biba
01-03-2010, 03:12 PM
For Popovich being at the center of the article.
Shootaround Era fades out for some NBA teams
By Steve Luhm Salt Lake Tribune Columnist 01/03/2010
The shootaround has been part of NBA life since 1971, when Los Angeles Laker coach Bill Sharman began gathering his players on the morning of games to meet, stretch their legs and review strategy.
Sharman actually invented the shootaround a decade earlier, when he was coach of the Cleveland Pipers of the American Basketball League.
Sharman also conducted shootarounds when he coached the ABA's Utah Stars from 1969-71. He continuing the ritual after being hired by the Lakers.
According to one version of history, Sharman decided to hold shootarounds in L.A. to get his No. 1 night owl, Wilt Chamberlain, out of bed in the morning.
"... I had a talk with Wilt and explained how I thought it would help the team," Sharman told Hoopshype.com in 2004. "He said, 'I don't like waking up early but I'll try it.' Fortunately, we won a lot of games that year and Wilt bought into it. He didn't miss many shootarounds."
In their first season under Sharman, the Lakers won 69 games and the NBA championship. As a result, other teams seeking any possible edge began holding morning shooatrounds.
So, why the history lesson?
It seems that the Shootaround Age is going down the same path as the Two-Hand Set Shot Age.
A handful of teams -- most notably San Antonio, Denver, New York and Boston -- have stopped holding morning shootarounds.
Spurs' coach Gregg Popovich started the trend a few years ago, after an aging team won four championships between 1999 and 2007.
"I think it's a waste of time," Popovich said during the Spurs' first visit to Utah this season.
"It's one more appearance for the players -- one more mental exercise, one more physical exercise that probably doesn't do them a whole lot of good when compared to the 82-game season and the preseason and the playoffs."
According to Popovich, game preparation can be accomplished in other ways.
"The day before, that kind of thing," he said. "They're already pros and know what we're going to do, how we're going to play. So we're more interested in their freshness -- both mentally and physically -- than I am getting them going to a shootaround."
Led by respected team leaders Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, Popovich doesn't have to worry about his other players taking advantage of the situation.
"If I had a really young team, I'd probably do it differently," he said. "But they've been together for awhile and know what's going on, so it has made sense for us."
Before talking to Popovich, I mentioned the Spurs' approach to Carlos Boozer of the Jazz, who still conduct morning shootarounds and probably will as long as Jerry Sloan is the coach.
Laughing, Boozer endorsed the no-shootaround concept.
When I passed Boozer's endorsement along to Popovich, the Spurs coach joked, "Hey, I don't want to make Jerry angry. Whatever Jerry wants to do is just fine with me."
http://www.sltrib.com/sports/ci_14111455
Shootaround Era fades out for some NBA teams
By Steve Luhm Salt Lake Tribune Columnist 01/03/2010
The shootaround has been part of NBA life since 1971, when Los Angeles Laker coach Bill Sharman began gathering his players on the morning of games to meet, stretch their legs and review strategy.
Sharman actually invented the shootaround a decade earlier, when he was coach of the Cleveland Pipers of the American Basketball League.
Sharman also conducted shootarounds when he coached the ABA's Utah Stars from 1969-71. He continuing the ritual after being hired by the Lakers.
According to one version of history, Sharman decided to hold shootarounds in L.A. to get his No. 1 night owl, Wilt Chamberlain, out of bed in the morning.
"... I had a talk with Wilt and explained how I thought it would help the team," Sharman told Hoopshype.com in 2004. "He said, 'I don't like waking up early but I'll try it.' Fortunately, we won a lot of games that year and Wilt bought into it. He didn't miss many shootarounds."
In their first season under Sharman, the Lakers won 69 games and the NBA championship. As a result, other teams seeking any possible edge began holding morning shooatrounds.
So, why the history lesson?
It seems that the Shootaround Age is going down the same path as the Two-Hand Set Shot Age.
A handful of teams -- most notably San Antonio, Denver, New York and Boston -- have stopped holding morning shootarounds.
Spurs' coach Gregg Popovich started the trend a few years ago, after an aging team won four championships between 1999 and 2007.
"I think it's a waste of time," Popovich said during the Spurs' first visit to Utah this season.
"It's one more appearance for the players -- one more mental exercise, one more physical exercise that probably doesn't do them a whole lot of good when compared to the 82-game season and the preseason and the playoffs."
According to Popovich, game preparation can be accomplished in other ways.
"The day before, that kind of thing," he said. "They're already pros and know what we're going to do, how we're going to play. So we're more interested in their freshness -- both mentally and physically -- than I am getting them going to a shootaround."
Led by respected team leaders Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, Popovich doesn't have to worry about his other players taking advantage of the situation.
"If I had a really young team, I'd probably do it differently," he said. "But they've been together for awhile and know what's going on, so it has made sense for us."
Before talking to Popovich, I mentioned the Spurs' approach to Carlos Boozer of the Jazz, who still conduct morning shootarounds and probably will as long as Jerry Sloan is the coach.
Laughing, Boozer endorsed the no-shootaround concept.
When I passed Boozer's endorsement along to Popovich, the Spurs coach joked, "Hey, I don't want to make Jerry angry. Whatever Jerry wants to do is just fine with me."
http://www.sltrib.com/sports/ci_14111455