March 2017 Basketball Wiretap

Rick Carlisle: Rule Changes Changed Culture To Emphasize Skilled Players

Mar 28, 2017 1:32 PM

Rick Carlisle was asked to theorize why offense has been up around the NBA this season.

The NBA has reached a point where the game has evolved to include more perimeter shooters and a faster pace of play following rule changes.

"My belief is that we've entered a new era of high skill level Sixteen years ago, when I first came into the league, they had just changed the rules," said Carlisle. "You could have two guys guarding a guy that didn't have the ball. You could play zone defense as long as you stayed within the rules, stuff like that.

"And everybody was worried about what was gonna happen to scoring. And the group that put it together, led by Jerry Colangelo, really felt that these rules would increase ball movement and if there was a necessity to move the ball, it would become a greater necessity for all players on the floor to have skill. Otherwise, it would be difficult to hide guys that couldn't shoot. 

"And so, initially there were a lot of skeptics that believes, 'Hey, this is gonna bring the game to a screeching halt. There just aren't enough skill guys.'

"But the reason it was done was to change the culture of player development at the grassroots level. And so, the people coaching grade school, middle school, AAU would have to recognize the importance of being able to shoot, being able to get the ball in the basket. And again, there were a lot of people - there was a lot of eye rolling and 'Yea, right! That's gonna change!'

"Well, it's changed. It's taken time, but how many teams have got a guy at the 4 that can't make an outside shot? I'm not necessarily saying a 3, but an outside shot. You look at the teams that can play big. (derrick) Favors makes mid-range shots. Who else? These guys, (Taj) Gibson can shoot mid-range shots. He's taken a few 3s.

"You know, so anyway, I think that's your answer. If you have more skilled guys and there's a big emphasis on the analytics of pace, scoring's gonna go up. Scoring's gonna go up. So, I don't know what you're gonna hear people clamoring for next. But in the end, what you're gonna get, in my estimation - the Finals last year, the deciding game of the Finals was in the high 80s, low 90s. And so, when it counts, and you get in situations where you're at seven games, and there's familiarity, and you've got the best offensive and defensive teams out there, scoring's not gonna be going crazy."

Fred Katz/Norman Transcipt

Tags: Dallas Mavericks, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Rob Pelinka Feels GM Job Is 'Sweet Spot For Who I Am With My Background'

Mar 24, 2017 6:01 PM

Rob Pelinka was recently on Adrian Wojnarowski's podcast and was asked about how he had thought about becoming an NBA general manager for a considerable amount of time and how he is managing the demands of the job.

“I feel like this is the sweet spot for kind of who I am with my background having gone to law school, having worked as an agent for almost 20 years and understanding the cap and how the system works, how modern day players think," said Pelinka "I went to business school and got a business degree and then basketball of course, having played in three Finals Fours. Those are my passions in life and they all kind of converge in this job.

“I think more than anything, Dr. (Jerry) Buss is our north star. He revolutionized the entire landscape of professional sports when he converged entertainment and sports together and kind of broke the mold. We’re still living with a lot of his vision today across all sports leagues. 

“And I think we feel the same," said Pelinka. "We have a platform that is second to none with this Lakers’ platform. We see an opportunity to cast a new vision for the future. The Lakers were always a team going back in history where all the other 29 teams were saying ‘hey how can we do it like the Lakers do?’ and maybe we lost that a little bit. I think it’s time to think that way again and hopefully get back to a position where others are saying ‘gosh, look at how the Lakers are doing things, we’d love it if we could do it that way.’

"It’s a challenge. It starts with Magic and I casting that vision and seeing it through.

"In terms of your specific question, one of the things Dr. Buss always said and I know Jeanie (Buss) is aligned to this. The Lakers are the Lakers when there’s a star in the building. The greats are so easily listed. Magic, Shaq, Kobe, Jerry West, Wilt. I can go on and on down the list. We feel like this is a perfect platform for hopefully that next player to eventually say there’s no city like LA, there’s no team that has the legacy like the Lakers. This could be my home someday. The perfect platform to accomplish what I want to with my career. I think that’s an important thing we make sure happens.

Adrian Wojnarowski/The Vertical

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

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Frank Vogel Believes Mario Hezonja's Best Position Could Be Power Forward

Mar 22, 2017 10:50 PM

The Orlando Magic will play Mario Hezonja as their backup power forward with Jeff Green out.

Hezonja has primarily played on the wings this season but Frank Vogel sees potential in him as a small-ball power forward.

“There’s a chance that this could be his best position or most natural position in today’s NBA: to be 6-9 small-ball four [power forward]," said Vogel. "He’s going to have an opportunity to take a look at that and see what that feels like."

The Magic acquired Serge Ibaka last June while also signing Green and Bismack Biyombo, which further crowded their frontcourt and shifted Aaron Gordon to the 3.

Josh Robbins/Orlando Sentinel

Tags: Mario Hezonja, Orlando Magic, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Jeff Hornacek To Exclusively Run Triangle For Knicks In 17-18

Mar 22, 2017 8:20 PM

Jeff Hornacek expects the New York Knicks to fully run the triangle offense next season.

Hornacek is unsure if the core of Carmelo Anthony, Derrick Rose and Kristaps Porzingis can become a playoff team unless they embrace the triangle fully.

"Obviously if we go into it like we did this year -- no," Hornacek told reporters in Utah when asked if the Rose-Anthony-Porzingis trio can be a playoff team. "If we turn around and have a different way we start, go right at however we're going to run it next year, if it's full triangle, it's possible. You never know how these things will fit. Maybe a second year is helpful for us."

Hornacek said it was a mistake to try to blend systems.

"Do we have the right fit of guys running the system?" Hornacek said. "If we think that we can somehow -- with a fresh start of training camp and go to it right off the bat, if that helps us and Phil [Jackson] and Steve [Mills] -- we think maybe the same guys on this team could have a different outlook on it, then we'll stay the same. If not, they'll look at other guys."

ESPN

Tags: New York Knicks, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Lakers Want D'Angelo Russell To Be More Aggressive

Mar 18, 2017 11:25 AM

D'Angelo Russell was the last player Rob Pelinka and Magic Johnson spoke to after practice on Thursday.

The trio talked about Russell's recent struggles and his demotion to the bench.

"It was just more of clearing up a little bit of things," Russell said at shootaround ahead of Friday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks, "as far as what they want to see from these last few games and stuff like that."

Russell was asked what Johnson and Pelinka are looking for.

"Be aggressive," Russell said. "No matter what my role is, just be aggressive."

Luke Walton recently moved Russell to the bench, starting Jordan Clarkson at point guard instead of him.

"Of course I want him to respond better," Walton said at shootaround. "I want him to be aggressive. I want him to be really aggressive, even more so right now while he's coming off the bench. That doesn't mean he's coming in to shoot every time. But aggressive as far as pushing the ball, getting in the lane, and every time he's coming off of picks and playmaking as a way to get himself more into the game quicker.

"It's completely different when you start and naturally fall into the rhythm of the game. So we're looking for him to come out and be ultra-aggressive in that role while he's in it."

Russell disagrees with the notion that he hasn't been aggressive enough lately, but he's open to feedback.

"I think I was, I guess my mentality wasn't in the right place," Russell said. "I wasn't really making shots. I didn't create for others, either.

"It's just new, being in the position I was in, finding the openings. [They] are all in foreign positions for me."

Jova Buha/ESPN

Tags: D'Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Ben Simmons' Participation In 5-On-None Drills Has Helped 76ers Envision His Future

Mar 15, 2017 1:12 AM

Ben Simmons' participation in five-on-none drills has been a benefit for the Philadelphia 76ers' coaching staff.

"It helps," Brett Brown said. "I see different things when I watch him out there. You can see how you can post smaller people. You can see how he might be effective in different ways that you didn't [see] drawing it on paper."

Brown added that the play scripting is the clearest example of Simmons' improvement as a basketball player despite his being sidelined this season with injury. 

Simmons has also improved his shooting form.

Keith Pompey/Philadelphia Inquirer

Tags: Ben Simmons, Philadelphia Sixers, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Rob Pelinka: Lakers Still Have Intrinsic Advantage In NBA

Mar 11, 2017 9:58 PM

Rob Pelinka was introduced as general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday.

Pelinka was hired by Jeanie Buss and Magic Johnson to take over for Mitch Kupchak and Jim Buss after several seasons of rebuilding.

“We are going to deliver on Jeanie’s challenge to us all to make the Lakers the greatest sports franchise in the world,” Pelinka said. “That will happen.”

Despite working in a CBA that makes team-building more difficult for big market teams due to a punitive luxury tax, Pelinka believes the Lakers still have many advantages over their peers.

“We still have an intrinsic advantage,” Pelinka said. “When Earvin put on the 32 and Kobe put on the 8 and the 24, that can’t be replicated anywhere on the globe with any other team. We are going to make sure that’s how players that come here feel and want to be a part of this. We’re getting back to that place. This L.A. platform and this Lakers brand, the Buss family and legacy of winning cannot be replicated.”

The Lakers have struggled in their free agency endeavors over the past few offseasons, losing Dwight Howard in 2013, not signing Carmelo Anthony in 2014, a rough meeting with LaMarcus Aldridge in 2015 and no meeting at all in 2016 with Kevin Durant.

“Every single agent in the NBA knows that this platform is the best platform for their client in terms of marketing and in terms of the relationships in L.A.,” Pelinka said. “We’re in a city that has a powder keg of relationships.”

Johnson wanted to make an unconventional hire, so he picked a man without any front office experience.

“You have to have a guy who’s already formed a lot of relationships whether that’s with players, with agents, general managers, teams,” Johnson said. “Rob has all of that. He’s a great negotiator. Boy, that session we had yesterday … was amazing.”

Tania Ganguli/Los Angeles Times

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

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Mikhail Prokhorov 'Trying To Be Zen About Process'

Mar 10, 2017 1:26 PM

After a brash approach to building a title contender that failed, Mikhail Prokhorov took a step back and hired Sean Marks to replace Billy King as general manager.

Marks outlined a vision for the Nets that included a high end analytics group, a performance staff that touches each player daily with designated individual sessions, regular interactions with mental health experts and revamping the family room to create a more welcoming environment for wives and children and parents,. At the core of Marks' vision, he explained, was a long-term plan of developing consistency and excellence that would require years, not months.

"I was clear in our meeting," Marks said. "I told them, 'If you are looking for a quick fix or similar to what you did before, I'm the wrong guy.'"

"There was a humility to the ownership group when I met them," Kenny Atkinson said. "They put up their hands and said, 'We did it this way, and it didn't work. We're going to do it another way.' That's got to be hard, especially for a billionaire who has been extremely successful."

Prokhorov declined a phone interview with ESPN, saying his English is not good. He instead emailed: "There is no shortcut to a championship." Initially, his approach was to run the Nets "in the same way I've approached my business, which, by the way, has brought considerable success. That is to say, throw everything you've got at a challenge, and you're bound to be the victor."

Yet Prokhorov acknowledges Brooklyn's current situation is different, and that winning "requires the patience to build, step by step."

Prokhorov was asked if he'll continue to be patient.

"I try to be zen about it," Prokhorov writes. "It's a process, as they say."

Jackie MacMullan/ESPN

Tags: Brooklyn Nets, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Tom Thibodeau: Wolves Have Made 'Quantum Leap' On Defense

Mar 9, 2017 1:31 PM

After a slow start to the season, the Minnesota Timberwolves are within striking distance of the eighth seed in the Western Conference.

Tom Thibodaeu believes the Wolves have made a "quantum leap" on defense. Minnesota has played better pick-and-roll defense and are moving up the rankings in defensive categories. 

“When you look at the past couple years and where we are now, it says we’ve made a big jump,” Thibodeau said. “I think you have to get close to winning first, and then the winning happens. Right now, we’re starting to understand that. To me, it’s taking care of the little things. If we take care of all the little things, the big things take care of themselves. We say it all the time: The magic is in the work.

“There are no shortcuts to this. There’s no easy way out. … There’s a price to be paid for winning.”

Jerry Zgoda/Star Tribune

Tags: Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Russell Westbrook In Danger Of Falling Below 10 Assists Per Game

Mar 7, 2017 7:23 PM

Russell Westbrook is in danger of dropping below 10.0 assists per game as he attempts to record the first triple double for the season in over 50 years.

Westbrook's assists per game have dropped from 10.25 to 10.05 over the past week. Westbrook has 633 assists in 63 games, which means he needs to average 9.8 down the stretch.

Westbrook’s assists totals were four, nine and five on the road trip, which is an average of 6.0 per game. 

Of his top 19 assist totals this season, only one has come since February arrived. Westbrook is averaging 9.14 assists in February and March.

Westbrook is averaging 11.3 assists per game at home compared to 8.9 on the road.

Berry Tramel/Oklahoman

Tags: Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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76ers To Give Ben Simmons Every Opportunity To Be Their Starting Point Guard

Keith Pompey/Philadelphia Daily News