Teaching Defense, Teaching Discipline
The word "discipline" is taken the wrong way in sports. When a coach pronounces that he'll be bringing discipline to a team, we imagine fines for tardiness, or wind sprints for missing an assignment, or a tightly controlled rotation based on who is giving effort. Reggie Theus touted discipline when he got the Kings job -- let us not forget The Reggie Rules.
But discipline is something else entirely -- it's keeping a focus and rigid determination to execute properly. A team that has discipline makes its defensive rotations. A disciplined team finds the best shot possibly on offense most of the time. A team with discipline knows where each dude belongs on either end. Discipline, really, is the code word for structure, systemic predictability and organization.
As such, the words from no less an authority than Kenny Thomas in Amick's most recent blog post strike an interesting tone about discipline under Theus and Kenny Natt:
"It's just one of those things where just the whole environment of practice...is just a totally different environment as far as what's going on," Thomas said. "It looks like it's structured and everything a little bit better. Not to knock what (fired coaches) Reggie (Theus) and Chuck (Person) were doing, but it's just a totally different concept which I think is going to be benefit us in the long run.
"This isn't brain surgery, and it just seems like everything is more simple. I've had some great coaches. I've had Larry Brown. I've had Rudy Tomjanovich, and it's kind of the same concept. Kenny Natt comes from being under Jerry Sloan and stuff like that. It's kind of the same concept. It's very structured, which is good."
One practice in, and K-9 and friends already see a massive difference in the tone of practice because it's finally structured. Last week, Amick reported that Theus had answered his cell phone during a practice -- doesn't that more or less destroy any sense of focus or structure?
But it's not all about tone, either. You should learn something in practice, or refine something you already know. And Natt really seems to be focusing on the basics.
Natt went into great detail discussing how he is trying to improve the defense. While he is retaining the defensive system that was installed under Theus and is used by Cleveland (among others), he is emphasizing some of the more basic points as if it's training camp - no, high school summer league - all over again. Apparently these are necessary steps when your team is giving up an average of 109.1 points in the last 13 games.
"We're starting from scratch in regards to getting the guys down, moving their feet, what we call the zig zag drill, guarding a guy one on one full court down and back," he said. "That's how you become a better team defensively. You teach guys how to move their feet and guard their own man. We started with that and it's a first step. We're still building."
Drills. Natt is teaching this set of bad defenders how to defend. It's so crazy that it just might work.
Win or lose for the next month, I'm glad our team has Natt guiding it. Often, something different isn't worth the change. But I feel that in this case, nothing bad can come from the coaching switch. What's the downside?
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Well, that's the beauty
It’s a bad team, so there’s not a lot of room for downside. That’s me being Mister Sunshine™.
But I like that that Natt is breaking it all down and getting back to some of the nuts & bolts stuff. I don’t really know what practices were like under Theus, but Amick’s blog makes it sound like Natt has gotten the team’s attention, and in a good way. That’s always been such a huge part of running a team, getting the players to buy in to what you’re selling. Musselman never did it, and it doesn’t seem like Reggie managed it, either.
Rocks are free, and slingshots easily stolen.
Practice? We talking about practice?
In all seriousness, I totally agree.
I think the biggest point you make is that we don’t know what Theus’ practices were like. We know he answer his cell phone sometimes, but that’s all we’ve heard.
I think back to playing in rec league. We all loved the practices where we just got to scrimmage. But we learned the most from running drills. Fundamentals are the building blocks. Without the basics, nothing else can be accomplished. And although these are professionals who have been playing their entire lives, I doubt anyone will challenge the notion that NBA players often lack some basic skills.
Never forget: I am a complete idiot
Rec league is a good analogy
Every team has 2-3 top scorers. Try to stop 1-2 of those and let the non-heros beat you. Get the ball out of Brandon Roy’s hands and make Steve Blake or Joel Prysbilla beat you. Sometimes that’s harder to accomplish than it seems, but that should be the goal.
by coolcatreportdotcom on Dec 19, 2008 12:06 PM PST up reply actions
cisco and ron-ron are gonna throw down tonight
you heard it hear first
Life is every mammal's journey from very very wet to very very dry.
"Gentlemen........this is a football" - Vince Lombardi
"We are in the business of kicking butt and business is very, very good." - Charles Barkley
Nice quote...
btw, what is the context of your Barkley quote?
by misterbrister on Dec 19, 2008 10:52 AM PST up reply actions
nothing I just like it. I'm reading a book I finished a couple of weeks ago to find
muy next sig line. At the time I saw it I said to myself, that’s my next signature line and instead of writing it down I thought I would be able to find it because it’s in the last 20 pages, I’ve reread thde last 20 pages twice and still can’t find it. Now if you can tell me the context of pookeyguru’s I would be delighted.
"We are in the business of kicking butt and business is very, very good." - Charles Barkley
Watch
This youtube clip. You’ll get it.
No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. It's simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get tangled, you tango on
Discipline
is having the mindset to stay with the plan and do the right thing, especially when things are slipping away from you.
It’s Portland facing a 12-point deficit last night and realizing there are no 12-point baskets and clawing their way back in the game with 4-5 focused possessions on each end.
It’s having a clue how basketball is played and what your team’s strengths are and using those to the max.
by coolcatreportdotcom on Dec 19, 2008 12:04 PM PST reply actions
Going back to basics is good
I just wonder who needed it more, the rookies or the Vets.
"If you don't have anything good to say, LIE" - Mom
everybody
what, you haven’t been watchin’?
"You keep on using that word
I do not think it mean what you think it means"
by lietothegirls on Dec 19, 2008 12:55 PM PST up reply actions
I've been watchin, I'm just not sure who needs it MORE
"If you don't have anything good to say, LIE" - Mom
Rookie I understand
They’re new. Veteran’s dont have that excuse.
No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. It's simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get tangled, you tango on
Beno
He needs it the most since he is the PG. Him and Bobby Brown. The PG gets the offense going so he needs to be the most disciplined.
"Oh, boy! This website is very good. Hey, let's talk about the Raiders!" - "Peaches" Napier
agreed - start at the point
Discipline —> Lords of Discipline -→ written by Pat Conroy —→ starting point guard for The Citadel.
by betweentheeyes on Dec 19, 2008 3:56 PM PST up reply actions
I was just trying to be funny
and not weep at the same time
"You keep on using that word
I do not think it mean what you think it means"
by lietothegirls on Dec 19, 2008 2:41 PM PST up reply actions
Makes sense to me
The players on this team obviously have no clue how to play defense. So teach it to them like they’re five and maybe they’ll get it. I’m actually only being a little more harsh there than is really called for.
It’ll be interesting to see how much the defense improves when Brad Miller gets hurt again (or gets traded). It’s tough to know how much one player contributes to the poor defense, but Brad is exceptionally bad in that area.
Shut up and Coach

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