Often times coaches can get caught up a little too much in evaluating execution and not focus or emphasize how hard their team is playing or not playing. Sometimes we assume we should just come out and play hard each and every night. Developing a mindset of playing as hard as you can for as long as you can is just as important as developing skills, and your system of play. That's why I loved this short post by Broderick Turner of the LA Times on Clippers head coach Doc Rivers:
Clippers Coach Doc Rivers talked about how much he admired how hard the undermanned Utah Jazz played in a 98-90 loss on Saturday night at Staples Center.
In that same vein, Rivers said his team has been playing hard too. The Clippers played hard in losing at Golden State and Portland last week, and they played hard in defeating the Jazz.
“I think we’re getting that way for sure,” Rivers said. “I think we play hard most nights.
"When you have the talent that we have, it’s more trying to get guys to play in the right spirit every night. And we’re getting there. I think our team is really close."
Rivers has been stressing that to be a good team, you have to play hard every night, no matter the opponent.
“I’ve been saying it for a week or two," Rivers said. "You can feel it. We’re close to being like really good.”
“I think we’re getting that way for sure,” Rivers said. “I think we play hard most nights.
"When you have the talent that we have, it’s more trying to get guys to play in the right spirit every night. And we’re getting there. I think our team is really close."
Rivers has been stressing that to be a good team, you have to play hard every night, no matter the opponent.
“I’ve been saying it for a week or two," Rivers said. "You can feel it. We’re close to being like really good.”
