SB Nation User Blog: Ojala John

Lots of praise in the Houston Chronicle

Ojala John — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:06:06 -0000

Lots of praise in the Houston Chronicle

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/6385496.html

Do I remember these two Nate quotes/attributions correctly?

Ojala John — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 20:02:38 -0000

Like many here I'm a coach. I admit that I have used the media more than once for political spin or to bring home points and motivate my players. Thus I take second hand (media) representations of team dynamics with a grain of salt. I also think Nate's been great so far.

But two recent statements attributed to him in the media (and the lack of their manifestation on the court) are bothering me. If I understood correctly Joel was quoted as saying that "pound the paint" has been part of nearly every game plan for quite some time. He also allowed that the players have ignored that directive until recently.

I also remember Nate as being quoted as saying that switching on picks is a breakdown/emergency option. That doesn't seem to be born out on game film. Do I misremember these two statements? Trusting that I'm close, I make the following observation:

I have lost the focused attention of every one of my players over the course of long, multiyear associations. And I've seen plenty of my peers lose their audiences as well. In my experience it's the core players- those closest to the coach- that often seem to lose listening skills first. This in and of itself isn't such a big deal in my opinion. To me it's simply the product of monotony and fatigue.

But what the coach does after realizing that his team has tuned him out is a defining quality of the team and the coach. I am reminded of a story about Pat Riley burying his head in a bucket of half melted ice for quite a length of time in an effort to get Alonzo Mourning and friends to refocus on what he wanted them doing differently.

We all seem to agree that it's time for Nate to get a dozen guys to change some habits. But first do I remember these two quotes correctly?

If so, how would you as Coach-for- a-day make dedicated and seemingly coachable (but young) professionals begin listening again and doing as directed?

I propose that changing their bad habits (isos, jump shooting and coasting around picks) won't happen until they are reengaged. Your thoughts?

Jason Thompson forgets the vet's bagels. Again.

Ojala John — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:27:31 -0000

Jason Thompson forgets the vet's bagels. Again.

Credit to "Ball Don't Lie," I think.

Even Joel's grandma is a bdass

Ojala John — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 22:13:18 -0000

Even Joel's grandma is a bdass

The dude just keeps gettin better in my opinion.

fatty sighting?

Ojala John — Tue, 13 May 2008 03:11:18 -0000

Is our boy back?

I think brandon roy and sf rudy at sg and la at pf and oden at center best pg is terry porter hands down mybe the blazers could put a deal to get rose in the draft with trading raef and are back up pg and a good backup player to let go of some log jam at sf spot not sure if a team would do the trade but sounds like a good trade to me if rose is as good as everyone is saying

by broy on May 10, 2008 5:37 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

See halfway down Dave's piece on the summer of PGs.

Sergio to the Knicks?

Ojala John — Sun, 11 May 2008 23:38:36 -0000

I do wish he could succeed here, but I'd hope that we're done developing long shots and giving minutes to players with major holes in their game. That said, the Knicks need a fun-to-watch distributor with Sergio's talents and can afford to allow him to grow a more rounded game. Mr. Nash never played much defense for D'Antoni as I recall anyway. Is there a deal to be made now as the new regime begins to reconfigure the roster? Another Stevie Francis type salary driven deal? Where will the Knick's draft this year? Could Raef factor in? Next year's first, perhaps? Dump some of our second rounders at least?