Basketball informs the public domain. Secrets don't exist. NBA coaches have enormous experience and share what makes a difference. Joe Mazzulla is typical.
Some themes recur. Coaches emphasize what creates advantage and what mistakes need elimination.
"Be physical at the point of attack." Disrupt the ballhandler-screener relationship...physicality in the league continues to grow." Finding balance will always plague rule-makers and enforcers.
"...pace the entire game" (Chicago). "Defended transitions very well...most of our turnovers were dead ball." Surrender few high points per possession chances. Having a set defense matters at every level.
"...bunch of possessions you need to get better at. Mazzulla emphasizes what you all know - "basketball is a game of mistakes."
"...live ball turnovers, offensive rebounding, fouling" (allowed Celtics to pull away). Avoiding mistakes translates. "Stops make runs." Last night analyst Brian Scalabrine emphasized that even while playing fast, holding turnovers below 15 shoud be doable.
"...identity at what we're trying to have" (bench strength) During the game in question, the front end of a back-to-back, reserves ate up a lot of minutes, scoring 75 points. The Celtics barely survived the back end, partially from poor decision-making regarding fouling.
"I don't consider those 'heat checks' for him" (Pritchard) The superior offensive player makes more shots and gets more leeway regarding shot selection.
"We have to flourish all 48 minutes." (non-Jayson Tatum minutes) During a long season, guys miss time with injuries, illness, and load management. Finding ways to impact the game without "set lineups" is part of the territory.
"...having different identities and lineups that can impact the game." Last season the Celtics played at one of the slowest paces in the league. Having traded Jaylen Brown, the Celtics will need to find new and different ways to win.
I need to make more consistent effort to listen to coaches around the NBA.
Lagniappe. How do experienced coaches differ 'objectively' during research. They see more, see faster, make decisions more quickly and more accurately. Young coaches statistically don't do as well.
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