Jetstream - A tie, you cannot be serious... Paul Smith on basketball differences

Feb 2 2011

Paul Smith

Jets’ Head Coach Paul Smith considers some national and individual differences in the basketball world

Last week I took the Jets team over to the Amaechi Centre in Manchester to watch Mersey Tigers and Newcastle Eagles battle it out in the first leg of the BBL trophy semi-final.

It gave us a chance to see two of our foremost rivals for the championship in action – and it was also great to see BBL teams operating again in Manchester.

I sat with Quemont [Greer] and Jeremy [Bell], and we witnessed a truly fascinating encounter with fluctuating fortunes which ended in in the most unusual result for a basketball match – namely a draw [82 all]. Jeremy and Quemont were completely baffled ; “a tie? That’s not a result! They have to go to overtime” was their response.

In vain I pointed out that this was a two-legged affair ; that after 4 quarters, it was effectively half-time with the second leg in Newcastle the second half. They weren’t having that! A game needs a result they claimed! A good job they won’t be around for the cricket season – I shudder to think what they would make of a five day cricket test match with a draw as the final result! I gues that it’s just a sign of the differences between our cultures – somehow you can’t imagine them understanding the concept of an “honourable draw”!

While I was enjoying the rare pleasure of watching a game of basketball without any real concern about who came out on top, I also had time to study the demeanour and approaches of the opposing coaches, and I began to consider how much the teams were more or less a reflection of the personalities and approaches of their respective play callers – I guess it’s quite predictable really – but the contrast between the two on show in Manchester was quite remarkable!

On one side we saw the Tigers, coached by Tony Garbeletto – who prowled the side line – waving, pointing, gesticulating – keeping up a constant barrage of advice – cajoling and encouraging his players and letting all and sundry – team. table officials and referees included, exactly what he thought of every decision or occurrence. His team were also very vocal - to each other, to their opponents, and sometimes to the referees. Wheteher these feelindgs wer of pleasure or pain, delight or despair, joy or frustration – it was always their clear as day on the faces of both coach and players!

In contrast, we had Eagles player-coach fab Flournoy – steely-eyed a impervious – stood stock-still in his technical area – issuing directions and instructions – like a general directing his troops. This was a military style exercise – there was a plan and everyone knew their part in it and their responsibilities. Occasionally, if someone fell short in their role – they would be withdrawn and he would enter the fray himself to steady the ship!

It was a fascinating clash of styles and all in all, I felt the outcome was a fair reflection of the play – even if our American visitors found it impossible to accept!