March 2011 Basketball Wiretap

Phil Jackson 'Talks Shop' With Brown During Visit To Lakers' Office

Oct 21, 2011 11:15 AM

Phil Jackson stopped by the officies of the Lakers last week to visit his girlfriend Jeanie Buss and paid Mike Brown a courtesy visit while there.

“We just talked shop about some of the guys on the team,” Brown said of his 15-minute conversation with Jackson. “But we talked more about what he’s got going right now, and where each one of us is living, and where he still has a place and all that other stuff. We talked about that more than really getting into talking about basketball.”

Jackson has won 11 World Championships, with five of them coming as head coach of the Lakers.

“In no way, shape or form am I trying to be Phil Jackson,” Brown said. “I understand that. I’m pretty secure in who I am. I welcome him stopping by any time he wants.”

Brown will largely use an offense that he derived from what the Spurs ran with Tim Duncan and David Robinson.

“There will be some aspects of the triangle that we will use,” Brown said. “Mid-post action and stuff like that. More than anything we’re going to play four out, one in, with a strong corner look.

“[Defensively], you’re going to the screen a little bit more. You’re forcing the action a little bit more. Your job as a big will begin and end rather quickly when it comes to guarding the basketball.”

Marc J. Spears/Yahoo! Sports

Tags: Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Rivers Doesn't Buy Into Player's Coach Tag

Oct 9, 2011 9:19 AM

Doc Rivers is known as one of the NBA's favorite coaches amongst players of other teams. He is one of the NBA's most affable and engaging personalities.

But he is now easy to play for, according to several former and current Celtics. Rivers is hard on rookies and has no filter in assessing a player's abilities.

“I have never understood exactly what a ‘player’s coach’ is,’’ Rivers said. “I think everybody is a ‘player’s coach’ if you are doing well and the players are happy.

“I think there’s so many approaches to the way you do your job, and grandstanding is not one of them for me. If showing that you’re not a player’s coach by yelling in front of fans is what you’ve go to do to convince people that you’re not, then I’m not the right guy for that job.

“I have always believed you’ve got to take your stand all the time, and the key for you as a coach is to get the guys to play to the best of their abilities. That’s what I want to be. But there’s times where that’s difficult. You try everything.’’

Boston Globe

Tags: Boston Celtics, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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