timvp
03-11-2005, 06:40 PM
Filling In The Blanks: Ten Title Ties
by Lance Blanks, Spurs Director of Scouting and TV Analyst
Over the past four seasons the NBA has gone through a kind of renaissance. The weapons needed for winning a championship are much different from what they were in the 1990s. Just having one or two "superstars" is no longer enough to be crowned with an NBA title.
Following are the ten most important components that an NBA team needs in order to compete for a title:
1. "Go-to guy"
The Spurs have Tim, Minnesota has Kevin, Miami has "Shaq," Philadelphia has "A.I." and Detroit has "Big Ben." Teams that want to win it all must have one player they can go to for consistency and momentum in changing plays. Without this anchor player, you are sure to be ousted early in the playoffs.
2. Chemistry
Each member of the team must be on the "same page" on and off the court. The playoff run can be grueling, especially with the additional seven-game series in the first-round now in place. Team chemistry is what keeps everyone connected to the same goal. A roster full of superstars is worthless if they can't play together.
3. Deep bench
Most teams competing for a championship will have at least one or two superstars, but I believe it is this third component that catapults a team into elite territory. During the Spurs' run in 2003, there were several people who stepped up during the playoffs. Danny Ferry came off the bench to spark a comeback against Phoenix in round one, and Steve Kerr had one of the most impressive performances of the Dallas series. You can't get through the playoffs with only one or two players playing well. You need a deep bench to step up sooner or later.
4. Defense
Frustrating a good team with extended defensive stops can put you in a great position to win a series. When teams have difficulty scoring over two or three games, they begin to question their chances of winning a series. Coaches will make adjustments that create doubt and concern amongst players and staff. There are countless numbers of teams who have won titles because of their impressive defense.
5. Composure
This is arguably one of the most overlooked components needed. Many games come down to one or two plays that impact the outcome. For example, Nick Anderson's four missed free-throws at the end of an early home game in the 1994 championship series altered the team’s (late game) mental advantage. This gave Houston both the momentum and confidence needed to steal the home court advantage, which allowed them to win their first championship.
6. Last second shots
Spurs fans know how painful last second shots can be. Derek Fisher took this to a new level with the shot he made with 0.4 seconds on the clock. The end of quarters and games can prove to be difference-makers for some teams. Making a last-second shot can give you the mental edge needed to build the momentum needed to win the series.
7. Supportive fans
A couple years ago, Sacramento fans rang cowbells to distract the Dallas Mavericks in their series. In San Antonio's SBC Center you can barely hear yourself think once playoff time is in full swing. Fans can be a distraction for the opposition. Additionally, there is nothing better than playing in front of friends and family members. This is why teams fight hard to get the home court advantage going into the playoffs. Both players and coaches know that the home crowd can be that subtle difference during the playoffs.
8. Luck
Of course the good teams are the ones who are lucky, but luck is a part of the game. Teams play extremely hard during the playoffs and in order to advance beyond the early rounds you have to have things fall your way at critical moments during each series. One favorable call by a referee or a timely mistake by an opponent is often needed in order to advance through the playoffs. Fortunately, luck usually falls on the side of the better team.
9. Resilience
There are sure to be hurdles at some point along the road to winning a title, and the teams that have short memories usually bounce back quickly. Coaches put a lot of energy into instilling their teams with confidence and resilience because they know the importance of getting ready for the next game. In many cases, the response to failure is more important than the failure itself.
10. Coach/player trust
Your team has reached the playoffs, and now coaches and players must trust each other with blind faith. Every aspect of the game will be broken down and scrutinized by both players and coaches. Any underlying lack of trust is sure to affect the outcome of your team's playoff results. Everything must be kept on a positive level because players and coaches have very little time to make adjustments. Each person has to allow the other to do his job. With this trust in place, you can be competitive in any series.
The teams with these qualities have the best chance of being competitive in the playoffs.
With several championship contenders around the league this season, it's difficult to predict who will be able to sustain the consistency needed for the title.
http://www.nba.com/spurs/blanks/050311.html
by Lance Blanks, Spurs Director of Scouting and TV Analyst
Over the past four seasons the NBA has gone through a kind of renaissance. The weapons needed for winning a championship are much different from what they were in the 1990s. Just having one or two "superstars" is no longer enough to be crowned with an NBA title.
Following are the ten most important components that an NBA team needs in order to compete for a title:
1. "Go-to guy"
The Spurs have Tim, Minnesota has Kevin, Miami has "Shaq," Philadelphia has "A.I." and Detroit has "Big Ben." Teams that want to win it all must have one player they can go to for consistency and momentum in changing plays. Without this anchor player, you are sure to be ousted early in the playoffs.
2. Chemistry
Each member of the team must be on the "same page" on and off the court. The playoff run can be grueling, especially with the additional seven-game series in the first-round now in place. Team chemistry is what keeps everyone connected to the same goal. A roster full of superstars is worthless if they can't play together.
3. Deep bench
Most teams competing for a championship will have at least one or two superstars, but I believe it is this third component that catapults a team into elite territory. During the Spurs' run in 2003, there were several people who stepped up during the playoffs. Danny Ferry came off the bench to spark a comeback against Phoenix in round one, and Steve Kerr had one of the most impressive performances of the Dallas series. You can't get through the playoffs with only one or two players playing well. You need a deep bench to step up sooner or later.
4. Defense
Frustrating a good team with extended defensive stops can put you in a great position to win a series. When teams have difficulty scoring over two or three games, they begin to question their chances of winning a series. Coaches will make adjustments that create doubt and concern amongst players and staff. There are countless numbers of teams who have won titles because of their impressive defense.
5. Composure
This is arguably one of the most overlooked components needed. Many games come down to one or two plays that impact the outcome. For example, Nick Anderson's four missed free-throws at the end of an early home game in the 1994 championship series altered the team’s (late game) mental advantage. This gave Houston both the momentum and confidence needed to steal the home court advantage, which allowed them to win their first championship.
6. Last second shots
Spurs fans know how painful last second shots can be. Derek Fisher took this to a new level with the shot he made with 0.4 seconds on the clock. The end of quarters and games can prove to be difference-makers for some teams. Making a last-second shot can give you the mental edge needed to build the momentum needed to win the series.
7. Supportive fans
A couple years ago, Sacramento fans rang cowbells to distract the Dallas Mavericks in their series. In San Antonio's SBC Center you can barely hear yourself think once playoff time is in full swing. Fans can be a distraction for the opposition. Additionally, there is nothing better than playing in front of friends and family members. This is why teams fight hard to get the home court advantage going into the playoffs. Both players and coaches know that the home crowd can be that subtle difference during the playoffs.
8. Luck
Of course the good teams are the ones who are lucky, but luck is a part of the game. Teams play extremely hard during the playoffs and in order to advance beyond the early rounds you have to have things fall your way at critical moments during each series. One favorable call by a referee or a timely mistake by an opponent is often needed in order to advance through the playoffs. Fortunately, luck usually falls on the side of the better team.
9. Resilience
There are sure to be hurdles at some point along the road to winning a title, and the teams that have short memories usually bounce back quickly. Coaches put a lot of energy into instilling their teams with confidence and resilience because they know the importance of getting ready for the next game. In many cases, the response to failure is more important than the failure itself.
10. Coach/player trust
Your team has reached the playoffs, and now coaches and players must trust each other with blind faith. Every aspect of the game will be broken down and scrutinized by both players and coaches. Any underlying lack of trust is sure to affect the outcome of your team's playoff results. Everything must be kept on a positive level because players and coaches have very little time to make adjustments. Each person has to allow the other to do his job. With this trust in place, you can be competitive in any series.
The teams with these qualities have the best chance of being competitive in the playoffs.
With several championship contenders around the league this season, it's difficult to predict who will be able to sustain the consistency needed for the title.
http://www.nba.com/spurs/blanks/050311.html