Re: another indictment

[Hironaka <j.hironaka@unesco.org>]

OzerskyJA wrote:

> I don't think that's the kind
> of guys they are, I don't think they hated Pitino (although they may have
> hated playing for him), and I don't think any of them would ever, ever
> admit to something that damaging in a casual aside to an opposing player.
> As tommy heinsohn would say, "gimme a break!"

Statistically speaking, the Celtics "quit on Pitino" not versus Golden State but
two or three years ago when they first began giving up a .470FG percentage in
this league. I think the Pitino exit spin is understandable but a bit too
self-serving and contrary to the facts.

As for a team's best all-around players, I not only want them to get more
touches, I want them to WANT to get more touches. As Kestas says, it is a
players game. If a Celtics forward can turn more touches into 20 points and 10
assists per game, give him the damn ball.

I know the old "it's a players league" comment is commonly highly pejorative
because it seems to go directly against the established logic, order and
hierarchy of things. But in a man-defense league where athleticism rules, I
honestly believe players in a unique way absorb and understand the ins-and-outs
and momentum shifts and whats working on the court and so forth during actual
games. That is to say, a good player might well have more basketball
"intelligence" and judgement on the court than would coach Pitino and his high
volume sideline commentary.  Look around and there is hardly a coach in the
league that shouts and screams on the bench once the game starts, because it
seems so obviously counterproductive and frankly looks so immature, to the
degree that the coach just can't get enough of the sound of his voice and/or
seems unwilling to cede control or the spotlight to his players for even a
minute. Pitino is by no means a horrible human being, and he remains a great
coach and strategist, but his approach to the NBA gave the impression he was a
control freak who put his system above situations on the court.

It seems clear to me that many successful coaches merely give their team
practical and absorbable scouting info, teach and effectively stress
fundamentals and situational things in structured practices, and then just let
the players go out and play, gel and improve during games. You save the shouting
and instruction for the lockerroom and the next day's practice. IMO you
obviously don't need to be any kind of pushover to any of your players in order
to successfully apply that formula. That's the key and it is doable.. Bird did
it, KC did it, Doc did it, the Zen meister and now Obiewon does it too. Players
need to know that their coach has seen all the same things on an NBA court that
you see, and has the sense to know that a player's on-court instincts are often
correct and shouldn't me messed with. It's just common sense. I'm a lousy pickup
player, but shout non-stop instructions from the sidelines at me and I guarantee
you I'll play even 20% worse and lose all court sense or feel for the game.

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