What the issue of trading means to some coaches

Sometimes it pays to make things work between a player and a coach.

Take for example the Chris Webber and Head Coach Don Nelson fiasco awhile back in GSW. Sure, Nellie is back as their Head Coach, but he no longer wields the administrative powers that he once did. As for Webber, well...let's just say that http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifthe sun has certainly set on his career.

Now what do some coaches think?

Philadelphia Daily News Phil Jasner wrote:

"I'm not in the business of wanting to trade players. I think it's better that they get a chance to learn each other," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said.

"We make mistakes with that. That's coaching. The game of basketball is a game of mistakes. Usually, the team that makes the fewest has a chance to win."

Sloan also told this story: "When I was in Chicago, they once traded a player for money. Coach [Dick] Motta took out a $1 bill and threw it on the court. He said, 'Money can't rebound for me.'

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Coach Tex Winter shares his thoughts on Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum

Not long after the Los Angeles Lakers captured their first championship (1999-2000) since the 1988 season, Fred "Tex" Winter, the father of the triple-post offense (better known as the "triangle offense"), visited Manila, Philippines for a series of lectures and business seminars. It was the first time I had the opportunity to meet Coach Winter, the architect of the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers fabled Triangle Offense.

At 78, Winter executed "jump stops" as he would go about the intricacies of his offense. His insight was refreshing and it will always be an experience that I will cherish.

Now seven years later, at the age of 85, Coach Winter is still going strong despite his recurring bouts with shingles. Winter (who is Michael Jordan's longest tenured coach -- 13 years) is scheduled to take his place at the Los Angles Lakers bench, where he has served as an assistant coach since 1999-2000.

Recently, author Roland Lazenby interviewed Coach Winter and the latter had this to say about Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant and the young Andrew Bynum.

Lazenby wrote:

"It’s time for Bryant to realize that being a Los Angeles Laker is the best possible situation for him, time for him to stop pushing for a trade, offered Winter, who over the years has been a mentor to both Lakers coach Phil Jackson and to Bryant himself.

“He should just play basketball where he is,” Winter said. “Los Angeles is a good spot for Kobe.”

Winter has expressed admiration for the Chicago Bulls and their talented young roster, but he never saw Bryant as a good fit there.

“Frankly, I’m not sure how much he’d be able to help that club,” Winter said.


Bryant is simply the best triangle player, born for it, with his mix of physical ability, smarts and work ethic.

“And he knows it,” Winter said. “I wish he would concentrate on playing the game and making his teammates better and not worry about all this other stuff.”

In quiet, low-key ways, Bryant has perhaps moved into the mode that Winter hopes he’ll take. He had effusive praise this week for the work ethic of Andrew Bynum, the young Lakers center who just months ago Bryant had targeted as trade bait. And Bryant has certainly played within the offense and in tune with his teammates in the early going this season.

“He’s trying to do what’s right,” Winter said of Bryant. “He’s certainly working at it. Defensively he’s improved. He’s trying to get better at off-the-ball defense. He’s always been very good as an on-ball defender.”

And Bryant certainly retains his titanium grade confidence, Winter said with a chuckle.

“He hasn’t shot the ball well yet, but that’s not a concern with Kobe. He’s not concerned about anything as far as his play is concerned. He thinks he’s fine, thinks he’s the greatest. Phil has made that remark to him, trying to point out things about his game. But Kobe doesn’t worry. He’s something. He’s got tremendous confidence. That confidence is a key part of who he is.”

So, what is the key for Bryant and this young Lakers team in terms of becoming one of those great triangle teams? As always, it’s execution.

And execution also follows the familiar path: Fundamentals, and more fundamentals. That’s why Jordan and Pippen were so dedicated to working on all the little things in each Bulls practice, passing, cutting, running through the numerous drills that Winter has devised over the years for making players into effective triangle components.

It also means the Lakers need to take on more of a retro Bulls look.

“Remember all the third cutter looks we used to get with Horace Grant?” Winter asked. “Or what about the baseline cuts we used to get with Pippen and Jordan?”

The recent Lakers teams have gotten those passes every once in a while, but the key is their big men, Winter said.

“Their game is not passing; it’s trying to score.”

Whereas the Bulls’ centers were great at finding a Jordan or a Pippen along the baseline, the Lakers centers haven’t shown great effectiveness there. The one center who has potential as a passer is the young Bynum, Winter said.

“He does the best job of the three at seeing the cutter. The centers have to recognize that if the cutter’s not open, someone else will be. They need to get the ball back out and keep the offense moving.”

Tex Winter is certainly one of the best at what he does.

I wish him well and hopes that he stays involved in the game of basketball for many more years to come!

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Ben Wallace: End of the Road?

Looking beyond the tattoos. Looking farther than the cornrows.

I idolize Ben Wallace.

Fueled by the disrespect (Back in 96', the Washington Wizards gave him jersey #30 out of convenience since they had just traded Rasheed Wallace (#30) to the Portland Trailblazers for point guard Rod Strickland). Driven to succeed (undrafted out of Virginia Union).

Ben Wallace has always been a fighter.

The only NBA player in history to record 1,000 rebounds, 100 blocks, and 100 steals in 4 consecutive seasons (2001-04). One of three players to amass 150 blocks and 100 steals in 7 consecutive seasons (2001-07). Led the "L" in rebounding and blocking averages in the same season. One of three in NBA history to average 15 rebounds and 3 blocks per game over a season.

Ben Wallace is a picture of consistency.

4 Defensive Player of the Year Awards. Only undrafted player in NBA history to be voted a starter for the NBA All-Star Game. NBA Champion.

Ben Wallace has achieved every player's ultimate goal.

What about now?

Is "Big Ben" still as driven after signing for $60 million two summers ago?

Ben's hurt, I know. But...

The statistics never lie...


07'-08' Statistical averages through 5 games
Games: 5
Minutes: 28.23
Points: 4.2
FG% 32.1
FT% 27.3
Rebounds: 4.8
Assists: 1.4
Turnovers: 1.2
Steals: 0.6
Blocks: 1.2
Fouls: 2.0

Question?

Has Ben's negatives (point production, atrocious FG and FT percentages) finally outweighed the positives (e.g., astounding rebounds, steals, blocks)?

Only time will tell...but I am still hoping for the best...

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How trading for Kobe Bryant would hit your pocket

Columnist for the Detroit News, Rob Parker shared recently that he believes that if the Los Angeles Lakers are going to get "maximum value" for NBA All-Star Kobe Bryant, there is no time better than the present. Parker adds that a deal involving the Los Angeles Lakers superstar could be in the works "by Wednesday" (the 31st of October).

Kobe Bryant as a Maverick? A Piston? A Bull? Anything is possible in the NBA, as long as all parties are willing to make the financial numbers work. The centerpiece of this arrangement is of course Bryant, who holds "all the cards," due to the "no trade clause" provision in his contract.

But how about the financial complications?

New York Post columnist, Peter Vecsey sheds some light on the subject:

Attracted suitors have enormous economic decisions to ponder. Bryant is owed $19.5 million, $21.3M, $23M and $24.8M (I'm simplifying the numbers) and owns an out after next season.

Kevin Garnett's agent squeezed the Celtics for $16.4M, $18.8M, $21.2M in return for the surrender of his escape clause. Bryant's demands figure to dwarf that. Should the suitor not capitulate, there can't be a deal. It's doubtful any team would give up quality, if not its franchise player, with no assurance Bryant will stay beyond the next two seasons.

Oh, yeah, and then there's Bryant's trade kicker. Should he waive his early out, that means he's on the books for four seasons and that entitles him to an extra $11M in one lump sum.

Is Kobe Bryant then worth the future of whatever franchise would acquire his services?

The Pistons and Mavericks don't think so. The Bulls would consider it as long as it doesn't include rising forward Luol Deng.

Maybe another "brave" or "foolish" team would be willing to step up to the plate.

Welcome to the 07'-08' season folks! Enjoy the ride!

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Another day in the life of an NBA rookie

A couple of years ago, I saw an NBA Training Camp segment wherein several NBA veteran would punt basketballs into the bleachers section of their practice facility and shout to their rookies, “go get em’ rook!” Needless to say, the veterans couldn’t stop laughing as the rookies scampered up a flight of stairs to retrieve the leather basketballs.

Recently, Chicago Tribune staff reporter K.C. Johnson, (http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/cs-071008bullsbits,1,6391472.story) wrote about another classic initiation story involving donuts.

“(Ben) Gordon said he took Joakim Noah's per diem for failing his rookie responsibilities and bringing Dunkin' Donuts to practice and not Krispy Kreme.

"Dunkin' Donuts are very good," Gordon said. "It's just the majority prefer Krispy Kreme. It's not even about the taste. Krispy Kreme is farther away to give the rookies more trouble."”

Interesting. But I think what point guard Jose Manuel Calderon had to go through several years ago as a rookie was far worse—being made to wear a Dora the Explorer backpack for home games.

Now nothing beats that :)

When Nothing Else Matters (Hardcover)

Category: Books
Genre: Biographies & Memoirs
Author: Michael Leahy

Published in 2004, author Michael Leahy shares his experiences during Michael Jordan's last comeback to the National Basketball Association.

Leahy's potrayal of Jordan showed a different side of the basketball legend which is not normally seen in the eyes of the public. Jordan, the "the most marketed player in the history of the NBA," was finally..."mortal" and did go through the same trials and tribulations (from a heightened perspective) that we all go through at some point in our lives. Leahy accounts the days wherein Jordan was at his best and would score 35 points over the span of several games to the days wherein he wasn't unstoppable and hit his career lows of 8 and 2 points respectively.

What stood out for me was Jordan's lambasting of players who didn't play up to his standards. Leahy quotes Jordan on numerous occasions wherein he would lambast teammates. Coach Fred "Tex" Winter, an assistant with the Los Angeles Lakers and former assistant coach with the Chicago Bulls summed it up best, "you either work hard or Michael has no use for you."

But the one paragraph in Leahy's entire book which rocked my very foundation of emulating Michael Jordan was the following:

"His people had held him up as a man to be emulated, making Jordan more than a half-billion in endorsement dollars in the process...he had raised the bar on his behavior during 17 years of unremitting self-promotion, in campaigns approved by the Jordan camp and coordinated by Nike and other corporate sponsors that elevated him from great athlete to hero and, finally, to moral symbol.

...when you present yourself as virtuous in years of ad campaigns and TV commercials, you will be fairly held in time to that standard. Fairly held because uou have sold your basketball shoes to people plunking down in excess of $100 not merely for a chance at better Ups but for a way to rub up against your aura, to feel a tiny sense of you in that admittedly silly way people feel when they wish to emulate anybody, to be inspired by your class and elegance, your morality and grace, as they've heard it told. And if some of that was artifice, then so, too, was everything you sold with your likeness on it."

Disturbing but quite true, personally, I have seen myself on many occasions wanting to "be like Mike." I've bought the shoes, worn the clothes, gotten the cards, read the books...and it is only now I realized. What about me? Leahy's book showed me that. In the years that I have been collecting "Jordan" in order to be inspired, all I needed to do in the end was look in the mirror in order to be inspired.

This is a great book that puts any not only Michael Jordan's life in perspective but also that of your own, especially if you are a Jordan fan who has collected his paraphernalia over the years.

Steve Kerr and his contribution to the NBA

In this particular "The Pie Hole" internet column of ESPN's Dan Patrick in 2003 (http://espn.go.com/talent/danpatrick/s/2003/0603/1562404.html), he describes former NBA player Steve Kerr and his contribution to the game of basketball by "emphasizing the importance of preparation and attention to details and fundamentals."

The Pie Hole

Role Call

By Dan Patrick

Kerr is the ultimate role player who specializes in coming through in the clutch. He's the NBA's version of the designated hitter. His work ethic remains consistent regardless of how many minutes he's on the floor. And, according to Spurs assistant coach P.J. Carlesimo, the average guy doesn't work as hard as Kerr. His Game 6 performance vs. the Mavs spoke volumes to the younger players in terms of emphasizing the importance of preparation and attention to details and fundamentals.