spectre
10-03-2010, 07:07 AM
Bonnell - News & Observer (http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/10/02/717918/bobcats-appreciate-browns-candor.html)
Brown may be harsh at times - he loves that expression, "it's coaching, not criticism'' - but a player never has to guess where he stands. That's a marked difference from Brown's predecessor, Sam Vincent, who lasted a single season as Bobcats coach.
Vincent was constantly changing his mind. One day he'd tell Raymond Felton he'd be exclusively a point guard, the next day Felton would play 20 minutes at shooting guard.
One of the players from Vincent's season here tells a story about asking Vincent why he wasn't playing. Vincent's reply: "I don't know,'' as if Vincent didn't control who played and who didn't.
If a player asked Brown why he wasn't playing, it would start a 30-minute conversation. Brown would lay out every plus and minus in the player's game, and tell the guy precisely what it would take to earn minutes.
You might not like what you heard, but you'd understand your place.
"He's a tough coach, but he's a great person,'' Diop said. "When you don't play, of course you get frustrated. But at the end of the day, he always kept it real with me. If you say, 'If you do this, then you'll play,' I can respect that.
"And after practice, he'd stay late and work with me. A lot of coaches in that situation wouldn't care. He respects the game so much that he'll help anybody get better.''
That last point is essential to Brown's approach. I asked several other players Friday what it's like to experience Brown's critiques. Each one said roughly the same thing: It works because no one doubts how much Brown cares.
Stephen Jackson made that point as well as anyone:
"(His frankness) is what I love about him. I'd much rather have a coach be honest with me than blow smoke. And we all know he cares about you, not just on the court, but as a person. Very seldom do you get that.''
We've also seen videos of Crash talking about his love for Larry Brown, Jax had one, and Tyrus supposedly was quick to re-sign with us because of Larry Brown.
LB does a lot of things that frustrates the hell out of everyone, but the way the guys above are committed to him says a lot.
Brown may be harsh at times - he loves that expression, "it's coaching, not criticism'' - but a player never has to guess where he stands. That's a marked difference from Brown's predecessor, Sam Vincent, who lasted a single season as Bobcats coach.
Vincent was constantly changing his mind. One day he'd tell Raymond Felton he'd be exclusively a point guard, the next day Felton would play 20 minutes at shooting guard.
One of the players from Vincent's season here tells a story about asking Vincent why he wasn't playing. Vincent's reply: "I don't know,'' as if Vincent didn't control who played and who didn't.
If a player asked Brown why he wasn't playing, it would start a 30-minute conversation. Brown would lay out every plus and minus in the player's game, and tell the guy precisely what it would take to earn minutes.
You might not like what you heard, but you'd understand your place.
"He's a tough coach, but he's a great person,'' Diop said. "When you don't play, of course you get frustrated. But at the end of the day, he always kept it real with me. If you say, 'If you do this, then you'll play,' I can respect that.
"And after practice, he'd stay late and work with me. A lot of coaches in that situation wouldn't care. He respects the game so much that he'll help anybody get better.''
That last point is essential to Brown's approach. I asked several other players Friday what it's like to experience Brown's critiques. Each one said roughly the same thing: It works because no one doubts how much Brown cares.
Stephen Jackson made that point as well as anyone:
"(His frankness) is what I love about him. I'd much rather have a coach be honest with me than blow smoke. And we all know he cares about you, not just on the court, but as a person. Very seldom do you get that.''
We've also seen videos of Crash talking about his love for Larry Brown, Jax had one, and Tyrus supposedly was quick to re-sign with us because of Larry Brown.
LB does a lot of things that frustrates the hell out of everyone, but the way the guys above are committed to him says a lot.