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A brief thought

6/18/2013

Question for the bj-league's brain trust: If a draft isn't conducted as a legitimate event by a pro league, why should the media provide legitimate coverage?

(And real coverage of an annual event year after year does create legitimacy and elevates a sport's status on the national level. The bj-league, draft, though, is counterproductive in that regard.)

Having teams stock their roster with more players from team tryouts than from the actual draft makes the draft a less-than-significant event year after year, especially since a number of teams avoid drafting players entirely so they can offer them lower salaries and save money. But hey, that's what the league rules permit.

The draft is a joke. But it doesn't have to be farcical -- that is, if the league treats it like a professional event.

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NBA Finals commentary, D-League and Japan

6/17/2013

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Danny Green's spectacular 3-point shooting for the San Antonio Spurs in the first five games of the NBA Finals is a reminder that players can seize the opportunity in the right situation.

Green fits like a glove for the Spurs. He also persevered in the NBA Development League after losing his job with the Cleveland Cavaliers, who selected him with the 46th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft.

Now, Green is in the record books with the most 3-pointers ever made in one NBA Finals (25).

There's an abundance of talent in NCAA Division I basketball in the United States and only 60 players get drafted each year into the NBA, including international talent, especially from Europe. And even with the growth of the D-League as the NBA's official minor league in recent years, the D-League can actually have an ever bigger role if it serves as a landing spot of sorts for guys overseas.

For instance, the Japan Basketball Association, the nation's governing body for the sport, can play a more active role in working with the D-League to find jobs for D-League-caliber players in the 21-team bj-league and the 12-NBL (renamed JBL). Between the two leagues, that's 33 teams -- indeed, a lot of roster spots for players with something to prove. (And already a number of top standouts with D-League experience have suited up for Japan teams; other times, teams take the cheap route and sign guys who attended D-II, D-III or NAIA schools and are less likely to excel or last.)

Securing a real partnership with the JBA could be beneficial for the D-League if the Japan leagues prove to be fertile ground as, essentially, an Asia-based D-League2.

And that extends to Japanese athletic trainers, assistant coaches, head coaches, not just players, all of whom should view the D-League as a vital proving ground and/or stepping stone in their careers.

Link Tochigi Brex point guard Yuta Tabuse spent a lot more time in the D-League than he did in the NBA. Other Japanese should consider the D-League a target, too, especially guys on the Japan senior national team and U-22 squad. The plan: Reach the D-League, excel there and pave the way for future influx of Japanese to the NBA. It's a process, of course, not one rapid step.

And at the same time, D-Leaguers that are not getting playing time -- the bench warmers -- could benefit from having the chance to play in Japan if the roster transaction was as simple as a snap of the wrist.

Adding more D-League talent to the bj-league and NBL at any stage of the season would keep the competitors hungry and intense.

And if coaches excel in the Japan leagues and yearn for challenges overseas, there's nothing that says some of them shouldn't vie for D-League assistant or HC positions in the future. In fact, the NBA could co-sponsor or underwrite a tutorial program to help Japanese improve conversational English to make their job prospects more realistic overseas.

Danny Green's success shows that perseverance is a key to excellence in this profession.

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Catching up with ... Marcus Toney-El

6/15/2013

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It has been six years since Marcus Toney-El played his final game for the Saitama Broncos. The versatile forward, who enjoyed dishing out nicknames to teammates and bringing smiles to fans' faces during his two seasons in Japan, moved on to Australia before embarking on a coaching career. He also played pro ball in the Dominican Republic before coming to Japan.

His first stop in the college coaching ranks: Fairleigh Dickinson University in his native New Jersey. He served as the Knights' associate head coach the past two seasons and was on the team's coaching staff for three seasons.

I recently caught up with Toney-El, who starred at Seton Hall University (2000-04), to gain some perspective on his career and his overall thoughts on the game.

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You have been involved in coaching for a few years now. So what's the most rewarding aspect of the job? What's the most challenging aspect of it?

The most rewarding part of being a college coach is knowing that I have the responsibility of making young men better men. To know that I can positively affect their life both on and off the basketball court. The most challenging aspect is getting them to break habits that have been developed since their childhood. Whether it be basketball or life, some people at first are reluctant to change simply because it goes against their norm.

What is your favorite all-time basketball movie? Why?

My all-time favorite basketball movie has to be Love & Basketball. I like it because I can relate to it. He Got Game and Blue Chips are a close second and third.

In simple terms, what do you think are the biggest differences between coaching at the college and pro levels?

The biggest difference would have to be controlling egos. See in college you need your coach and program to work for you so that you can become a pro. So with that being the case, a player has to put his ego aside so that he can work to become a pro.

At the pro level, some guys feel as if they have arrived and will do enough to stay at that pro level. Often times the attitude is, "I'm not playing but I'm still getting paid"; whereas on the college level it's, "I'm the ninth man how do I get to the starting five?" Another obvious difference would be the style of play. The game is faster at he pro level and it's more one-on-one- isolation play than in college.

Reflecting on your career since joining the coaching ranks, how do you think you've grown and developed into your second career in the game? And what do you consider your strengths as a coach?

I think I have grown tremendously in my coaching career. I have always enjoyed the chess match part of the game, but to really see the game in slow motion and to be able to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses takes a lot of work and I continue to put the work in.

My biggest strength would have to be getting players to maximize their potential. Basketball is a player's game, and if I can get you to properly believe in you and how it fits my scheme, then basketball is made easy. My ability to motivate, implement game plan and game-time decisions are the areas I pride myself on.

What was the biggest challenge(s) in recruiting basketball players to FDU. a Northeast Conference school, when the competition is so fierce throughout the Division I ranks?

The biggest challenge for me was that just in the metropolitan area of NY/NJ/CT there are about 15 Division I schools and I am recruiting against 11 of those schools for players that have inflated opinions about themselves. Add in the other schools in the surrounding areas and my job gets that much more difficult. The irony is that I love the recruiting part of my job.

Have you set a target of being a college head coach in the next five
to 10 years? Is that a short-term goal? And do you hope to coach in the NBA some day?

I am in no rush to be a college head coach. My goal is to one day be a college head coach. I understand that there is a lot for me to learn and I am willing to go through the process so that I am as prepared as need be. I have recently began thinking of being an NBA assistant, but right now my focus is at the collegiate level.

By playing overseas, how has that helped broaden your horizons and given you perspectives and mind-sets that have enriched your life? Can you offer an example or two?

Playing overseas has added so much to me as a person that it has given me the ability to communicate on a different level and see things from different perspective that otherwise I would have missed out on. Because I took the time in Japan to learn the language and culture, it gives me a platform of saying you can do whatever you put your mind to. During the game when I'm playing because of the pace a lot of things I had to do was a reaction to body language, a basketball motion or read and react. We didn't speak each other's verbal language too well so I had to pay attention to detail.

That's one thing I emphasize … attention to detail.

Who do you consider the most underrated or under-appreciated player in the NBA today?

I think the most under-appreciated player is (Chicago's) Luol Deng. I'm hard pressed to think of anyone, but I'm not sure if enough people truly appreciate how Luol impacts his team.

Have you secured or are looking for a position with a different
school for the 2013-14 season? (I saw the report about bench boss Greg Vetrone not being brought back to FDU for next season.)

I am currently trying to secure a position with another university.

Who are a few of your coaching role models? Cite reasons for your admiration for them.

Tommy Amaker -- His ability to recruit.
John Calipari -- His ability to manage a team full of high-quality talent.
Rick Pitino -- Makes the right in-game adjustments.
Tom Izzo- His ability to develop players.
Billy Donovan - Xs and Os.

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Interview with Toney-El from 2007 in The Japan Times: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2007/01/20/basketball/toney-el-keeps-broncos-teammates-loose-with-nicknames/#.UbxS31JKh8E

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Q&A with ... Bob Hill

6/12/2013

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Finding out what people think is a never-ending quest for journalists. So that prompted this short exchange...

Bob Hill, former head coach of the New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers, San Antonio Spurs, Seattle SuperSonics and Tokyo Apache, provided his thoughts on a few short questions via email.

What are your three favorite basketball movies of all time? Why?

(1) Hoosiers .... It's true
(2) Coach Carter .... Great lessons
(3) Glory Road .... It's true

What do you consider the best current NBA rivalry, and what makes it special in your mind?

Oklahoma City-San Antonio. Two quality teams. Probably won't stay a great rivalry after this season.

Who is the most underrated head coach in the NBA today?

(Chicago's) Tom Thibodeau. He did a tremendous job this season.

Is the current coaching carousel even bigger than you expect this offseason?

It makes no sense to me at all.

Every coach appreciates when players seek them out for pointers, I think. With that in mind, from your NBA days as a head coach and assistant, can you think of an example where you provided key advice to a player and that helped him to much greater success down the road?

I have a lot of examples of helping or teaching players. Too many to include in an email. The stories are too long. I have always believed that helping, teaching, empowering players is a large part of your job. Especially today.

Almost everyone calls Miami's LeBron James the best player on the planet. Who do you think is the most exciting player to watch?

We Americans get totally carried away with labeling people. "Divas" and "best player on the planet" are good examples. It's totally out of control. LeBron is clearly the best player in the NBA and is clearly the most exciting player to watch. Basketball is a team game and the best player should embrace the essence of just that. I think LeBron is learning to do that. He is evolving into a combination of Magic (Johnson) and Michael (Jordan).

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A brief thought

NBA Finals commentary, D-League and Japan

Catching up with ... Marcus Toney-El

Q&A with ... Bob Hill

Ed Odeven

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