In practice, teammates should push each other constantly. During games teams should remain focused. A sad scene transpired during Toronto’s last exhibition game against Chicago. The Bulls held a ten point lead and had just called the games final automatic timeout. During the timeout, Chicago was immensely attentive, huddled around coach Tom Thibodeau as he reviewed some tactic or strategy. The team could have relaxed as they held the advantage but they chose to remain focused, because that is the behaviour that they will need to succeed in the playoffs.
Movement
When a squad is outmatched, they need to play the game better than the opponent. The simplest way to do so is to create continuous movement: not only the ball but the people on the court as well. When C.S.K.A. Moscow led the Toronto Raptors at halftime during a 2008 exhibition game, it was not entirely due to the Raptors’ poor skill level; the Euroleague Champions Cup holders never stopped moving. The patterns were simple but ceaseless (flex, pass/screen away, and other basic sets). C.S.K.A. ran their offence throughout the shot clock until Toronto committed an error. On the pick-up …
Sport Management
Having recently read two books written by former General Managers – The Road to Hockeytown by Jimmy Devellano and The Inside Game by Wayne Embry – I have been pondering the importance of clear direction in sport. Whether it is the entire organization or specific individuals, integrity is as important as talent. Teams that change course every off-season are at a disadvantage relative to those who can commit to a strategic plan. Devellano built the Red Wings from a last place finish in to a four time Stanley Cup winner by the turn of the century. He stayed true to …
The Decision
Miami compiled their trifecta of superstars and boasts high hopes for the next six years. Certainly, the concept of three top players has worked in the past, on both a short (Boston 2008: Allen, Pierce, Garnett and Philadelphia 1983: Malone, Erving, Toney) and long-term (Boston 1980s: Bird, McHale, Parrish and San Antonio 2000s: Duncan, Ginboli, Parker) basis. The concept of elite trios has also fallen short just as frequently (Los Angeles 1970s: West, Chamberlain, Baylor and 2004 Minnesota: Garnett, Spreewell, Cassells). While the transactions of July 8th will give the Heat a very strong chance, it is no guarantee. There …
Ed Davis and the Off-Season
It is difficult to feel excitement for an Association draft pick outside the top ten. The Toronto Raptors were merely presently surprised that Ed Davis dropped to the thirteenth spot in the lottery. Davis could fit in nicely, replacing U.F.A. Amir Johnson in a bench role and contributing rebounding and defence to a team that sorely needed it down the stretch. However, if the team does not retain Chris Bosh and Davis must start, it will be a disastrous downgrade. Davis has some post moves but he lacks the variety of manoeuvres and the outside shooting to be effective at …
Post-Game 7 (2010) Thoughts
The Lakers may have played a poor game, Kobe Bryant may have forced too many bad shots, and Pau Gasol taken too many fadeaways. For forty minutes, Ron Artest may have kept Los Angeles in the game with key plays (despite how unlikely that may have seemed based on his play throughout the season). But when it counted, the Lakers got to the line, found the open shooter, and made clutch baskets. Whatever happened earlier in the game – and it was terribly ugly – is irrelevant now. Like the Portland Trail Blazers in 2000, the Boston Celtics blew a …
Pre-Game 7 (2010) Thoughts
Association Finals have proved anticlimactic in recent memory; even the Spurs-Pistons and Rockets-Knicks series that went the distance were tedious and tiresome. Yet I have higher hopes for tonight’s game between the Lakers and Celtics. None of the games in the series so far have been truly exciting. There have been excellent individual performances but no true back-and-forth battles between equal squads, like the 1984 or 1969 Finals. The series has been a disappointment but the increase in intensity shown in Game 6 offers a chance for redemption tonight. Both teams are banged up but others stepped forward, especially the …
Stream of Consciousness, Part VI
According to ESPN.com, Doc Rivers’ run onto the court to call timeout before an eight-second violation was a critical moment of Game 2 (Forsberg, 2010). Certainly, it was an alert manoeuvre that saved a possession but why didn’t any of the players call timeout first? All five Celtics on the court abdicated leadership by doing nothing, like the Orlando Magic did in their series in the Conference Finals (J.J. Redick dribbled the ball up the court instead of calling timeout; Vince Carter had the attention of the referee but used the opportunity to raise his arms and complain about a …
Phoenix Actually Has a Good Chance
Pundits have made the Lakers favourites ahead of the Suns in the 2010 Western Conference Finals but I do not think that Phoenix’s predicament is as dire as it first seems. One of the main arguments in favour of Los Angeles is the matchups in the paint. In previous years, the Suns had lost because other teams outmanned them in the paint but I don’t think the matchups are that unfavourable. Phoenix boasts a playoff defensive rebounding percentage of .757, compared to .717 for the Lakers. While San Antonio and Portland do not have an elite post rotation like Bynum, …
When the Game Was Ours
Over the years, the game of basketball has greatly changed. Whether it is an evolution or not has yet to be determined. Although it contains plenty of anecdotes about its two co-authors, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, the most interesting aspect of When the Game Was Ours is the contrast between basketball in the 1980s relative to the game today. In addition to new Association rules, players have different attitudes today. Less emphasis is placed on winning. Firstly, it’s unlikely that we will ever see teams with multiple hall of famers like the mid-1980s Los Angeles Lakers (four) and Boston …
Blue Devils and Raptors
I like ball movement. I like player movement. I even like it more when the two coincide. I like the Duke Blue Devils. I like the Toronto Raptors. So the twenty-four hour period that began at 21h00 on Saturday night contained both highs and lows. There was one primary reason that Duke beat West Virginia in the National Semi-Finals: motion. Golden State beat Toronto Sunday afternoon for the same reason: motion. I like motion.
Making Better Decisions
When a crisis occurs during the year, the players are ultimately responsible for the resolution. Coaches can recommend actions but players must execute these actions. Sometimes, the players must pull themselves together and move forward on their own. Adversity occurs during every minute of every game and practice: there are always battles between you and an opponent (or you and yourself) that present opportunities to set a personal best. Adversity also occurs every day of your life. How we make decisions under pressure decides how we handle adversity. Decisions made under pressure in sport will recur under pressure in daily …
Los Angeles 109, Toronto 107
Coming down the stretch of the Lakers’ 109-107 victory over the Raptors Tuesday night, it was easily apparent which team was more accustomed to the pressure of a close game. Los Angeles was able to take high percentage shots more consistently and get to the line more frequently than their opponent. Toronto was unable to take advantage of the bonus free throws to which they were entitled and made several questionable turnovers. Furthermore, when Lakers defenders squeezed Raptors guards, teammates seemed frozen on the spot and timeouts were required to save the possession. Jarrett Jack had to bail himself out …
Play Your Game
Too many times athletes lose sight of the big picture and become distracted. It doesn’t matter if Amy Van Dyken spits in your lane, Martins Dukurs lays down three great skeleton runs before you, or another team seeking home court advantage wins their final game by a large margin, you can only do your best. Keep your eyes on the prize and win. The rest will take care of itself. Don’t become consumed with anger, fear, or doubt; don’t let an imbalance of noradrenaline, adrenaline, adrenocorticotropic, or corticotrophin take you out of your zone. Focus on what simple actions must …
My 300th Blog Post Extravaganza
Watching the Raptors 106-105 win over the Lakers on Sunday it is clear that there are two sides to the team. There is the meek Dr. Jekyll, who settles for outside shots and may not always box out, and the aggressive Mr. Hyde, who gets to the line and contests opponents’ shots. Dr. Jekyll may shoot early in the shot clock or out of the team offence whereas Mr. Hyde is more focus and resolute. More importantly, Mr. Hyde seems to come out on the winning end more than his daytime alter-ego. Why do they need to wait until halftime …
Carleton, Again
It is a daunting task to face the Carleton Ravens not only because of their physical abilities but due to their mental tenacity. Recovering loose balls. Taking charges. Tipping passes. Boxing out. Hitting the floor. Following shots. Talking. Refusing to give up. A post player following his own miss. A point guard stepping in front of a forward to protect the basket. The team is technically skilled and obviously practices diligently. They can take a small opening and use it to break down the door. The game may be close for one moment and a blowout minutes later. The opponent …