The NBA has two games on today taking me back…back into time.
Spurs/Nuggets and Lakers/Celtics.
Whenever I think of the San Antonio Spurs, first thing that comes to mind is George Gervin. When someone mentions the Nuggets, guys like Doug Moe and Dan Issel take me back to when ball was a bit different.
Back in the day my friends and I used to hang outside Madison Square Garden after Knicks games waiting for the opposing players to come out. Before getting on their team bus, we’d ask the players for their sneakers. Gervin used to have these sweet high top leather Nike’s. Instead of the letters N-I-K-E on the back, he had I-C-E-. I almost begged him one night to hook me up. “Got a game in Jersey tomorrow night.” Ice replied as he boarded the bus.
As for the Nuggets, they only came to town once a year. But watching them was a lot of fun. Moe’s teams had a slogan; ‘run-gun and have fun’. Issel, Alex English and Kiki Vandweghe ran the break better than anyone.
I was in hoops heaven when Kiki joined the Knicks during the 1988-89 season. He had that sweet ‘step-back’ jumper along with the smooth left-handed, baseline drive. Which he often finished with a dunk! After watching Kiki, we’d go out to the park and try and duplicate his step-back.
And of course, you have Lakers-Celtics; one of the all-time greatest rivalries in all of sports. Magic/DJ, McHale/Rambis, Bird/Cooper, Jabber/Parrish…Big time match-ups. Sad to say, we’ll never see those types of games again.
First time I ever purchased a VHS machine I taped one of the play-off games between Celtics and Lakers and watched it the following day over and over.
“No one is bigger than the team. You’re going to be on time, you’re going play hard, you’re going to know your job and you’re going to know when to pass and shoot. If you can’t do those four things you’re not getting time here and we don’t care who you are.”
-Hubie Brown
-Coach Finamore
Hoops135@hotmail.com
Ball was different back then Steve. Kids 2day with $90 one-on-one training sessions at the age of 11..lol. Hey, it does make them better though, i must admit.. I used to get home from school, put up 1000 jumpers, play 1/2 court pickup games, and go home to eat dinner. I’d have games wed and sun at the church against other local churches, had no AAU then..Steve, thoses days may never be again, but todays days will soon bring nostagia for us 2morrow, so enjoy!
Garcia, good call baby. Now get out there and shoot some jumpers…while you rebound your own shots! Thanks for stopping…
“No one is bigger than the team. You’re going to be on time, you’re going play hard, you’re going to know your job and you’re going to know when to pass and shoot. If you can’t do those four things you’re not getting time here and we don’t care who you are.”
How do you create accountability to those players who don’t work hard, who aren’t on time, who know their role on the team but embellish that role and to them it’s always the right time to shoot?
Managing your star player at a junior college level seems so much different than at any level 4 year school. Having coached at different levels and had different roles from assistants to grad assistants, how at a Jr college level do you successfully manage a star player?
Also how do you coach and manage successfully when you the head coach wear so many different hats of responsibility? You are the recruiter, you’re setting up your game and practice schedule, you’re balancing budgets you’re driving the vans to games?
From my experience coaching at a Jr college it allows you to develop as a well round coach, but how much coaching do you actually do? Vs. how much managing?
Hmmm…interesting points. Don’t play the players who don’t work hard or show up on time. Just don’t play them. You need to ride your star player, hopefully THEY work hard.
My friend, we are in a different era. Kids are not the problem, it’s the people around them, trust me. Bill Parcells said it, and he makes sense. Entitlement has reared it’s ugly head.
To conclude, the need for exposure has replaced the need for improvement.
I have learned to not let the struggles of coaching at the Juco level get to me; life, family and my health is a lot more important.
talented players face frustration, even when they play good, they’re thinkin’ “I didn’t play great”. JUCO coaches must reassure their star player privately, just as you would the star at the office. Pull him aside, tell him you believe in him more then any player you’ve coached. He needs that emotional boost and trust me, he will use the same techniques you used with him on his teammates.Why?because he wants to make them better so he can win.
Garcia, I hear ya. Good call.