Solutions and Proof

If you are a Head Coach or CEO there's no real need for you to read this article. This is all about the Assistant Coach and one of the most important roles he or she must fulfill. As a former Head Coach. I know what it's like to be in basketball seat. I also know that everyone out there can identify the problem, but very few come up with well thought out solutions. This is true on the court and in the corporate office.

I strongly encourage every assistant out there from this day forward to stop just telling the Head Coach the problems and complaining about what's not working; instead, put sustained thought and research into two areas: (1) proof and (2) solutions.

Proof: once you watch the film and identify the problem, that's when your job really begins. Example: we had an issue a few games ago with not moving the ball. We knew ball movement creates better shots and better chances for us to score. Identifying the problem was the easy part. Coming up with proof so that our players knew it was the truth was where my job really started. So I counted the number of passes thrown per possession and whether we scored on that possession. I was then able to give Doc (our Head Coach) stats that did not lie. Stats that he could use with our team to drive home the point that holding the ball hurts our offense -- that going 1-on-1 hurts our offense. He had the stats that showed we scored on only 36 % of the possessions in which we threw 2 or fewer passes and we scored on 61% of the possessions when we threw 3 or more passes. We knew the problem but I wanted to provide proof so that the players knew it was the truth.

It is my job as an Assistant to think about the problem and come up with ways I can help the Head Coach correct it. I am fortunate to be on a staff where every assistant understands the importance of such an exercise. We are simply all trying to make basketball job easier so that he can spend his time on the big things.

Solutions: it is our job as Assistants to provide solutions to any problem on or off the court. It could be a wrinkle to an existing play. It could be a better play that could give our post man a chance to catch the ball deeper. It could be a motivational idea, story, or quote that can inspire our team. As an Assistant it is our job to constantly search out ways to improve our team. We should never be in a position where our Head Coach has to ask us first. We should constantly be proactive in seeking solutions.

Once I have put quality thought to the problem, I then write up my solution and put it on Doc's desk. That way he can read it at his leisure and not waste any of his time having to discuss it with me first. I want him to have time to think about it before he talks to me about it. As an assistant we all have to understand that maybe only 1 in 10 solutions are actually implemented; but our job is to think of an 11th one. We have to keep thinking, keep analyzing, keep studying, keep reading. Our job is to help our Head Coach by providing solutions that may work, not just griping about problems.

Simply put, our job is to put sustained thought to how we can make our Head Coach successful. Our position is not about us. It is about doing everything we can to make the team and the guy we work for successful. You will be well on your way if you continually think about proof and solutions after each practice, each game, and about each player. Being an Assistant is not about self-promotion, personal agendas, or recognition. The best Assistants don't seek any of these but rather, they do their jobs and accolades naturally seem to follow them!

Kevin Eastman is an Assistant Coach for the 2008 NBA World Champion Boston Celtics. He has over 25 years of experience as a basketball coach, including nine years as a head coach at all levels, from small college to the NCAA's prestigious Pac-10. Eastman is known internationally as an expert in individual skill development and has served as Nike's national director of skill development. He is also a motivational speaker to sports and corporate teams.

The NBA's Slam Dunk!

Has anyone else noticed how much more attention the NBA is getting? The popularity of the games are noted in part by the fact that NBA sports gear flies off of the shelf and the racks as soon as it's put there! What used to basketball primarily a NFL or MLB gig has now become an NBA niche as well. There are more commercials with past and present NBA celebs (and they are usually basketball There are more home hosted NBA parties, which also used to be fairly reserved for MLB and Football.

NBA has always had fans. I'm not saying otherwise. It's just that the popularity of it seems to be growing and not just in the cities and states that have NBA teams. You might expect to see NBA gear in Los Angeles or Boston, but now you can find it in big supply in Kansas and Minnesota, North Carolina, Nebraska, simply put; everywhere! NBA is big and it's getting bigger. Men, women and children are all becoming more familiar with the names and faces of the NBA stars and are developing their own sports wardrobe which includes hats, tee-shirts, jerseys, and even accessories. Hey! Are those Reeboks in your closet? Collector's item Jordans perhaps? Sports are big business and for the NBA, that business is getting bigger.

There is more of a selection in the sports shops and they are beginning to feature even more NBA gear for everyone; women, children, men, young and old. It really is impressive to see the sports stores making more room for the much in demand NBA sportswear. It sure makes shopping at the sportswear stores more interesting

The NBA is no longer on the back burner in the sports realm. The reason it is becoming so popular is because so many women are now becoming interested in basketball. In years gone by, it was normally men who switched on the TV every time there was an NBA game on. Maybe its years of being subjected to the game or maybe it's something else, but women are beginning to love the game and the sportswear. Whatever the reason, manufacturers are now making NBA jackets, hats, jerseys and more aimed toward the female sports fan. It's about time!

Sports in general are big. Sports gear and sportswear are big. Not only the NBA, but every other sport and team with their own followers. Some are die-hard fans that own every piece of sports gear available. They also tend to have their homes decorated in their team's colors and have sprinklings of sports paraphernalia scattered about. It's all good. No matter what sport you enjoy it no doubt enhances your life. We take great pleasure from sports in the United States, as I know they do elsewhere in the world.

If you haven't checked out an NBA game recently, you may want to do so. Once you do you will probably become a big fan. Then you will just need to pick your favorite team and go shopping!

The impact of the NBA is huge and getting bigger by the day! Stay ahead of the crowd and check out the latest gear at colorsandstripes.com

NBA Offseason Player Movement

So far this summer player movement has been limited. Many small moves, and free agency itself didn't have the many stars like the ones on the market in the past or the ones going in 2010, but like always there were a few basketball got signed for a big deal, and not all signing back with there original team.

FREE AGENT SIGNING

The Philadelphia 76ers sign Elton Brand

Best move by any team so far. There bringing in a guy who averages 20.3 points and 10.2 rebounds for his career so far. He has a great low post game that is hard to defend, and look at the sixers line up now. We have Miller who is showing he can score but also make shots for his team, we have Andrea Iguodala who can aggressively attack the basket or just relay on his promising jump shot, the face of this franchise too, add Elton Brand to there PF position, who will add a more dangerous low post game and a guy who can also crash the boards, and put him next a guy like Dalembert down low, a guy who can do the dirty work and grab boards and block shots, this will be a hard team to beat.

L.A. Clippers sign Baron Davis

Nice move by the Clippers by Bringing in Davis, he can pass the ball, also has a great offensive game, and probably is the best defender to play his position. its a shame for Brand and Maggette to leave as they get him. Davis is now getting put on a team who doesn't have a lot of hope anymore, with only Davis, and young players like Al Thorton and there 7th pick Eric Gordon running there team, but since there getting rid of Maggette and Brand this basketball up a lot of salary space for them, so don't be surprised if they make a trade any time soon to bring in another talent to be with Davis.

Golden State Warriors sign Corey Maggette

Since loosing Davis, it got rid of a huge contract which they could just replace with another one, which they did, and signed Maggette. He really can add points to the score board and that will probably be his biggest contribution. making Maggette at small foward and Jackson at shooting guard will make the warriors a pure shooting team with no low post game. i was suprised they didnt try harder to bring in a talented point guard to replace Baron Davis's spot, i cant see Ellis running the point he reminds me of a larger and more talented Nate Robinson, quick to the hoop, can shoot the ball, but both too small to make a promising shooting guard. But also they didn't want to start Matt Barnes at Small forward, so they either had to go with a SF or PG and they went with Maggette.

Houston Rockets sign Brent Barry

This move got me thinking, they brought in a guy who's already seen the best of his years, and can really only shot the three ball and play some D. they already have guys like Shane Battier and Rafer Alston who are outstanding shooters. this move was probably made to back up Battier or T-mac since they let go of Gerald Green, and bring a little extra defence to the team.

Orlando Magic sign Mickael Pietrus

I like this move the Magic made, they brought in a large small forward who can shoot the ball and play good D. He adds more spacing to there team and will be a great guy off the bench, and also gives their weak bench a little more talent.

The Dallas Mavericks sign Gerald Green

Since Maurice Ager was sent to the Nets in the Kidd trade they really have no one to back up there shooting guard position. and bringing in a guy that can aggressively attack the hoop and has a fair jump shot is not a bad move.

The New York Knicks sign Chris Duhon.

The Knicks needed to bring in an average talented point guard that can create shots for team members and really get there offence flowing. Nate Robinson couldn't do that, he could create shots for himself and get points up on the board, but not a passer who could maybe get their offensive threats, like Crawford, Randolph, and Curry working, and making there job easier.

TRADES

The Milwaukee Bucks get Richard Jefferson from the New Jersey Nets in exchange for Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons.

The Nets went through with this trade to be able to start freeing up salary cap space for the 2010 market, where Talents like, Chris Bosh, Dywane Wade, Lebron James, Amare Stoudemare, Yao Ming, Richard Jefferson, Tyson Chandler, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Ray Allen, Jeo Johnson, Tracy McGrady, Manu Ginobili, Michael Redd, and a lot more are up for grabs. the Nets are in a position of refreshing their team, bringing in young players, then when they are experienced, bring in a veteran to run the team. Since Vince Carter's best years are waring off by the days, there acting fast, and making sure they land an all-star in 2010.

The Philadelphia 76ers traded off Rodney Carney, Calvin Booth, a future first-round pick, and cash considerations to the Minnesota Timber-Wolves in exchange for a future second round pick.

76ers made this move to open free salary space for them to make an offer to Elton Brand, they did this after Josh Smith visited Philadelphia with his agent, and left with the 76ers having no luck signing a deal with him. so obviously 76ers are looking big this summer and want a second talent by Andrea Iguodala's side.

The Indiana Pacers recieve T.J. Ford, Rasho Nesterovic, and the right to Roy Hirbbert From the Toronto Raptors, and send them, Jermaine O'Neal and the rights to Nathan J awia.

I like this move for the Raptors, there bringing in a talented PF in O'Nealwho can crash the boards, has a great lowpost game, and play good D. if O'neal is healthy for most of the season the raptors will have a dominate down low and add there great all around shooting in Kapono, Parker and Bargnani, this will create great spacing for the team and will be hard for other teams to defend.

Karlo Delos Reyes
Founder (Full Court Press)
http://fullcourtfantasy.f-sw.com/