National Basketball Association

Daily Buzz: Secret to Blazers' success just might be cunning use of tablets

Updated Mar. 5, 2020 12:42 a.m. ET

Sam Gardner

Generally speaking, if an NBA coach looked down the bench and saw a player with his face buried in a tablet during a game, the coach would be furious. But in the case of the Portland Trail Blazers and coach Terry Stotts, such behavior is actually encouraged.

According to Ben Golliver at Blazers Edge, Damian Lillard, Wesley Matthews, Nicolas Batum and LaMarcus Aldridge are among the Blazers who use tablets to review game tape while on the bench, often times even watching plays from earlier in the very game they're playing.

“This video feedback comes almost in real time,” Golliver writes. “Starters are able to watch sequences from their first shift when they check out for the first time, minimizing the delay from action to correction. What might once have been a ‘halftime adjustment' can now take place before a player checks back in during the second quarter.”

The assistance the technology provides isn't lost on the players, either.

"It does (help) because you get to see it (again), and in the game everything happens so fast," Matthews told Blazers Edge. "You ask yourself, 'Did I rush it? I felt like I rushed it.' (The video can tell me) when I'm in that same situation -- off a flare screen, when Nic (Batum) passes over the top -- (if) I have more time to get the shot off or (if) I have to shoot it at that speed again. Or, could I have driven it?"

The concept of putting playbooks on tablets isn't exactly new in the sports world, but whereas the NFL prohibits in-game use of the technology — players can be and have been fined for even tweeting in-game — the NBA has no problem with it, so long as the video players are watching isn't live.

"I get double-teamed a lot so I just have them put my double teams on there," Aldridge told the site. "I want to see how they're double-teaming me, where they are coming from. Of course (it helps). If I'm getting double-teamed and I can see how they're doing it. That helps me and all my teammates."

Clearly the Blazers are doing something right this season, what with their 13-2 start that currently includes an 11-game winning streak. And if the use of this method to make in-game adjustments from the bench has even the slightest bit to do with it, you can bet the rest of the league will be soon to follow.

Now, for some links:

— The Vancouver Canucks are sending a special surprise from Jason Garrison to a little girl who had a puck taken from her at a game.

— The Philadelphia 76ers will retire Allen Iverson's number in March.

— Darren Archibald of the Utica Comets sent Karl Stollery of the Lake Erie Monsters head over heels — literally — with this hit:

— The El Paso Rhinos do the Backstreet Boys:

— A former Lingerie Football League player is stumping for women's football safety.

— A Charlotte Bobcats rookie says he has only seen Michael Jordan a handful of times.

— Knicks fans hacked the Wikipedia page of James Dolan's band.

— A Florida fisherman caught this 800 pound… thing… off the coast of Miami:

— How do you make a college game between two small-time schools you've never heard of interesting? A 70-foot game-winning buzzer beater should do the trick:

— Jadeveon Clowney, a junior, will be honored during South Carolina's Senior Day festivities.

— Tiger Woods' old caddie, Stevie Williams, says 2014 will be his last full-time season as a caddie.

— Ryan Braun said that planning his wedding has been more stressful than dealing with his PED scandal.

— A Cornell freshman goaltender scored a goal in his first career start:

— Read about the grooming secrets of NBA players.

— The Washington Nationals are reportedly looking to add a $300 million roof to their stadium, but the mayor of DC reportedly laughed at the suggestion.

— Meanwhile, Cobb (Ga.) County commissioners approved $300 million in public funding for the Atlanta Braves' new stadium.

— Via @blazersedge, this is Jason Kidd reacting to a win. The thrill of victory? I don't see it: