising him and having him close down his workouts would be counterproductive. If he worked out for teams drafting 3-7, for example, and blew the roof off, then those teams would want to acquire Chicago’s pick. Then Paxson and co. would be in the driver’s seat.

 If JJ Redick played all year with a back problem, it’s scary to think what he’s capable of when healthy. If you are still unsure of how effective Redick can be in the NBA, watch the finals and see how rarely you see a player come off a screen firing from 20 feet of more. It is a hard, hard, shot to make consistently. And JJ made that shot countless times at Duke, often in crunch time. I promise you, that is rare.

 Why do people living here think the basketball world revolves around us? Why aren’t we proud of our efforts at exporting this beautiful game globally? Do the Scots feel shame at their lack of dominance at Golf? Guys like Hubie Brown and Bobby Knight spent hundreds of hours conducting clinics around the world. And the International Coaches listened. Plus, they’ve added their own wrinkles to the game. Eventually, Americans will grow up and realize that the pro leagues in places like Italy and Spain are better than any American college conference, by a long shot. What Bargnani has accomplished in Europe exceeds anything guys like Aldridge and Thomas have done(the other 2 bigs in this years draft going top 8). Risk is always there, but normally reserved for Europeans who have not played much. The same can be said for Amercian players. If Bargnani goes #1, it’s because he earned it playing against the best players in the world outside of the NBA.

 I wonder if Israel is ready for their first NBA player. I met him this weekend, and I will tell you that Yotam Halperin is for real. After studying hours of game film on him in April, I agreed to take him as a client, but since his season lasted until late last week, I’ve not had the pleasure of working with him on the court yet. I know he is a terrific shooter, extremely crafty with the ball, and a good athlete. He was the MVP of his Pro league in Slovenia(and his team won the league title), and led them in scoring and assists in the Euroleague. He is also the golden boy of Israeli hoops, the “Lebron James” if you will. He told that since he was a boy, dominating International competitions, he was always dubbed as the guy who would crack the NBA for Israel. At 6’5, he is big for a point guard, the position he most enjoys playing. He attended his first playoff game(and 2^nd NBA game ever) on Sunday-Game 5 of the Finals. Before the game, he was interviewed by Israeli tv and the media on the court. A true superstar! But during the game he sat with me and marveled at the performances of Wade and Terry. He was just like every other young man I’ve met over the years. Except he wasn’t. He literally carries the hopes of a basketball crazed nation on his shoulders, yet is a graceful and polished citizen in every respect. I was deeply impressed by Yotam, and from what I’ve heard about his 2 workouts in Phoenix and Washington, so too were the executives from those teams. And they liked him off the court too. Remember the name-Yotam Halperin-on draft night and beyond. You will see what I mean.

 

 

A number of NBA related topics covered here

Podcast discussing the draft

What happens at an NBA workout?

5/26/2006

Comments about the workout  process.

Download DraftProcess.mp3

don't cry for tubby

january 10, 2006

As I wrote about yesterday, even without some talented underclassmen who chose to play professionally this past summer, many of the top 25 teams in

America

are the same ones that are there every year. But there is one program that did lose one player, and had another suspended until yesterday, because of the lure of the NBA. That program, the Kentucky Wildcats, is a far cry from where they’ve been the past decade. In the last 10 days, they’ve beaten Central Florida by 2 points (in Rupp!), lost by a record number of points at an unranked

Kansas

team, and lost at home to Vanderbilt for the first time in 29 years. That, my friends, is a bad week. Maybe not for a lot of teams, but for

Kentucky

, it is a sign of almost biblical proportions.

 

As their fans and many in the media are jumping all over their coach, Tubby Smith, and screaming about how far that program has fallen, let me try to provide a voice of reason amidst this sea of disarray. There is no man, repeat-no man, who is more capable of getting that team back on track than their current leader, Coach Smith. He exemplifies what is best about college sports, about mentoring young people and helping them achieve to their highest potential. He is the type of coach who, as they say in the south, “can take his’n and beat your’n, or take your’n and beat his’n”. That they have struggled this year only means that he has not yet figured out how to win consistently with the players he has. The key words in that sentence are “yet”, and “consistent”, because even with a makeshift lineup, they have beaten two ranked teams,

Louisville

by 12 and at

West Virginia

by 14. With Randolph Morris back in action, Coach Smith will begin the process of building his team into a consistent performer, as he always has in the past. His teams always defend as if they are protecting their own homes, and rebound like the ball is made of gold. Now he just has to figure out how to get his shooters to shoot it straight, and that will open up his inside game.

 

By March, do not be surprised if

Kentucky

is making a run for glory. My dictionary defines leadership as “breathing spirit into the hearts and minds of others”. I think there is no finer leader in college today than Coach Smith, and you can bank on him breathing some spirit into the Big Blue real soon.

losing players to the nba

January 9, 2006

What do Connecticut, Illinois, Memphis, Indiana, and Florida’s basketball team all have in common? Yes, they are all coached by men with Final 4 experience. Yes, they represent big schools, big conferences, and “rich” programs. What else? How about this-they all lost at least one underclassmen to the NBA this past June, AND they are all currently ranked nationally in the top 10.

 

Can you believe it? With all of the crying and screaming from some talking heads and print writers about the devastation to the game and their teams caused by these “selfish” players, you’d think a team who loses a player to the NBA would struggle to just win a few games. Of course, we all know how ridiculous that is, with my list being the latest evidence of that. So why do people say and write these histrionic things, when they know how absurd the argument is. And don’t tell me they don’t know that most solid programs survive a player leaving early. The evidence is overwhelming. Take last year, for instance. Do you remember how good the following teams were: Duke, Connecticut, Louisville, North Carolina, Wisconsin, and Arizona? All finished in the Top 15, 2 made the Final 4, yet they lost a combined 7 players to the NBA draft the previous June. It’s not just the hi-major teams that can survive, even improve, after they lose underclassmen. Nevada lost Kirk Snyder in 2004, and are 36 and 10 without him.
The same thing happens every year. Players decide to take their game to another level(NBA, D-league, Europe), most media people go crazy about how wrong it is and how much it will hurt their team, then the teams start practicing and new players get their chance to shine. In most cases, these players fill in ably, their teammates get more chances to shine, and the team keeps right on winning. There is an ample supply of talented players that go to college, but a limited number of spots on the floor for each team. A player leaving early means another player gets his chance. If Sebastion Telfair had ignored the money and job opportunity and attended Louisville, would Taquan Dean be having the impact he’s having? Had Matt Walsh stayed in Gainesville, would Corey Brewer be leading his team in scoring? Would you know the names of ANY of North Carolina’s new players had they not lost their 3 underclassmen?
College basketball, and it’s supporters, should allow young people to make career decisions absent of silly, sometimes mean-spirited, criticisms. We should treat underclassmen leaving as we do seniors-with a smile and a thank you and a “who’s next” call. It is very “American” to pursue your dream on your own timetable, not someone else’s. And with loss comes opportunity. Check out our NBA draft partners at www.draftexpress.com and look at their current mock draft for 2006. You’ll see a bunch of top flight programs next to the names of underclassmen they project to be 1^st round picks this summer. Remember those teams, because in all likelihood you’ll be watching them compete for a national title next year with some young and talented players-they’ll just have different names on the backs of their jerseys.

florida gators

January 5, 2006

Before I get into the heart of this column today, let me preface my comments by warning you that I bleed orange and blue. Yes, I’m a native Floridian and have a mother, a sister, and 2 brothers who, along with myself have at least 1 degree from the

University

of

Florida

. I’ve been watching their hoops teams since the 1970’s, and even remember watching Reggie Hannah (who?) play against the mighty Kentucky Wildcats in Alligator Alley on my 10” black and white tv in my bedroom. I was there to watch them win their Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games in

Miami

, along with their Final 4 heartbreaker in that magical run of 1994. I was personal friends with players and coaches on that team, as well as that great 2000 team that lost in the title game. But I can honestly write that I’ve never enjoyed watching a

Florida

team more than this years version. In fact, thus far in 2006, they’ve been more fun to watch than any team in

America

.

 

I’m not predicting a national championship in this space, not yet anyway. And I enjoy friendships with many coaches around the country who I root for and enjoy watching. My guys at

Ohio

State

come to mind, as do the guys from (gasp!)

Florida

State

. But the Gators this year should not just be cheered for by their fans, but studied by coaches and players everywhere.

 

This years version of “Billy Ball” may be his best, and not because he lost 3 so called “selfish” players from last years team. In fact, I give great credit to that group, who won the schools first SEC Tournament title since, well, EVER!! That team finished strongly despite a poor outing in the round of 32, and this years team is picking right back up where they left off a year ago. I will write this, though; losing David Lee, Anthony Roberson, and Matt Walsh was a positive in that it means increased playing time for Corey Brewer, Joakim Noah, Al Horford, and Taurean Green. Simply put, they are a better team because those guys are better players than the previous ones. Lee’s success in the NBA proves his talent level is good, but Noah’s is better. So is Horford’s. Walsh is one of my all-time favorite Gators, but Brewer is better. Roberson was the 2^nd best shot-maker in college last year, but Green runs the offense far more efficiently.

 

The talent level of this team, with 3 clear-cut NBA players and the deepest post rotation in

America

, is why this team is so good. But it is their fire and spirit, taken from their leader, Billy Donovan, that makes this team SPECIAL, and so much fun to watch. They fly to the ball, they rebound with passion, and they share the ball. They literally play like they don’t care who gets the credit for a score, just as long as they score. 6 players on this team have 22 or more assists thus far this year- they lead the country in FG% because of that (and they have good shooters too!). They have an ultra-modern coach who has this team playing classic old-school basketball. When you watch Duke play you can’t help but marvel at their 2 studs and some nice role players. But when you watch

Florida

play this year it’s like watching a well-synchronized dance routine. You will find yourself commenting over and over, “that is beautiful basketball”.

 

The challenge, as Coach Donovan knows well, is to keep his guys playing that way as the media spotlight gets brighter and brighter. That, and avoiding an injury to any of his 3 perimeter starters. If this team stays healthy, and humble, they have a real chance at one-upping both the 1994 and 2000 teams and bringing a championship trophy to

Gainesville

.

How important are NBA workouts?

5/25/2006

With the lottery activity completed, the NBA draft really begins to pick up steam now.  Rumours run rampant, the media chases down each one of them, and everyone loving the NBA is left wondering "who is my team really going to draft?".  That answer may be different every day between now and June 28, but there is one constant that truly has an impact at all levels of the draft process. 

The NBA workouts.

Every team hosts them, some more than others.  And many agents host their own, inviting teams and sometimes the media to come and admire their players' talents.  Some teams bring in many players between May 1 and the draft-I had one team tell me the other day that they brought in 60 players last year, while others look at far fewer players.  The teams' number of draft picks has some influence on all of this, as does their draft positioning. The Denver Nuggets, for example, will not be expected to bring in many guys because they do not have a first round pick.  So even though K-Mart seems a likely trade candidate, and could indeed bring a first round pick in 2006, many agents of potential first rounders will fear sending their players to Denver because of their belief that NBA GM's will hear about who showed up in Denver and make the assumption that their player will be rated as a "second round guy".  Seems crazy, right?  But it's true.  Since the draft is so mired in secrecy, no one really knows who is bluffing and who is holding pocket aces.  Personally, I like dealing with agents and players who have a firm belief in themselves and want to show teams what they are made of.  Certainly I train them to do just that. 

Though there is lots of hype and mystery behind the draft and the workouts, there is no denying the significance of these gatherings.  Chris Wilcox outplays Amare Stoudemire in LA and gets drafted ahead of him.  Penny Hardaway puts up a legendary effort in front of the Magic and gets them to trade for him with their #1 pick C-Web.  Personally, I've seen what a great workout can do for a draft pick, 2 years in a row.

In 2004, one of my players, Kevin Martin, was considered a longshot for the 2nd round.  None other than Marty Blake, the NBA guru, called Martin's decision to pull out of the Chicago
pre-draft camp "a horrific mistake".  But we knew something he did not know; Martin was wowing NBA execs, who were telling us that he is a definite first round talent.  The only question was-who would pull the trigger and make him the only mid-major player to go in round 1.  After the pre-draft camp, Kevin flew to Sacramento to work out for the Kings.  That night, we got the word that Kevin was phenomenal in the workout.  GM Geoff Petrie loved his talent and upside.  After the draft, when Kevin became the 26th pick of the first round for the Kings, we found out just how phenomenal he was.  Petrie told me that they chart every shot a player shoots, from warm-ups to the 1 on 1 games.  Kevin shot an eye-popping 83%!!  Even better than the previous record holder for Kings' workouts, some guy named Peja.  Add Kevin's amazing quickness and 42 inch vertical, and you've got yourself a first round draft pick.  I think Kevin's play this year when Bonzi went down justified Petrie's selection, and his future looks very bright.

Last year, we had a similar situation with Orien Greene, who as a senior point guard at a small school shot only 28% from 3 and was not invited to Portsmouth or Chicago for the pre-draft camps.  But having known Greene for 7 years, I knew what he was capable of in an NBA workout.  We trained hard at improving his shooting mechanics and ball skills, and spent a  lot of time on his body and conditioning.  But after only 3 days with me, Danny Ainge wanted to see him.  Greene's agent, Jason Levien, agreed to send him as long as Ainge assured him of a return trip in a few weeks time so Greene could improve his game in between.  Green's first workout went ok, and finished with him running 21 full court sprints in 2 minutes-a very average performance. Almost a month later, Greene returned to Boston matched up with 2 likely first-round hopefuls, including Jarrett Jack. 

Boston had the #18 pick, plus picks at 51 and 53.  We told Orien that if he could crush Jack and the others, he would go a long way towards convincing Ainge that he can draft another position at #17 and still get a good player late in the 2nd round.  Greene called me after the workout from the airport and said "Mr. Ainge told me they would draft me at 53, so I guess I played great". He did, according to a conversation I had with Ainge last summer.  And he completed 26 full court sprints in 2 minutes, a huge improvement from his first effort, showing his willingness to work.  10 days later they drafted him at 53 after taking Gerald Green at 17, and Orien was in the Celtics rotation all season after beating out former first rounders Dan Dickau and Marcus Banks.

So when mock drafts in May are projecting your favorite player to go late in the 2nd round, keep in mind that a strong workout can make a huge impact on that projection.  And when ESPN or DraftExpress predict that Tyrus Thomas will go ahead of Lamarcus Aldridge, they do so knowing that either player can help or hurt his chances with how they perform in front of the NBA decision-makers.

Tomorrow-we'll tackle the question of "what really happens?".