J.W. Webb ~ PERSPECTIVES

PERSPECTIVES

The Top 5 Coaches in the NBA
Critical Business Insights from the 2006 NBA Playoffs
By Mark W. Womack

A breakdown of the performance of this year’s National Basketball Association (NBA) playoff teams and their leaders yields insights that are immensely valuable for all leaders

On June 20th, the NBA crowned the Miami Heat their 2006 Champion. The Heat’s coronation culminated one of the most exciting and hyper-competitive playoff tournaments in the history of the NBA. 16 of the 30 NBA teams earn entry into the tournament and the opportunity to compete for the Championship. There were only two best-of-seven series (out of 15) that were not truly competitive (Dallas over Memphis and Detroit over Milwaukee). An NBA record five series needed the entire seven games to determine the victor.

As in other business industries, this intensely competitive landscape demands the best from the leaders of the organizations that have designs on thriving, let alone being number one in their competitive realm. In the NBA, the team’s leader is called “Coach.” The quality of leadership demonstrated by the coaches of the NBA’s playoff teams is a paramount factor in how well their teams perform and rise to the occasion with many millions of eyes following and critiquing their every move. The NBA playoffs provide a great laboratory for observing and assessing crucial leadership activities in a real environment and in an industry where the results are definitive and clearly displayed on the scoreboard. Over the course of the 2006 playoffs, five coaches demonstrated the best leadership. Following are highlights of the results their organizations achieved and the leadership that made it possible:

No. 5: Mike Dunleavy – Los Angeles Clippers

Key Results:

Tangible

The Clippers achieved the second-best regular season record in their 36-year history and qualified for the playoffs for the first time in nine years
In the first round of the playoffs, they defeated the Denver Nuggets four games to one
In the second round of the playoffs, they pushed the Phoenix Suns to a seventh game before succumbing

Intangible

Redefined the identity of the franchise from that of a perennial bottom-dweller to that of a dynamic winner on the rise
Developed an organization that expects to win and compete with the top-tier teams in the championship rounds

Key Leadership Strategies:

Convinced the Clippers’ owner to keep their best players instead of letting other teams outbid them for their services as had been the practice for many years
Brought in a critical veteran player, with a highly successful track record in the playoffs, who immediately injected a winning attitude and level of confidence that was previously missing
Designed the team to have a unique balance of veteran savvy and poise, youthful energy and speed, clutch outside shooters and talented bigger players to dominate around the basket

Why He’s One of the Best:

He exudes and instills confidence – his players believe in his game plans and he believes in their ability to successfully execute them and win
He relates well to his players and shows them respect
He expects and is aiming to succeed at the highest level in his profession
He developed a cohesive team chemistry with everyone on the same page\
He developed clearly defined roles for all team members, leveraging each individual’s unique strengths

What He Could Have Done Better:

The Clippers’ game-to-game performances were too inconsistent – had they been able to maintain high energy and a tenacious focus throughout most or all of their second-round series, they very well might have defeated the Suns.

No. 4: Phil Jackson – Los Angeles Lakers

Key Results:

Tangible

In the first year of his second stint with the Lakers, they won 11 more games than the previous season, a 32% increase
Qualified for the playoffs after falling far short the previous year
The seventh-seeded Lakers pushed the second-seeded Phoenix Suns to a seventh game in the first round of the playoffs
Numerous key players produced the best season of their careers
They ranked seventh out of 30 teams in the league in points scored

Intangible

Gave hope for the future to a franchise that had suddenly been without it after many years of great success
His poise under the most extreme competitive pressure is a calming influence on his team
His teaches his teams to better handle adversity by rarely calling timeouts when they are in the midst of struggling on the court
The team finished the regular season playing more cohesively and at a much higher level than at the beginning of the season

Key Leadership Strategies:

Developed a bond of respect and trust with the team’s most talented player whichpaved the way for the player to embrace a major leadership role in implementing his strategies
Assembled a very young team that can develop and grow as a unit

Why He’s One of the Best:

He commands respect from his players because he’s won significantly more championships than any active coach
He gets his teams to commit to his proven philosophies and systems
He’s uncommonly candid with his players, regularly providing critical feedback that is needed to achieve crucial performance gains
He’s a master strategist, focused on the big picture and what it will take to get the most out of a team over the long-term

What He Could Have Done Better:

In the first round of the playoffs, the Lakers were up three games to one against the Phoenix Suns and then lost the last three games of the series. The primary reason for this was the Lakers’ season-long over-reliance on their best player, which ultimately resulted in his teammates being ill-prepared to play at a higher level when his impact was strategically minimized by the Suns.

No. 3: Mike D’Antoni – Phoenix Suns

Key Results:

Tangible

Although they lost one of their two best players to injury at the very beginning of the season, the Suns had one of their best regular seasons in the history of the franchise, easily winning the Pacific Division
They were the highest-scoring team in the NBA by a wide margin
In the first round of the playoffs, after being down to the Lakers three games to one, the Suns became one of only eight teams in NBA history to prevail after such a deficit
In the second round of the playoffs, the Suns defeated a very talented and confident Clippers team in seven games by ultimately wearing them down with their unrelenting fast pace
In the third round of the playoffs, they pushed the Dallas Mavericks to a sixth game before succumbing to the Mavericks’ size and depth

Intangible

An unusually cohesive group of players that like and support each other exceptionally well
Unsurpassed confidence in their ability to compete and win
A very mentally tough team that never gets down on itself when struggling
Due to their unique fast-paced style and talent, combined with a humble demeanor, they are both one of the most exciting and well-liked teams across the league

Key Leadership Strategies:

The Suns’ core strategy was to out-run and out-shoot the competition from long range to take advantage of the three-point rule – the Suns assembled a group of players uniquely suited to execute that strategy
Crucial to successful execution of their strategy, the Suns’ on-court leader and best player leads the way by consistently getting the ball to his teammates at just the right time and when they are in just the right position to succeed
The Suns’ practice regimen results in a level of stamina that their competition cannot match

Why He’s One of the Best:

He lets his players play with rare freedom, essentially only demanding that they out-run and out-shoot the competition
His quiet confidence in his team’s ability to successfully execute their game-plan and eventually wear down the competition is infectious
He has the willingness and foresight to allow his on-court leader to make decisions on-the-fly during much of the game – instead of directing most of the plays from the sideline like most of his peers
His players are better able to recover from brief performance lapses because he demonstrates confidence that they will quickly return to form if they continue to play their role and execute the strategy
He believes in and never veers from driving the execution of his strategy regardless of the opponent’s strategy and style

What He Could Have Done Better:

Nothing that was available to him in their third round defeat to Dallas, but the main reason Dallas ultimately defeated them in six games is instructive. Dallas prevailed primarily because of their much greater depth (more talented supporting players) that enabled the Mavericks to give their best players more rest to keep them fresh with little or no dip in team performance, whereas the Suns were forced to over-rely on fewer players due to serious injuries sustained to several key players.

No. 2: Avery Johnson – Dallas Mavericks

Key Results:

Tangible

Tied a franchise-record by winning 60 games in the regular season, which was the third-best record in the entire NBA
They ranked seventh out of 30 teams in the league in points allowed after ranking 29th two seasons ago
In the first round of the playoffs, they swept the Memphis Grizzlies four games to none – the only series sweep in the tournament
In the second round of the playoffs, they defeated the defending champion San Antonio Spurs in a deciding game seven on the Spurs’ home court
In the third round of the playoffs, they defeated the high-flying Phoenix Suns four games to two
In the championship round, they finally were defeated by the Miami Heat in six games

Intangible

Developed a greater team toughness and tenacity
Developed an organization that now believes it can compete for the championship and beat any opponent

Key Leadership Strategies:

Leveraged the Mavericks’ superior depth and diversity of talented players by defining a unique arsenal of primary and support roles that in combination were very difficult to defeat
Demanded an even higher level of performance from his best player – the resulting performance gains helped transform a very good team into a great team

Why He’s One of the Best:

His direct communication style is consistent and genuine and lets his players know exactly what’s expected at all times
He’s unwavering about the team’s performance standards
He’s a great game-planner – he and his staff work tirelessly to identify the keys to defeating their opponent
He’s one of the best at making critical adjustments from game-to-game and during a game
He’s secure enough to let his top assistant play a major and very visible leadership role, resulting in a significantly stronger leadership team

What He Could Have Done Better:

After taking a two games to none lead at home vs. the Miami Heat in the championship round, the Heat stunned the Mavericks by winning the next three games in Miami, with Miami narrowly escaping defeat in two of them. Instead of role-modeling his usual mental toughness and adapting to overcome the confidence and momentum Miami had gained, he focused too much of his energy on claims that the officiating had unfairly favored the Heat and prevented his team from winning at least one of the games in Miami. This resulted in his team not being mentally prepared to regain control of the series when they returned to Dallas for game six, as Miami had done when they returned home for game three.

No. 1: Pat Riley – Miami Heat

Key Results:

Tangible

Easily won the Southeast Division in the regular season
They ranked sixth out of 30 teams in the league in points scored
In the first round of the playoffs, they defeated the Chicago Bulls four games to two
In the second round of the playoffs, they defeated the New Jersey Nets four games to one, after losing game one at home
In the third round of the playoffs, they defeated the Detroit Pistons, the number one team in the regular season, four games to two
In the championship round, they defeated the Dallas Mavericks four games to two, after losing the first two games

Intangible

Developed uncommon team unity, which was embodied by their mantra of “15 strong” – meaning that every team member, from their stars to their little-used reserves, played an important part in pursuit of their ultimate goal
Effectively assimilated several former all-stars into the team in key support roles, which gave the Heat a competitive edge

Key Leadership Strategies:

Replaced numerous key players with new players that better fit the vision he had for winning the championship – he did this at great risk because he was tinkering with an already highly successful team
Recruited a former superstar to play a key support role – this player made critical contributions in the championship round
Convinced another superstar to achieve a much higher level of fitness, after he didn’t do so for several previous coaches
From the first day of the season, he kept the team’s focus on the long-term goal – winning the championship

Why He’s One of the Best:

He consistently communicates an inspiring vision of a common goal
He’s a master motivator – able to get in his players’ heads and hearts
He never loses his poise
His playoff coaching experience (and success) is almost unmatched
He commands as much respect as any coach in the history of the NBA
He’s a straight-shooter with his players and unafraid to challenge or demand more from any of them, including the superstars

What He Could Have Done Better:

De nada – a masterful performance by a leader who guided his team to achieve the previously unthinkable.