Coaching changes are always big sports stories.
Whether it’s in the global scene or right here at home, a change at the helm is interesting because most of the time it’s either a tenuous situation or the poor head coach is being blamed for everything that’s wrong about a team.
Sometimes the excuses given for the firing or resignations are as lame as the “it’s time to move on” jazz that many coaches and team owners like to use.
The Philippine Azkals are currently searching the world for a coach that can handle their unique situation, where the players are more often summoned from different parts of the globe when a tournament needs their services.
In the PBA, there are different schools of thought ranging from the San Miguel group’s “pahiyang” approach—where coaches are moved around like managers in an organizational chart to the simple decision of the team owner.
There are, of course, the school teams.
In the old days, university presidents often left the selection of key coaches to the athletic department.
Not anymore. Nowadays, school presidents have a say in the selection given the competitive nature and high media profile of school sports.
In the old days, the simple tenet of bringing together a band of dedicated athletes together, training hard and teaching them to commit to the team cause was enough to win titles.
But as individual skills in team sports become more pronounced and the reason why teams succeed or fail, it is necessary to review how teams are assembled and what kind of person should coach these teams.
My son Jose has lent me Bill Simmons’ “The Book of Basketball,” a comprehensive fan-like look at the NBA.
Simmons’ approach is mostly to pose questions and initiate arguments about key issues and highlights of the league.
It’s a lengthy read but filled with insightful nuggets that any sports fan will relish.
To guide managers and coaches in assembling teams, Simmons’ analysis of the NBA champion teams reveals that there are common trends.
First, the champion teams has one great player, one Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Kobe Bryant or Tim Duncan.
But that’s not enough because the star player needs at least two reliable sidekicks that are comfortable in their roles and are not envious of the star.
The list includes Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker.
But still these are not enough: You need a lineup filled with role players who are again not envious of the playing time of the star and the sidekicks but are willing to do their roles when called upon to perform.
The Chicago Bulls of the Jordan era for example had Steve Kerr, Toni Kukoc and Luc Longley to complement the frontliners.
What this is all saying is that the developmental model for building teams does not always work in an era where there is extreme pressure to deliver right away for owners or countries.
These coaches must work with deft managers who know how to find the players that will fill the roles ideal for winning seasons and championships.
And the coach that knows how to manage this formula and find a basketball system that will allow all these players to flourish is the one you need for the job.
Sounds easy, right?
Try finding someone as good as Phil Jackson who certainly knew how to do it with not too many Xs and Os but with a ton of motivational techniques that made Kobe and Michael bought into.