Before I get into the details I want everyone to read these comments from the new NY Knick's coach Davis Fizdale that appeared in the Post yesterday.
The Knicks were one of the worst clubs coming out after halftime last season and Trey Burke indicated the club wasn’t prepared — an indictment of former coach Jeff Hornacek.
Fizdale said his entire coaching staff is on the players about being primed both mentally and physically. In Washington last Monday, the Knicks rolled to an 11-0 run to begin the second half. They’ve won the third quarter in their three preseason games by a combined 20 points.
Last year, 67 percent of teams who won the third quarter won the game. Burke said he notices the difference in the lead-up.
“A lot of that has to do with the way we warm up at halftime,’’ Burke said. “I think we were one of the worst teams at doing that last year. We would come out and kind of lollygag through the warm-up line at halftime. Some of the veterans on the team, we’ve got younger guys, we can’t allow them to come out and kind of just go through the motions when it’s halftime. That’s the time for us to get loose again.
“I think a lot of it was being lackadaisical [last season]. Coming on the court, guys just kind of playing around, just shooting jump shots. To where now, it’s two lines. We come out to layup lines.”
Fizdale has been talking up the third quarter since the start of camp. He knows he’s done well when the other coach calls the first timeout.
“What I’ve learned over the years, a lot of third quarters, a lot of it has to do just getting out the locker room, getting on the floor and getting loose,’’ Fizdale said. “You’ll see a lot of teams, they’ll drag out coming into that third quarter, thinking, ‘Ah, we got this.’ If you don’t get a good lather and a good mental preparation and have attention coming out of the third quarter, a lot of times you’re going to get smacked.”
Now, back to Seton Hall. Last season I left no doubt about my feelings re the team coming out of the corridor to begin the game. The dancing, the spotlight and the jovial entrance was fine, until it wasn't. Meaning as long as the team started the game focused I had no problem. But as the season progressed it was very clear that wasn't the case. How many home games were we down early, often by double digits? When you're behind early you have to expend a great amount of energy fighting your way back into the game and often when you do, once caught up you have an inevitable letdown putting the game in further jeopardy.
To me two of the most important parts of the game are starting and then as Fizdale noted above coming out strong to begin the second half. That's focus by the players and motivation by the coach.
Both were missing last season and it was no coincidence that the night we stopped the dancing and concentrated on just the game was when we began to play our best ball.
I remember playing against DePaul, the start of our winning 4 of the last 5 regular season games (most without Desi) when the team for the first time all season came out of the corridor serious with no clowning or dancing. When that was brought up to the team in the media room Angel Delgado said it was his idea.
I have more which I will hold off from posting until I read the comments from others.
What's your opinion on the subject?
The Knicks were one of the worst clubs coming out after halftime last season and Trey Burke indicated the club wasn’t prepared — an indictment of former coach Jeff Hornacek.
Fizdale said his entire coaching staff is on the players about being primed both mentally and physically. In Washington last Monday, the Knicks rolled to an 11-0 run to begin the second half. They’ve won the third quarter in their three preseason games by a combined 20 points.
Last year, 67 percent of teams who won the third quarter won the game. Burke said he notices the difference in the lead-up.
“A lot of that has to do with the way we warm up at halftime,’’ Burke said. “I think we were one of the worst teams at doing that last year. We would come out and kind of lollygag through the warm-up line at halftime. Some of the veterans on the team, we’ve got younger guys, we can’t allow them to come out and kind of just go through the motions when it’s halftime. That’s the time for us to get loose again.
“I think a lot of it was being lackadaisical [last season]. Coming on the court, guys just kind of playing around, just shooting jump shots. To where now, it’s two lines. We come out to layup lines.”
Fizdale has been talking up the third quarter since the start of camp. He knows he’s done well when the other coach calls the first timeout.
“What I’ve learned over the years, a lot of third quarters, a lot of it has to do just getting out the locker room, getting on the floor and getting loose,’’ Fizdale said. “You’ll see a lot of teams, they’ll drag out coming into that third quarter, thinking, ‘Ah, we got this.’ If you don’t get a good lather and a good mental preparation and have attention coming out of the third quarter, a lot of times you’re going to get smacked.”
Now, back to Seton Hall. Last season I left no doubt about my feelings re the team coming out of the corridor to begin the game. The dancing, the spotlight and the jovial entrance was fine, until it wasn't. Meaning as long as the team started the game focused I had no problem. But as the season progressed it was very clear that wasn't the case. How many home games were we down early, often by double digits? When you're behind early you have to expend a great amount of energy fighting your way back into the game and often when you do, once caught up you have an inevitable letdown putting the game in further jeopardy.
To me two of the most important parts of the game are starting and then as Fizdale noted above coming out strong to begin the second half. That's focus by the players and motivation by the coach.
Both were missing last season and it was no coincidence that the night we stopped the dancing and concentrated on just the game was when we began to play our best ball.
I remember playing against DePaul, the start of our winning 4 of the last 5 regular season games (most without Desi) when the team for the first time all season came out of the corridor serious with no clowning or dancing. When that was brought up to the team in the media room Angel Delgado said it was his idea.
I have more which I will hold off from posting until I read the comments from others.
What's your opinion on the subject?
