A recent article in The Wall Street Journal suggests that extra high fives and chest bumps may be helping the Dallas Mavericks get a little closer to winning the 2011 NBA Championship. Here’s an excerpt from that article written by Scott Cacciola:

The concept of “chemistry” on a sports team has become the stuff of cliché over the years. Nobody seems to have the same definition for what it is, or what produces it. But last fall, three researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, took a serious look at one of the most obvious signs of camaraderie on a team—touching. The study, which was titled “Tactile Communication, Cooperation and Performance: An Ethological Study of the NBA,” was authored by Michael W. Kraus, Cassy Huang and Dacher Keltner. After reviewing broadcasts of games from the 2008-09 season, they concluded that good teams tend to be much more hands-on than bad ones. Teams whose players touched the most often were more cooperative, played better and won more games, they said.

Keep this in mind when you watch Game 6 this weekend. More importantly, keep this in mind the next time you watch your own team play!

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One of the oldest principles of success simply states that if you’re not getting the results that you want, then you must change your actions.

Tuesday night’s game four of the NBA Finals between Dallas and Miami was a perfect example of this principle. Dallas was in a must win situation in order to stay in the hunt for a NBA championship because a loss would have put them down 3-1 to Miami, which is a deficit that is nearly impossible to overcome.

Dallas coach Rick Carlisle knew that if his team kept doing the same things as the game before they would get the same results and so in order to secure a win the Mavs had to tweak something in their game plan. The adjustment that he made, although relatively small and simple, turned out to be a HUGE factor in the outcome of the game. Instead of having Dirk Nowitzki setting the on-ball screens on the perimeter they had Tyson Chandler set them instead. This small change was so beneficial for the Mavs because:

A) It got more players involved in the offense instead of just Dirk and the ball handler and so their scoring was more evenly distributed

B) Having Dirk as a spot up shooter on the perimeter stretched the defense and gave everyone else more room to operate.

C) The better spacing  allowed for deeper penetration by guards J.J Barea, Jason Terry and Jason Kid, which put tremendous pressure on the help side defenders.

D) Rolling to the basket put Tyson Chandler in a better position to either grab offensive rebounds or to tip them back out top to restart the possession.

It was coaching at its finest by Rick Carlisle and his staff. Game 5 is going to be interesting to see what, if any, adjustments that the Miami staff makes.  Since outcomes are always in direct relation to the quality of actions that are taken, the series is not just about great athletes anymore but has now become a chess match as well!

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Watching Dirk Nowitzki score the Maverick’s final 9 points last night in a variety of different ways to seal Dallas’ comeback win over Miami in the NBA Finals made me think of a quote once said by Abe Lemons, the former University of Texas  coach:

“There’s really ony two great plays in the world – Romeo & Juliet and put the darn ball in the basket!”

Bravo Dirk!

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This past week we heard a lot of comparisons of Lebron and Michael Jordan and they were fueled when Scottie Pippen even said that when all is said and done that Lebron may end up the best player ever.  Here’s my perspective:  Both are two different types of players but if I had to pick one I want MJ.  I want the leader.

Michael Jordan took the Chicago Bulls and made them his own.  He started with Ed Nealy and Brad Sellers and turned those teams into arguably the best teams of all time.  He was the main player on a team that won 72 games and then went on to win 6 NBA titles.  He didn’t do it as a sidekick and he sure didn’t leave Chicago to join another team to win one.  The team had MJ, he handled all the pressures that came with that, added Scottie Pippen and some role players and they were tough.  MJ was the type A personality that is rare in athletes and you know it when you see it.  Kobe is a type A.  Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were type A personalities.  They are the leaders and they elevate those around them to their level and expectations.  Lebron James is not in that class.

Lebron is an incredible talent but we can safely say that he got tired of Cleveland and lost confidence.  He was done with his teammates and was tired of having to carry the load.  MJ relished that.  Magic wanted that.  That is what the separation is.  Like MJ said, “I wanted to beat those guys”.  He didn’t want to join Magic, he wanted to beat Magic and that’s where his joy in the sport came from.  Of any Type A’s that the Heat have it is clearly DWade.  He orchestrated the whole deal and showed the leadership necessary to get it done. 

Is Lebron talented enough to be considered one of the best ever?  Yes, easily.  His numbers, when he retires, will show that he is one of the best ever.  Leaving the CAvs and going to the Heat lifted a burden off his shoulders and you can see it in his game.  If MJ left the Bulls it would have put disappointment and failure on his shoulders and he would’ve felt that and probably never overcome that honestly.  MJ was going to win with that team to prove it could be done.  Kobe wanted to win without Shaq to show it could be done.  He was happy that Shaq left and whether that is right or wrong that is what separates players into classes.  I’ll take the guy who wants the challenge any day.  I’ll take the stubborn pride because they won’t fold when it gets tough, they just come back hungrier.

This is my last blog that I’ll be writing.  I have done this blog for years now and loved every minute of it.  Hoopskills has provided me with a great platform for my opinions and thoughts and I’m thankful for them.  The blog will continue on and other writers will post great stuff for coaches and players alike.  Thanks to everyone for all the emails and comments over the years. You can reach me directly at bscho@infowest.com at any time as I’d love to stay in touch with all of you. 

Brian Schofield

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The NBA finals start tomorrow night and I’m really torn as to what I think is going to happen.  It is one of those series where I think I need to watch a game to see how the teams handle each other before looking ahead at the other games.  In the Heat vs Bulls series you could tell from game 1 that the Bulls played out of their heads and that they would have to do that in each game to win the series.  They couldn’t.  Tomorrow night it is tough to judge because the Mavs have some good talent but the Heat just have better stars.  Jason Kidd is older but playing very well.  Jason Terry is having an incredible playoffs.  Dirk is proving his place as one of the best players and closers in the league.  On the other side you have Lebron, DWade and Bosh.  Bosh isn’t going to be much of a factor in this series but the Mavs have nobody who can guard Lebron.  I don’t want to hear about Shawn Marion being able to do it because he’s going to have to guard DWade or Lebron and he’s a shell of what he was before.  Lebron isn’t a jumpshooter like Kevin Durant so he’ll consistently attack the basket. 

Where the Mavs have an edge is off the bench.  They seem to come at teams in waves and with shooters on the court they are always a threat to get hot and make teams pay for collapsing on Dirk. 

When I think of my pre series prediction I think the Heat win in 6 but I’m reserving real judgment until after Game 1.

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I’m watching the MIAMI HEAT play and I have one thought and it keeps going over and over in my head.  You had better beat these guys now because this is the worst team they will ever have.  Seriously, the Heatles(Bosh, Wade, James) are in their 1st year together and they assembled some pieces around them but they only had one season to do that.  They have Joel Anthony at center and a washed up Mike Bibby at point.  They come off the bench with Chalmers there but he isn’t anything great.  Udonis Haslem is getting older and is average but is a good bench player.  Get this team now because soon enough they will be retooling.

What else can they get?  For one, they can get a center.  Imagine this team with a front line center and then have Anthony coming off the bench.  Imagine the Heat with a solid pass first point guard who can hit open jumpers.  Imagine how good they will be when they win this title and know exactly what it tastes like.  These guys will come back hungrier next season with a confidence that they are still learning to have.  Heck, Bosh hasn’t even done that well yet. 

Other teams had better start to do what they talked about and getting some start together.  If they don’t the NBA will be the MIAMI HEAT’s playground and they will be the bully deciding who can play on the monkey bars.

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Dirk played the best game I’ve seen all year last night in scoring 48 points and only missing 3 of a possible 39 shots at the basket.  Think about that for a minute.  He attempted 39 shots and made 36 of them.  24 foul shots (a record) and then 12-15 from the field.  These weren’t easy shots either.  He was making shots shooting off the wrong foot being guarded by more athletic stronger players.  What was the key?  His spots.

I wrote about it the other day but watch the highlights of the game and tell me if Rick Carlisle didn’t learn something from the Memphis series.  He got Dirk the ball in the same spot the Grizzlies got Zach Randolph the ball and it paid off.  When teams try to double Dirk he can kick it out to a number of solid shooters and make teams pay but getting him the ball at the spot he wanted really helps.  Great coaching by Carlisle.

Overall though, what is the legacy of Dirk?  Does it change if the Mavs win the title this year?  For me Dirk is easily the best euro player we’ve ever had.  Petrovic was really good and going to be even better before he passed but Dirk is one of the top 25-30 players ever to play the game.  The Mavs got him in a draft day deal with Milwaukee for Tractor Traylor and the rest is history.  The game has never seen a shooter of his size and with his ability to create his own shot despite not being great athletically is amazing.  Can he jump?  Not really.  Is he fast?  Not at all.  Is he even quick really? No.  But what he does well is use his size and his body to his advantage.  He can shoot off either foot while fading or leaning.  He hits tough shots and has done it year after year leading a very solid franchise.  If the Mavs win it this year then Dirk’s legacy does change as he gets more credibility as a tougher player and a leader which are two traits that he hasn’t been called much in his career. I’m a Bulls fan and I’d love nothing more than seeing Chicago take home the title but if the Mavs beat the Bulls then i at least get some solace in knowing that they were beaten by one of the best offensive players that I will ever get a chance to see.

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That was a very strange celebration last night after Miami beat Boston to advance to the Eastern Conference finals, wasn’t it?  I mean, after the game you have Lebron and DWade hugging like they just got a title and then speaking reverently about the opponent you just sent home.  Then to top it off Lebron felt the need to apologize to Cleveland again that I’m sure was prompted by his feelings of being so blessed now that he’s with Miami.

In reality is he any farther in the playoffs than he was with Cleveland?  No.  He made the eastern conference finals and NBA finals before so what is the big deal now.  #1- It should clearly motivate the Chicago Bulls to really want to beat the Heat.  The Heat obviously thought Boston was the team to beat in the East and that’s why it meant to much to them.  The Bulls have beaten the Heat ever time they’ve played so far this year and I know the playoffs are different but the Bulls need to get it done versus Atlanta and then go in like the underdogs next series. 

You have to believe that MIAMI feels like they are the best team left in the playoffs.  They acted like it.  They aren’t bothered about going into Chicago and playing there.  They aren’t scared of any team in the West either.  They feel like it is their’s to lose at this point and they are probably right.  They have two studs and some good role players who are doing their jobs right now but the rings aren’t theirs yet.

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What an incredible NBA playoff year we are having.  I thought that when the playoffs started we would see the Celtics vs Lakers in the finals and that it would be a 7 game series.  Instead, the Lakers are gone after getting crushed by the MAVS and now the Celtics are on the verge of elimination after losing last night to Miami.  I know the Celtics are playing with a 1 armed Rajon Rondo but they still got nothing from Kevin Garnett last night when they needed him the most.  Garnett was coming off what was arguably the best playoff game of his career just 2 days before but yesterday he showed a little of his age and wear and tear. 

The Celtics dominated the Heat during the regular season so I assumed the playoffs would be the same.  Instead, Lebron and DWade have really shown up and are making all the plays when they have to.  Chris Bosh is a little above average NBA player who is lucky he got the contract he did from Miami because he is just not impressive.  He has a game built for the regular season but the playoffs are proving to be a bit much for the guy.  I just expected a lot more from the guy than what they are getting.  It seems like when he makes a shot it is an accident.

The NBA is changing.  When the HEAT move on they have to jump to the top of the favorites list.  Think the Cav’s owner is wishing he hadn’t made the claim that the Cavs would win before the Heat?

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When Duke gets knocked out of the NCAA tournament I always smile and it makes my entire day better.  Yesterday was one of those days for me.  I was busy attending a religious meeting yesterday and when I got home I turned the tv on to find the Lakers down 20 points at halftime.  My day got better and just improved from there.  I sat there and watched and laughed through most of the 4th quarter as the Lakers showed little class in defeat.  Now what?

Sports radio is all over the topic of what the Lakers will or should do next and I’m not really sure.  I know that they still have Gasol, Bryant, Odom and Bynum.  That’s a very solid core of players when you think about it.  Sure they lack a really good point guard but when in Phil Jackson’s coaching career did he have a great point guard.  He always surrounded Jordan or Kobe with points that could shoot the ball a little bit.  Paxson, Kerr, BJ Armstrong were good players but not great points in the NBA.  Kobe has had Fisher for his entire career basically and he’s been a very good player but he’s never been elite.  My point is that people have been talking all morning about the Lakers lack of a point guard and that being why they lost and that isn’t why they lost.  This team had terrible chemistry this latter part of the season.  They struggled against New Orleans and then got blown out 2 of the 4 losses to Dallas.  Bynum clearly isn’t happy and Gasol never was himself out there.  This team may get blown up but I wouldn’t.

All the talk today is that the team will look to trade Odom and Artest.  Artest has little, if any, trade value.  The only thing he is consistent about is being inconsistent.  Odom has some value and is a very good player but you aren’t going to get a young elite point guard for Odom.  That leaves breaking up Bynum, Odom or Kobe.  Off all of them Bynum probably has the highest value right now.  Honestly he does.  He’s young, big and has played his entire career as a non option in the Lakers offense.  He’d be a dominant center in the East.  Could the Lakers trade Bynum for Dwight Howard?  What about Gasol?  What about Kobe?  Is now the time to trade Kobe and get what you can for him?  NO.  The Lakers will not and shouldn’t trade Kobe.  Kobe is like a Jeter or a Ripken that needs to finish out his career in LA.  He is this generations Magic Johnson and needs to stay.  I see Gasol or Bynum going and I see the Lakers being right back in the thick of things next year. 

The last issue is the departure of Phil.  He’s not coming back and that means a new coach, in a new offense, with a new scheme.  In Phil’s offense the point guard isn’t a huge thing because the wing players dominate what happens.  Even if they got Chris Paul and had Phil Jackson it would almost be a waste unless they changed things.  With a new coach we may see a new philosophy and maybe these personnel changes aren’t decided until then.

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