Back to school: Howard, Daniels, Stefansson

[MavsFanFinley]

Back to school

Back to school
Four-year college players Howard, Daniels getting crash course in fundamentals

Sunday, January 4, 2004
By CHUCK CARLTON / The Dallas Morning News

Long after practice and long before games, three Mavericks rookies plan for the future.

Each jump shot, each move, each drill carries a purpose for Josh Howard, Marquis Daniels and Jon Stefansson. They have company who make sure they work smart as well as hard, a sweat dividend if you will.

Rolando Blackman, the Mavericks' director of player development and a four-time All-Star, leads the group whose job it is to provide individual instruction.

The work has brought results. Howard has progressed from the final pick in the draft's first round to a regular member of a short Mavericks rotation. In December, he averaged 10.6 points and 7.8 rebounds while starting eight of 13 games. Daniels has provided key minutes in a backup role and doesn't look out of place. Stefansson remains a long-term project, as the Mavericks expected.

While Howard and Daniels have physical tools and talent, Blackman and Co. have eased the NBA adjustment.

"He keeps us confident on what we're doing and what we're working on doing," Howard said. "He has something positive to say even when we're messing up. He's always there to push us."

Blackman borrows from the coaches in his background, from New York high school legend Ted Gustus to his college coach, the late Jack Hartman, to familiar NBA names such as Dick Motta, Pat Riley and Don Nelson.

And add a little of the Louis Gossett Jr. character from An Officer and a Gentleman.

The underlying approach is as simple as it is important, Blackman said.

"What we really get a chance to do is work with them on fundamentals," Blackman said, making the last word seem even longer than four syllables.

"Don't think that it's any secret sauce or whatever the situation is. It comes from hard work and being able to understand what the fundamentals are and being able to execute at a high level. With that, we work with the rookies ... but the guys are hungry also. They in turn want to learn."

Blackman wants the players drilled enough and confident enough that game action will seem like an extension of practice.

Howard and Daniels understand the importance of what Blackman preaches.

"He drills it in you and gets you to prepare for a game situation," Daniels said. "Most guys warm up when they practice and go through things a little laid-back. It's intense with him. You always have to be focused. He works your brain first before he starts with your body."

Howard went from another player to Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year by working individually with Wake Forest coach Skip Prosser.

Daniels did much the same with coaches at Auburn.

As four-year major college players, they entered the NBA more mature and polished, which has been a bonus to the development staff. Also, Howard and Daniels are each medium-sized, walking matchup problems capable of playing different positions – much like Blackman during his playing career.

"We're pretty similar to him," Howard said. "I watched him growing up, and he was a wonderful NBA player, one of the best. Just to have an opportunity to learn from a legend like him is great. I'm going to try to soak everything in I can."

The Mavericks, who have seldom experienced recent immediate impact from rookies, are aware of the importance of Blackman and his staff.

"It's crucial to a young player's development," said Donnie Nelson, the team's president of basketball operations. "They're doing the most important thing they can, taking the knowledge and taking the pearls of wisdom they have and passing that along."

[Murphy3]

When will Nellie go 'back to school' for some coaching fundamentals?

[Murphy3]

oh well, gotta take the 'good' with the 'bad'

[dude1394]

Originally posted by: Murphy3
When will Nellie go 'back to school' for some coaching fundamentals?

cheap... ;^)

[Chicago JK]

Wouldn't it be nice to have a big man project too?

[Max Power]

Originally posted by: Chicago JK
Wouldn't it be nice to have a big man project too?

Our big man coach sucks. Notice that the rookies who are getting trained by Blackman are all guard/small forward types. That's something that Ro knows how to play.

We need a nasty big man coach.

[Chiwas]

"What we really get a chance to do is work with them on fundamentals," Blackman said, making the last word seem even longer than four syllables.

Jamison, Walker and Fortson need the longer than four syllabes fundamentals. When are they going to learn the pick'n roll? Not to mention the free throwing.

[EricaLubarsky]

Jamison, Walker and Fortson need the longer than four syllabes fundamentals. When are they going to learn the pick'n roll? Not to mention the free throwing.

pick and roll= 3 sylables
free throws= 2 sylables