By Steve Martin, Bobcats Play-by-Play
For Foxsportscarolinas.com
April 20, 2010
It was a very unusual day for the Bobcats when they went to practice at the Orlando Sports Complex. After a 1 hour long film (dvd) session at their headquarters hotel, they headed by bus to the Complex about 5 miles away. Waiting for them was a phalanx of media. A national television crew filmed them getting off the bus and others were waiting inside the facility and actually lined the court. Typically practices are closed, especially during the playoffs and the media waits until the final 15-20 minutes of practice to get it. In this case, they were already in and Coach Brown decided they should stay and watch.
He gathered his team around and addressed them. His words were clear so that the gathered media could hear.
"Orlando took the day off yesterday, that's what they think of you", Coach Brown exclaimed (the Bobcats practiced Monday). Then he released them for stretching by the strength coach- Michael Irr.
A Larry Brown practice can be long. There are many interruptions by Coach Brown to make a particular point. A player cut may have been too shallow, a screen not held long enough, or a variety of other issues can stop a practice for a teaching moment by Larry Brown. He didn't hold anything back, he mentioned defensive assignments by name, he talked about Dwight Howard and Vince Carter and Jameer Nelson and discussed what each might do in reaction to a certain Bobcats defensive alignment.
Basketball is the base root of Larry Brown. Video Coach Drew Perry told me last night that he asked coach if he had favorite TV shows. He told him that he is usually watching basketball, either NBA or college. If there are no games on, he'll watch CNN. His idea of American Idol is anybody with a good post up game. Basketball Operations assistant Bill Cartun said that once Brown asked him if he saw a recent West Virginia basketball game and if he could get the play that the Mountaineers ran at the 9:33 mark of the second half of that game.
