Stream of Consciousness, Part I

Under Pressure is a great song, but not when you hear it twelve times in one night. Every commercial break … I enjoyed listening to Hubie Brown throughout the Association playoffs. Normally I want to mute the announcers but it turns out they aren’t that bad when they choose to make insightful comments … I also enjoyed watching the Spurs. Any player could learn a lot from Duncan’s post moves, Ginobli’s finesse (that left-handed drive, crossover/hesitation, explosion to the hoop, and dunk was exceptional), and the little things the supporting cast executes … For a while I thought the Spurs were going to blow it. I was dismayed by their defense against Detroit’s high rub in Game 6 (too passive) and concerned by Duncan’s scoreless streak in Game 7 (especially the missed dunk in the 3rd) but they pulled it together … The Spurs used a cute Stack End-Out to free a shooter from the 4/5 position in a low shot-clock situation.

New Coke

I finished a coaching journal in four months. Usually, the journals take a little longer to fill out. It seems like I really have a lot of ideas at the moment. All dressed up and nowhere to go, so to speak.

You can fall into a bit of a trap when you’re constrained to a wholly theoretical framework. I have confidence in these ideas, but I would like to see them on the court. Reality checks can be swift and harsh. For all I know, what I’ve been creating the last three months is the basketball equivalent of New Coke. Basketball isn’t a chess match between coaches; players have to go out and execute. What they execute plays a relatively small role in the outcome compared to how they execute it.

I made a presentation at the National Coaching Institute regarding positive changes I have made to my coaching style. The presentation was well-received and I appreciated everyone’s feedback. Making these changes - and knowing there are more changes I can’t wait to make when I coach again - has really reinvigorated my enthusiasm for coaching. Yet here I am.

Sport=Art

When you play sports, you are the work of art. The show is ongoing; there is always another chance to perform. You can always improve what you have to offer.

Play sports for fun but take advantage of the opportunity to set new personal bests. Push yourselves and push your team-mates to get better. Don't set low expectations; don't expect to finish last.

Seriously, I was an athletics banquet and “at least we didn't finish last” was a refrain. Anyone can do better than last. I could take up any sport tomorrow and finish last (or better). If it were my first time playing that sport or I could see that at that time, that was where my abilities stood relative to my competitors, I wouldn't beat myself up over it. But I have pride and I would try my hardest to improve my performance the next time.

Athletics, like any other extra-curricular activity, is part of a school's identity. Sports can be a powerful vehicle for student-athletes to achieve their self-actualization goals. Obviously, students go to school to learn so they should hit the books first. Afterwards, it's still important to learn how to be the best you can be.

As Albert Camus said, “There is in this world beauty and there are the humiliated. We must strive, hard as it is, not to be unfaithful to the one or the other.”

Do your best, no matter what the activity. Do it for yourself, your teammates, and the person you want to become. Determine what you want and take steps to get it. You're accountable to yourself and each other. This isn't easy but the rewards are worth it. Set the example.

Go Figure

Phil's back in LA. Go figure. As Red Auerbach said, “Never take anything for granted in basketball or any other sport. Anything you think can’t possibly happen not only can happen but probably will happen.”

After writing The Last Season, I’m mildly surprised that Jackson accepted with the Lakers job. How can Jackson regain his integrity after airing a season’s worth of dirty laundry in print? Like the book, taking a $10M/year (or whatever) deal from the Lakers amounts to a cash grab.

I have similar feelings about Larry Brown and the Cleveland Cavaliers job. It seems like Brown could be doing more to keep his eye on the ball and help the Pistons.

In the end, it is by your actions that you shall be known. Larry Brown has a reputation that precedes him. As Adrian Wojnarowski wrote on ESPN.com, “No pupil has ever come closer to Dean Smith's genius on the floor, and gone further from his character off it.”

Larry Brown and Phil Jackson are not the only ones who demonstrate less than exemplary behaviour. You have to watch out yourself, especially in the coaching profession. I wish I was smart enough to handle all the political games that are part the profession these days but I’m also glad that I steer clear of them.

In The Maltese Falcon, Kaspar Gutman toasts Philip Marlowe: “Here’s to plain speaking and clear understanding.” There’s merit in that phrase. The short-term hit you take if you stand up for yourself can be aggravating, demeaning, unpleasant, or all of the above, but you are much better in the long-term if you remain true to your principles.

It’s perhaps a tad clichéd for a basketball coach to read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance due to the Phil Jackson connection. The book was recommended twice to me by someone I respect highly so I’m giving it a read. As mentioned in Hoop Dreams, Jackson gave that book to John Paxson to read one season.