Coaching is such a fascinating job. It’s like being a parent of sorts, especially when you’re a high school or College coach. Not just teaching them how to ball. But to teach them about life and growing up.
The same happens with NBA coaches. In the day of the ‘One and done’, NBA coaches end up coaching young men who skipped years because of their talent. For most of them, their maturity doesn’t evolve so quickly. But it does give the coach the chance to form a bond with their players.
Rick Carlisle is one of the elite coaches in the game. He is great with players and manages to always make the Dallas Mavericks Playoff contenders. I thought they wouldn’t this season but that shows me I guess.
The Mavs recently battled with the Boston Celtics which just so happens to include Ex-Mav Jae Crowder, Carlisle caught a glimpse of Crowder’s improvement and likes what he sees.
“He’s gotten better virtually every game,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “It’s no surprise. We loved him here. We got (Dwight) Powell back in the deal. Powell’s a good young player, too. It’s a trade that’s going to work out well for us. Probably better for them because they got some draft picks, too.”
“He was tough on me and he was an everyday guy,” Crowder said. “He holds guys accountable to be their best each and every day. I think that’s the main thing I took away from his style.”
I didn’t think Crowder would’ve been this essential to the Celtics success but that just confirms how great a GM Danny Ainge is and how good a coach Brad Stevens is.
