THE EXCUSE MAKER

In sports, when things go wrong you begin to hear excuses. You find out what athletes are made of when a team begins to lose games.

A few weeks ago when I began to compose this blog entry,  I read an outstanding quote from Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin;

“Excuses are the tools of the incompetent.”

When a team is struggling the athletes tend to point fingers.

A team loses a game, someone blames a coach or even a teammate.

If an athlete is unhappy with their role on the team, they look to place blame.

Or the latest one, “They are not having fun.” Or how about, “It’s all about having fun.”

FUN is an interesting word when it comes to competitive sports. How do you mix intensity, hard work, toughness, focus, and concentration with FUN?

Here’s a secret that many successful people subscribe to; instead of blaming others, why not find a way to fix it? No excuses, no explanations. We know the team is struggling – go out and find a way to get it done.

How about playing a little harder?

How about hitting the open man?

Playing tougher defense?

Bringing energy to practice.

How about spending time working on your outside shooting? Working on your dribbling. Doing some push-ups to get stronger. Running a few miles at night or even in the morning. Whatever happened to dedicating oneself to improvement?

Everything we do that helps us achieve success is due to energy; and that comes with committing to a goal.

If an athlete directs their energy into doing a better job, instead of complaining, things will improve.

Success in sports is like a potter’s wheel. When you put pressure on that clay, something useful comes about. If he doesn’t apply pressure, he will never have a useful object.

A few losses in the beginning of the season is not the end of the world for a team. There’s no need to panic, its way too early. But instead of talking about the problems, why not try to find a solution? Why not work harder?

Magic Johnson, the greatest point guard the game has ever seen once said, “Ask not what your teammates can do for you, but what you can do for your teammates!”

Don’t be part of the problem, be part of the solution.

HOOPS135@HOTMAIL.COM

TWITTER: @CoachFinamore

FOUL OR DEFEND?

If you are a regular reader of the blog, you know we often talk about the late game situation when you are up three, less than nine seconds left and your team is on defense.

Do you foul or just defend?

Here is my blog entry from last year and the data from the situations I found late in the season at the high school and college level.

Yesterday I watched a girls varsity team foul. The team trailing by three went to the line, made the first shot, missed the second on purpose but the team that was ahead secured the rebound and won the game. Huge key is GRABBING THE REBOUND!

Last night in the NBA the Boston Celtics fouled; leading by three with just 4.9 to play, Rajon Rondo fouled Brandon Jennings. He made the first but missed the second. The Celtics rebounded the ball, got fouled and made one of two at the other end to take a three-point lead with 4.5 to play. Boston fouled again sending the Bucks to the line where they split the pair. There was a lane violation on Milwaukee, the Celtics won the game.

The strategy worked.

You have to foul in this situation.  Keep me updated on any situations you see or are involved in. I know one thing, we are going to foul this season.  But another key is you have to practice this situation often.

HOOPS135@HOTMAIL.COM

TWITTER: @CoachFinamore

COMMUNICATE

From Doc Rivers…

“If you’re not talking, you’re not playing defense.”

HOOPS135@HOTMAIL.COM

TWITTER: @CoachFinamore

DWIGHT HOWARD: STAY SOLID

The Lakers big man has a message for his teammates at the defensive end of the floor.

Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe:

“The biggest thing is we don’t have to gamble,” said Howard. “That’s the one thing I told those guys — don’t gamble. We’re solid on defense, we work hard for 24 seconds on defense and then we’re out.

“That’s when you put everybody else in bad predicaments, when you do gamble. But when we’re solid, we have some great defenders on the wing. We have some great defenders on the post. So there’s no need to gamble. We all just have to trust our instincts and play the right way.”

HOOPS135@HOTMAIL.COM

TWITTERL @CoachFinamore

COACHING 101

“On a blackboard, the X’s never stop the O’s. So I’m not a stickler for details. When you’re playing defense, which hand forward? Which foot? Who cares? Just don’t let the guy score!” -Pete Carril