Tag: Coaching

Going into Friday’s games, the Pistons …

Going into Friday’s games, the Pistons were one of six teams to have played 12 games. Their cumulative record: 24-48. Only the Los Angeles Clippers, at 7-5, had a winning record. So many games so early in the season after a training camp and preseason shortened to three weeks in recent years appears to handicap teams. “That’s why next week is going to be huge,” Casey said. “We’ve got three or four days we can practice. Before, there was one day in between. It sounds like excuses, like the other night (before their Tuesday game at Miami), getting in at 6 in the morning. Sounds like an excuse. But it’s going to take a while for our guys to jell together, work together, learn each other. With Blake (Griffin) and Derrick (Rose) back, for them to learn each other. It’s going to be a marathon. But it didn’t help with the few days off that we had between games.”

Walton, who also played for the Lakers, …

Walton, who also played for the Lakers, said he hasn’t dwelled on how he’ll be received by Lakers fans. “I don’t expect anything,” Walton said. “I haven’t thought about that one bit. I love L.A. and had great times down there, but my thoughts are with where this team is at, where we’re trying to get to and what we can do to try to give ourselves the best chance to win.”

Walton said the Lakers present a …

Walton said the Lakers present a different challenge than the other teams the Kings have played because of their size and that they play through LeBron James and Davis instead of relying on guard play. That’s been enough to keep Walton focused on the game and not his feelings. “Most of the thoughts are just, you know how the season goes, right?” Walton said. “So we played two nights ago, and then you just start watching film. Lived in L.A., have a lot of history in L.A., obviously, but the energy and thoughts are all on how do we game plan, what’s our best chance to try to get another win tomorrow night.”

Brad Stevens knows just what to do with …

Brad Stevens knows just what to do with a talent like Kemba. It starts with a steady dose of ball screens. Small and smart, he likes to refuse the screen (not use it) and see if he can zoom to the rim in a direct line. It’s very difficult to guard him when he zooms like that, and Stevens puts him in a position to do it often. He also uses Kemba to shoot off screens. Guarding Kemba has gone from difficult to nearly impossible. Think of it like this: When running through screens as a dribbler, Kemba may be the only Celtic that touches the ball during that possession. But when he is used as a shooter off screens, at least two players “get a touch” of the ball, and all three players are involved: the passer, the screener, and then Kemba.

Midway through the meal, Spoelstra hit …

Midway through the meal, Spoelstra hit Dragic with the all-important question: How would you feel about coming off the bench? “He mentioned it to me at brunch and he was saying after that injury he was thinking this was the best way,” Dragic said. “I said, ‘Whatever it takes, Coach. I’m going to do whatever you ask of me.’ In the end, it’s easy to say that right now but when you talk and you hear those words, it’s kind of a shock at first. At the end of the day, you just move on.”‘