GREAT Article On Coach Mac!

[ABM]

Including lots of cool insights from the ol' 'Sarge' days.

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2009/04/nate_mcmillan_the_blazers_nono.html

Wow, Nate has certainly been through a metamorphosis with the team. Kudos to him for what he has accomplished!

When McMillan arrived for the first day of practice with his team, the plan was set. Training camp would be held in McMinnville at Linfield College, a 45-minute bus ride from the team's facility in Tualatin.

Excited, but daunted by the task at hand, McMillan waited in the front seat of the bus to get started with the rebuilding effort. He would build a team on the foundation of togetherness and respect.

But in his first act as coach, he was disrespected.

"It's our first trip, and we have three guys who are late," McMillan said. "But not just late, not even there."

Athletic trainer Jay Jensen turned to McMillan and asked what the bus driver should do.

McMillan remembered not even hesitating.

"Hell yes, we're taking off," he remembered hissing. "We're gone!"

When McMillan arrived in Portland in the summer of 2005, he inherited a group that lacked heart and discipline. The franchise had invested heavily in Zach Randolph -- a player who had suckerpunched a teammate two years earlier -- and Darius Miles, a player who had berated the team's previous coach.

Both Randolph and Miles were among the three late. The other was rookie Jarrett Jack.

When the team arrived in McMinnville, the players were paired as roommates, a practice uncommon in the NBA. McMillan was hoping the tactic would accelerate communication and camaraderie among the team.

Shortly after, the three tardy players found their way to the small college town and learned of their room assignments.
The next item on the agenda was the team dinner, where McMillan would address the team for the first time. Shortly before the dinner, the coach was notified that two players checked out of their rooms.

"And I mean, this is the very first day. The very first day," McMillan said, still incredulous. "I get to the dinner and said, 'Who checked out of their rooms?'"

The hands of Randolph and Miles went up.

"I said, 'Get the hell out!' And that was it," McMillan said. "Just, 'Get out!' So they got up and left, and we went on with the meeting."

The message had been sent. There would be no messing with McMillan.

 

[Driew]

Maybe that explains why Jack was traded (among other things like stepping out of bounds).

 

[ABM]

I loved this part....

Last week, as the Blazers flew to Los Angeles for a Saturday game against the Clippers, McMillan heard rumblings on the team plane about the next morning's 11 a.m. meeting.

Eventually, Roy, the team co-captain confronted him. They had just beaten the Lakers. It was about to be their fifth game in seven nights. Could they get an extra hour of sleep and have the meeting at noon?

Four years ago, there wouldn't have been a soul brave enough to ask Sarge for such a reprieve.

But as McMillan said, this group is different. They work hard. They listen. And he has developed a cohesive line of communication with the team's leaders: co-captains Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge, and veterans Przybilla and Travis Outlaw. So McMillan moved the meeting.

"I want them to feel like this is theirs," McMillan said. "It's about them. So I want to communicate with them. When we were practicing hard and long years ago, shoot, we won 21 games. We are supposed to be in the gym. That's how it works. You pay the price. And this group has."

 

[MickZagger]

Its taken me awhile, but I''ve finally came around with McMillan. I think he's a great coach, might not be the best X's and O's coach, but he starting be great at making in game adjustments and is a great motivator. The current players seem to love playing for him, which helps a lot as a coach.

Mediocre Man sure has been quiet on the McMillan front after a couple good years of bashing him.

 

[ehizzy3]

wow @ jarrett

he was always painted as a hard worker

 

[ABM]

Mediocre Man sure has been quiet on the McMillan front after a couple good years of bashing him.

Mediocre Man has been quiet on a lot things lately.

BTW, I wonder how he's doing in the land of the (current) enemy?

 

[andalusian]

Its taken me awhile, but I''ve finally came around with McMillan. I think he's a great coach, might not be the best X's and O's coach, but he starting be great at making in game adjustments and is a great motivator. The current players seem to love playing for him, which helps a lot as a coach.

I think Nate does just fine with the X's and O's - if he would not - this team would not be as efficient offensively as it is. Yes, it looked very simple for a long time - but it was such a young team that he did the right thing - simple playbook - perfect the execution. As the team is maturing - you are starting to see the offensive scheme becoming more diverse.

 

[Minstrel]

I think Nate does just fine with the X's and O's

Portland's success rate on possessions coming out of time outs are also evidence of solid X's and O's skills.

 

[ABM]

Portland's success rate on possessions coming out of time outs are also evidence of solid X's and O's skills.

I remember the Blazers were, like, #1 in that stat last season. Has it remained similar this season?

 

[MickZagger]

I think Nate does just fine with the X's and O's - if he would not - this team would not be as efficient offensively as it is. Yes, it looked very simple for a long time - but it was such a young team that he did the right thing - simple playbook - perfect the execution. As the team is maturing - you are starting to see the offensive scheme becoming more diverse.

A player like Brandon Roy will do that to you. I didn't say he was bad, but he is not the best.

 

[Trailblazed&Confused]

That article completely reinforces what assholes Zach and Darius were/are. They were late for their first meeting with their coach!? That's definitely showing that you don't care and think you are bigger than the team. Wow, I wouldn't have thought even they would have done something like that, or the hotel room bit. I wonder if they would make that grown men not sharing rooms with other grown men argument in a room full of NFL players?