Player Development Newsletter: All The European Jazz

[RonnieBrewer (Reverse Layup)]

Player Development Newsletter: All The European Jazz  
June 1, 2007
Posted by Ryan McNeill in Writer: Brian McCormick

Every article I read about the NBA suggests that the NBA is going more
European with its style of play. The media points to the Warriors and the
Suns as examples of "European-like" teams. I always laugh because 90% of
these writers have never been to a European basketball game and only
speculate as to the way the game is played.

I am not an expert on all of Europe, either, as my experience as been confined
to the smaller leagues; I'd very much like the opportunity to work with a
bigger European club, but the opportunity has yet to present itself. However,
I know enough to know that (1) there is not a distinct "European style" as
different regions, countries and teams play differently, just like there are
observable differences between the Pac 10 and Big East, for instance. And,
(2) I also know that the Golden State Warriors are not, by any stretch, an
example of any successful, top level European club. My favorite is the
suggestion that European teams do not even use post players; there is a
difference between post players having a full skill set, like a Tim Duncan,
versus a post player like Eric Dampier who plays because he is big and blocks
shots. European teams use the former, not the latter. In fact, the Spurs are
an example of a team with a European flavor, as they use Duncan to draw double
teams and kick out and they also run a lot of pick and rolls to free a
dribbler or a three-point shooter.

However, with all the talk of the "European Movement," arguably the top two
European players of the last couple years, Sarunas Jasikevicius and Vasilis
Spanoulis, hardly played. What's interesting, I think, is that Jasikevicius
said in an interview this week that the Jazz play the most like a European
team. And, after getting to see them play in the play-offs, since they are
rarely on TV, I completely agree.

I have been an unabashed Suns' fan since they signed Steve Nash. Actually,
since they hired Mike D'Antoni, as he actually responded to one of my emails
when I was 24 years old and he was coaching in Italy. But, when I saw the
Jazz play against the Kings at Arco Arena, my allegiance started to change.
While I like the Suns, I think they rely too much on Steve Nash. And, while
I like the open court tempo and freedom D'Antoni allows, I am often confused
when people talk about how great their ball movement is, as Steve Nash
controls the ball for about 90% of possessions. The Spurs, imo, move the ball
better than the Suns because they almost always make the extra pass which
leads to a wide open three, especially when passing out of a double team
where they catch the defense scrambling.

But, the Jazz do everything. Deron Williams sold it in an interview after
the Kings' game when he said that Jerry Sloan trusts him to make the right
decision and push if it is there or slow down and run a set if not. And, that
is good, fundamental basketball. Entertainment-wise, the Suns may be a better
show, but the Jazz are a coach's team.

The Jazz, the second most efficient team in the regular season, use a PG and
a post equally well. They run back screens, flex cuts, UCLA cuts, screen the
screeners, pick and rolls, etc. They use almost every basic basketball tactic
in their approach, which is why they are a great team to watch and emulate.
And, Jasikevicius is correct. The Jazz play a very European-style of
basketball. They do not rely on one player. They have posts who can make
threes (Okur) and who have great low post footwork (Boozer). They have a PG
who controls tempo, understands the game and runs the pick and roll well
(Williams). They have a couple guys who can hit stand-still threes (Fisher,
Giricek) or short jumpers off the curl cuts (Harpring). They post guards
(Harpring, Williams) and have posts (Kirilenko, Boozer, Okur) who can make
the pass. They have guys who slash (Kirilenko, Giricek). They have the full
repertoire of skills and players who can perform their role using these skills.

If the NBA is indeed headed toward a more international game, in terms of
style of play not just roster compilation, the Jazz is the team to highlight
and put on TV. And, for coaches, the Jazz is the team to watch because they
do so many things well and use such a variety of tactics which maximize the
individual's potential.


Brian McCormick wrote the book Cross Over: The New Model of Youth Basketball
Development and offers coaches a free weekly newsletter called Hard 2 Guard.
This article was taken from the latest newsletter which is available for free.
To get his weekly newsletter sent to your email account all you need to do is
send him an email at [e-mail] with the word "subscribe"in the
title.


http://hoopsaddict.com/2007/06/01/
player-development-newsletter-all-the-european-jazz/ 

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→ sam369:
推 Stockton:幫補，挑戰整頁都是黃色推文數＠＠？？
→ sam369:那我要噓了
推 Stockton:幫補，挑戰整頁都是黃色推文數＠＠？？
推 JK47:    幫補，挑戰整頁都是黃色推文數＠＠？？
→ jonrsx:                        山姆哥!!廁所隔壁右轉!!
推 hardaway:真不錯
推 Stockton:  真不錯
推 jonrsx:    真不錯      阿克特斯  說的是哪篇啊＠＠
推 Stockton:  真不錯      阿克特斯  說的是哪篇啊＠＠？？
推 smetry:    真不錯      阿克特斯  說的是哪篇啊＠＠
推 Actus:Jasikevicius還敢講!
→ Actus:當年爵士要簽他，他拒絕，理由是「不想為輸家打球」
推 jonrsx:
→ jonrsx:九蛋恨  猶未雪   爵士仇  何時滅?
推 kreen:
→ HornyJazz:所以他認為歐洲球風是輸家的球風囉～
推 gratitude:所謂的輸家就是會誤判輸家的人
推 sam369:
推 HYL: Is he a nut? Who won't choose Duncan over Dampier?
→ HYL: Is he trying to say most of US coaches are worse than EUR
→ HYL: coaches?
推 sam369: