The guy is just used to disappearing.

The article in True Hoops.

Of course the media plays a role in inflaming passions, goading players to regretful, violent responses (“This one is truly a backyard brawl.“). But the media would follow the lead of those who administer the games. Schools, athletic departments and conferences, team owners and presidents (in the pros), and coaches can punish, threaten, and suspend players for behavior but isn’t something else required? Some communication, education, mentoring that teaches that responding to the “disrespect” provocation can be and should be beneath one’s dignity? Sport is about competition and achieving potential; the greatest potential in this case, the winner in the contest of respect and disrespect, is the player who separates himself from the taunt and focuses on and plays the game. To respond to the taunt is to betray yourself as maybe believing the taunter. Would Bird, Magic, Jordan have cried about disrespect? No, they’d just drop forty on them and hold a press conference afterward and say he knew his rival didn’t mean it.

Harvard Men’s Hoops Cracks Top 25

Belmont Basketball Enthusiasts,

Sunday, our BHS Basketball Players were guests of the Harvard Men’s Basketball Team’s home game with Seattle University. As we enter our 2011-2012 season, I share some of our coaching reflections of this great experience. We were glad that so many of our players, along with their families, were able to participate and be included in this opportunity. We BHS Coaches love basketball and really love when we see it played in a great way.

I am sharing with you a list of observations of both teams and the ways in which we hope to learn from their play:

It’s great to see a school get behind its team.
The positive energy from students, staff, alumni, and fans brought an excitement and enthusiasm for everyone there to enjoy.

Team play is the way.
They share the ball, they play unselfishly, and they play disciplined. They huddle at every point and they celebrate each others successes instead of their own. They exemplify the adage…TEAM- Together Everybody Achieves More.

Practice the way you play.
I had the opportunity to watch Harvard practice on October 30th (before the season began). Their practice contained every element of what showed up in the game we watched. The game was an extension of practice and they practice great!

Defense Wins Games.
Both teams defenses were superb. Great on the ball pressure. Consistent off ball and weak side help. Constant communication. Effort and attitude without looking for an unsporting edge. Very admirable.

Bring it from the bench.
Each team received significant bench contributions. This has a powerful impact on team performance and shows how players can develop incredibly positive roles at any position within a team structure. (note: Harvard scored 46 of 80 pts off the bench)

Be Enthusiastic.
Both teams clapped, cheered, stood up from the bench, smiled at times, and made it fun. After all…it’s a game.

Play with Respect.
Harvard and Seattle played respectfully. They players respected themselves, the coaches, the officials, the opponent, the fans, and the game. No inappropriate language, no unnecessary distractions. Just great competition. It is why teams and schools strive to have great sportsmanship… it creates a great event for everyone there.

Play with Heart…Leave it on the Floor.
The effort and hustle was undeniable. Both teams should look back with pride on their performances.”

Here’s one of mine:

When I was a kid, 10 to 17 years old, we lived about a 1/2 mile from Siena College, just outside Albany, NY. On Sunday mornings, starting around 6th or 7th grade, my brother Ed (2 years ahead of me in school) and I would walk (ostensibly) to church. We’d announce, “going to church”, open a window, throw out a ball, walk out the back door, circle around to where the ball was and off we’d go. Starting around this time, Gibbons Hall, Siena’s old gym (replete with bowling lanes in the basement) was our new place of worship. Mea culpa, mea culpa. (“In hoops we trust.”) Down the hill we’d dribble, over Fiddler’s Lane, across the parking lot to the backdoor at Gibbons Hall. That door was always open; the school laundry facilities were in there, some bowling balls, nothing that could be jeopardized by leaving it open. The moment of truth, however, came when we climbed the two flights of stairs to the gym door. Was it open? Usually yes; tragically, sometimes no. After a couple of Sunday mornings spent ballhandling an hour away (maxi culpa) in the parking lot, I got an idea. Next to the upstairs locked and bedeviling gym door was a flight of stairs that led to a balcony window “high above courtside“. Down below, at one end of the court was a stage (not unusual back in the day – I remember freshmen team games at Fordham at both LIU and Columbia that had stages, too). The Gibbons Hall stage had curtains, floor to gym ceiling, dark, velour. The curtains were within arms’ length reach of the balcony window. Out the window and over to the curtain would go little brother, me, shimmying down the fabric, soft-landing onto the stage and hustling over to the door where brother Ed would be pounding the ball on the floor, getting himself ready for our next, well-deserved game of one-on-one. (Sorry, Ed, but I was already kicking your butt!)

If we can assume that both teams in a situation like a Game 7 or a game in The Finals or even any NBA playoff game, come out with the intention of having at least as much energy or passion as the other team, how and when does the energy that your team has supersede that of the other team and, in effect, take over the game? I think it’s much more subtle than simply trying harder for longer. What happens, instead, I believe, is you lose your energy or the other team does something that takes that part of the game out of you. Rips your will right from your heart, plants the doubt in your head. Subtle as it may seem, I think in Game 6 it was Ron Artest making those early shots. It was unexpected and therefore a game-changer. The deflation happens because one team somehow does something that puts a stamp on the game. It might be two or three trips down court where a team dominates the offensive glass, thereby putting the defensive team in a position to doubt themselves. That’s one way the Lakers can take the “energy steam” out of the Celts. The Celts meanwhile can take the lead in the energy game by having successive “lockdown” defensive possessions that can put the doubt into the Lakers. Or an alleyoop out of a timeout like the Lakers ran for Shannon Brown; caught the Celts off-guard and had to have made them question their preparation and their willingness to fight. Or Rondo’s dive and score versus J Williams in the Orlando series or Farmer versus Rondo last night. These are the plays that take it out of you, demonstrate a team’s passion and will to win. Each one is like a knockdown punch in a title fight. The legs go wobbly; energy has to re-group. The question is: who will provide these plays? Who will stay with the energy that they came into the game with and sustain it until they or they with their teammates can make a play that will take the will from the other team, further energize your own team, and pave the way to an NBA title?