http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba...th-larry-bird/
Some snippets:
Some snippets:
SLAM: Now if I understand, the three-point shot isn’t something you really like, is it?
LB: [Laughs] I like it at certain times. I don’t like quick threes off the break, I don’t like three-on-twos that end up in a three-point shot. But a lot of coaches think that you play the percentages and if you have shooters you use it to your advantage.
LB: [Laughs] I like it at certain times. I don’t like quick threes off the break, I don’t like three-on-twos that end up in a three-point shot. But a lot of coaches think that you play the percentages and if you have shooters you use it to your advantage.
SLAM: I would imagine rookies seek your advice often. When you sign a rookie to the Pacers, is there anything that you make sure to tell each and every rookie that comes to you for advice?
LB: Well, it’s funny, you know, all these kids that come in now have all the answers. I can remember when I came in, I went to Dave Cowens, I talked to Dave about different things. I can remember the first time we went on a west coast trip, we were going to be gone for 14 days and I said what’s the difference out here than how it is on the east coast and they said there’s a lot more running and gunning and there’s going to be a lot more opportunities for you to play your total game instead of just scoring and rebounding. The players today, when I talk to them, especially when I sign them, I tell them what we expect of them, and, you know, hard work, show up on time, work on your game in practice, try to improve each year. And some of them take it and some of them down. After I sign them I say, I hope I sign you again to a lot bigger contract. When it comes down to it’s not only about displaying your talents on the court, but you have a short time period here to make a living and to make the best of it.
LB: Well, it’s funny, you know, all these kids that come in now have all the answers. I can remember when I came in, I went to Dave Cowens, I talked to Dave about different things. I can remember the first time we went on a west coast trip, we were going to be gone for 14 days and I said what’s the difference out here than how it is on the east coast and they said there’s a lot more running and gunning and there’s going to be a lot more opportunities for you to play your total game instead of just scoring and rebounding. The players today, when I talk to them, especially when I sign them, I tell them what we expect of them, and, you know, hard work, show up on time, work on your game in practice, try to improve each year. And some of them take it and some of them down. After I sign them I say, I hope I sign you again to a lot bigger contract. When it comes down to it’s not only about displaying your talents on the court, but you have a short time period here to make a living and to make the best of it.
SLAM: I think you would probably agree that when you look at this current Indiana Pacers team, you’re looking at a challenge, and I think you’ve been looking at a challenge for the past several years, do you think this is the biggest challenge you’ve faced?
LB: Oh yeah, no question about it. We haven’t had any money at all. We’ve been up against the cap to go out and get a free agent. When we lose a player when his contract ends for $6 or $7 million, we might have to go out and get three players. We can use the money but to stay under the cap we only have $5 or $6 or $7 million to go out and get three players to try to stay under it. So, you know, that’s just part of the struggle. Obviously losing is very difficult, but when you’re rebuilding you know you’re going through stages, it’s going to be tough, but as long as you draft the players and you see a bright future, I think it’s going to be lights at the end of the tunnel, it’s going to be very good, not only for me, but for the franchise and that’s what’s most important.
SLAM: Absolutely, and I feel like each season this team and this franchise takes a step forward and looks a little better each season. What is it going to take before you, and this franchise, and this team can take that final step and be a powerhouse in the NBA and a threat towards other teams around the League and fight for a title?
LB: What’s happening is we’re drafting young players, maybe some of them won’t be superstars, but will be great fill-ins, some will be back-up players, some will be starters. And when you get your salaries down, which we’re going to be down to about $28-30 million after next year and that’s the first time, I think, in the history of this franchise we’re going to have an opportunity to go out and look for players and try to fill this roster with the type of players we want here and ones that can win games.
SLAM: What do you like to see in a basketball player? What do you look for when you’re trying to bring guys to Indianapolis?
LB: Well first of all, they give as much off that court as they do on and we’ve been very fortunate for that for the last four or five years. Even when we had players here that got themselves into some trouble, they were excellent in our community. They were out there and they were giving, but overall I think if you want to get the type of players in here that’s going to play the game the right way, and not only give it to you in games, but do the right things in practice to prepare themselves.
SLAM: Now, how has the process of scouting changed since 2004? Or has it changed? What are you doing differently now?
LB: Well the kids are so young now. I mean, there’s a lot of kids that come out that have great talent, but they’re so young you don’t know how they’re going to mature of the years and I think it’s really just a guess. You know they have the talent, you know they have the fundamentals, it’s just about whether they’re going to get better and better. That’s probably been the hardest thing. We like to take guys that have had a lot of college experience and that had good coaching, and been good kids along the way, but you just never know until you’ve had then for a couple years because you never know how they’re going to turn out.
LB: Oh yeah, no question about it. We haven’t had any money at all. We’ve been up against the cap to go out and get a free agent. When we lose a player when his contract ends for $6 or $7 million, we might have to go out and get three players. We can use the money but to stay under the cap we only have $5 or $6 or $7 million to go out and get three players to try to stay under it. So, you know, that’s just part of the struggle. Obviously losing is very difficult, but when you’re rebuilding you know you’re going through stages, it’s going to be tough, but as long as you draft the players and you see a bright future, I think it’s going to be lights at the end of the tunnel, it’s going to be very good, not only for me, but for the franchise and that’s what’s most important.
SLAM: Absolutely, and I feel like each season this team and this franchise takes a step forward and looks a little better each season. What is it going to take before you, and this franchise, and this team can take that final step and be a powerhouse in the NBA and a threat towards other teams around the League and fight for a title?
LB: What’s happening is we’re drafting young players, maybe some of them won’t be superstars, but will be great fill-ins, some will be back-up players, some will be starters. And when you get your salaries down, which we’re going to be down to about $28-30 million after next year and that’s the first time, I think, in the history of this franchise we’re going to have an opportunity to go out and look for players and try to fill this roster with the type of players we want here and ones that can win games.
SLAM: What do you like to see in a basketball player? What do you look for when you’re trying to bring guys to Indianapolis?
LB: Well first of all, they give as much off that court as they do on and we’ve been very fortunate for that for the last four or five years. Even when we had players here that got themselves into some trouble, they were excellent in our community. They were out there and they were giving, but overall I think if you want to get the type of players in here that’s going to play the game the right way, and not only give it to you in games, but do the right things in practice to prepare themselves.
SLAM: Now, how has the process of scouting changed since 2004? Or has it changed? What are you doing differently now?
LB: Well the kids are so young now. I mean, there’s a lot of kids that come out that have great talent, but they’re so young you don’t know how they’re going to mature of the years and I think it’s really just a guess. You know they have the talent, you know they have the fundamentals, it’s just about whether they’re going to get better and better. That’s probably been the hardest thing. We like to take guys that have had a lot of college experience and that had good coaching, and been good kids along the way, but you just never know until you’ve had then for a couple years because you never know how they’re going to turn out.
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