TEAMMATE OR RIVAL?

We are beginning our third year at Jackson Community College and today we had an open gym.  We are pretty close to finalizing our roster spots and the one thing that stands out is we are going to have competitive practices when the 09-10 season begins…more competitive than the first two seasons for sure.   We are going to have an abundance of guards-not point guards, not shooting guards…GUARDS!  I don’t look for certain guards when recruiting-I could care less about putting two lead guards on the floor at the same time.  If a kid plays hard, defends, shares the ball and most importantly, pulls for his teammates, I’m fine.

Last night watching the Los Angeles Lakers eliminate the Denver Nuggets in the  NBA Western conference finals I witnessed Lakers guard Jordan Farmer congratulate Shannon Brown as he came off the floor.  

Why am I mentioning this?  

Well both players are competing for playing time.  

But both players pull for each other.  

While Jordan got the call first last night from Phil Jackson off the bench, I noticed Brown standing and cheering for Farmer while the former UCLA Bruin played well.  

The ABC guys announcing the series have brought it up on occasion and it’s something that should never go unnoticed.  

Bleacher Report mentions the two Laker players and what they bring to the team.  

Teammates should always pull for each other-they should never wish that someone in front of them in the rotation plays poorly so they can get the minutes.  In practice they should compete hard and push each other.

Which leads to me to a quote by the late Red Auerbach;

“The guy next to you, he’s your teammate not your rival.”

-Coach Finamore

Hoops135@hotmail.com

THE WAY YOU TREAT PEOPLE

I once heard someone say, ‘treat people the way you want to be treated’.  Or something along those lines.

Cleveland Cavaliers Ben Wallace on his head coach Mike Brown via The Sporting News 5/25/09.

“He treats you like an adult.  I think that is the first thing, and you’d be surprised, because you don’t always get that with coaches.  He is very fair.  He does not pretend to have all the answers.  I think players appreciate that he is honest, he holds you accountable, but he always has your back.  He will come to players and actually ask them what they think, get their input.  I think that gives him a certain amount of respect with players.”

How do you treat people?

-Coach Finamore

hoops135@hotmail.com

ADJUSTMENTS

Heard a great answer to a question last night thrown at Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy during his press conference after his team beat the Cavaliers to take a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals. A reporter asked him what adjustments he made at half-time.

“There were no adjustments, we just have to play harder.” Said Van Gundy.

I always feel that way.  Everyone talks about adjustments.  I think that’s overrated.  The players sometimes need to step up and play harder.  Close out quicker, crash the boards, sprint the floor.  Make the extra pass, rotate on defense…those are the real adjustments!

-Coach Finamore

Hoops135@hotmail.com

VIVA LAS VEGAS

The Denver Nuggets coaching staff has a UNLV flavor.  Ed Graney of the Review Journal.

Warkentien spent 11 years in basketball operations for the Rebels and helped recruit and build their 1990 national championship team. He was recently named NBA Executive of the Year for piecing together a puzzle that fit well enough this season for 54 wins and the No. 2 seed in the West.

Tim Grgurich is a Nuggets assistant who was part of three UNLV sprints to the Final Four under Tarkanian, tutoring such names as Augmon and Larry Johnson and Greg Anthony and others over a 12-year period.

John Welch is a Nuggets assistant who played a season at UNLV before serving as a graduate assistant for Tarkanian and then a full-time assistant under him at Fresno State.

Then there is Augmon. The former UNLV great is a player development coach for Denver and handles advanced scouting.

-Coach Finamore

hoops135@hotmail.com

TWITTER PART 2

Lane Kiffin, the head football coach at Tennessee has committed a violation using Twitter via the Fanhouse.

Tuesday, Lane Kiffin and the Tennessee Volunteers received a commitment from a high school defensive end named J.C. Copeland. “Kiffin” exulted via Twitter, “It’s a beautiful day in Knoxville, Tennessee today. I was so excited to hear that J.C. Copeland committed to play for the Vols today!”

There’s just one problem with this twit, er, tweet. You can’t comment on a recruit by name until they’ve officially signed with your program. Oops.

Meet Twittergate. As a result of the Twitter post, the Vols have been forced to self-report a secondary violation to the NCAA.

-Coach Finamore

Hoops135@hotmail.com