Re: On Bird & Pitino

[Kevin Lok <kevin.lok@lycosmail.com>]

> Date: Thu, 10 Feb 2000 15:30:32 -0500
> From: "Niles, Shawn" <SNiles@vanderweil.com>
> Subject: RE: On Bird & Pitino
>
> Anyone who thinks Bird is a great coach probably just thinks that
> because of
> the love affair with Bird of the eighties. Just because Bird was
> a great
> player, some people feel that automatically makes him a great
> coach. Wrong.The Celtics would not be any better off right now if
> they had Bird instead of Pitino.

Sorry Shawn,
After I read the above paragraph, I did not bother reading further
(sorry, nothing personal).
my personal motto is always "work (to the limits) with what you
have/given, then upgrade"
3 years ago, when Bird took the job, Red said he was crazy to want
to be a NBA coach. Everybody said he inherited a aging team. ok,
ok, lets not talk about personnel, cos he got a former  Rookie of
the year (M Jackson), all star (Smits), big time players, etc etc.

But did you see the Pacers growing as a team together during Bird's
tenure? After/during Bird's 1st season, the players say they like
Bird's style, which is to let them play (read: being independent
and autonomous, another read: no need to look over your shoulders
for instructions shouted at you). The players say it suits them
better than the previous coach (I can't recall who, was it Larry
Brown or Bob Hill?) So what if the Pacers got deep into the
playoffs, it was due  to the caliber of the players
Bird inherited from the beginning, right? Bird got nothing to do
with it.

There was this lock out and without any contacts allowed between
players and managment, what the Pacers players do? they stay closed
and trained together. Our Antione Walker came in after the lock out
overweight, and the rest of the team were huffing and puffing
throughout the shortened season. (Have you seen the latest remark
from Pitino about the all-star break - 4-5days- and he said
something like he can not trust our young guys to stay in shape.
and that's why he got to have extra sessions)

After the 2nd, Bird LET the decision to return to coach up to the
players. Those guys wanted Bird back, they had a very good season,
and most importantly they had the FUN back.

The Flakers before and after Phil Jackson, basically same team, but
they are playing better ball with the arrival of the Zen master.
Look at Orlando Magic, everybody is new to everybody, yet they are
playing hard and together.

You work with what you have.

I saw magic played pacers and it was quite a close game till the
end. I don't see Doc Rivers panicky, shouting out the last play.
But they pulled out a win. Doc let them played. Even no-brand
players like Amechi can play tough. I saw this sequence where
Magette after committing a foul, walk to the sidelines and Doc
wispers things into his ear. I must stress that Magette walk to
Doc, not Doc called Magette to him!

Bird/Zen/Doc coaches. Pitino gives instructions.

I think the Pacers/FlkersMagic players all want to play to win -
for themselves, for the team and most importantly - more for their
coach. They want to play for Bird/Zen/Doc.