Coach Ben Howland says he intends to "speed up" (in quotation marks) his team's transition attack this season in hopes of getting easier baskets.UCLA BASKETBALL FYI
UCLA basketball team attempting to pick up the pace
By Ben Bolch
The Los Angeles Times
9:25 PM PDT, October 25, 2010
Lazeric Jones took an outlet pass and raced up the floor, accompanied by Ben Howland's voice.
"Push, push, push!" the UCLA basketball coach bellowed.
Howland repeated the refrain after almost every possession Monday evening at Pauley Pavilion, regardless of whether a shot went in the basket or clanged off the rim.
The display came in front of a handful of boosters and reporters allowed to watch the Bruins' only open practice of the season, but Howland insisted it wasn't just for show; the coach said he intended to speed up his team's transition attack this season.
"Once we get it we have to get it out of there in a hurry, whether it's out of the basket, which hopefully will be less and more off of missed shots," Howland said.
The hope is that a quickened pace will lead to easier baskets, particularly with improved guard play and power forward Reeves Nelson's enhanced ability to run the floor.
"It fits us real well, just with our guard personnel, our athletes," shooting guard Malcolm Lee said, "and I think Coach notices."
Though hulking center Joshua Smith doesn't immediately figure to be a terror in transition, Howland said he envisioned the freshman eventually becoming a bigger contributor as Smith's conditioning improved. The 6-foot-10, 305-pounder displayed deceptive quickness in half-court drills, appearing beat by Anthony Stover on one play only to recover and pin a shot against the backboard.
"Josh is moving real well for his size," Lee said.
Start me up?
For much of the practice, the Bruins went with what appeared to be a first team of Smith, Nelson, Lee, Jones and Tyler Honeycutt, all wearing white jerseys.
Howland said afterward that the players in white were not necessarily his starters, calling them "just what we were working with today." But Lee said that before practice, Howland had said, "Starters in white."
Added Lee: "I've noticed we've been working in that unit with each other."
Etc.
Freshman Tyler Lamb said he would back up Honeycutt at small forward in addition to Lee at shooting guard. "If I have to guard a bigger guy, I'll guard him," said Lamb, who at 6-4 is four inches shorter than Honeycutt. "The only thing that changes for me is, when I'm a three I go in and crash the board on offense and when I'm a two I get back" on defense. … Lee has been named team captain, though Howland said he may designate additional captains. … Former Bruins coach Jim Harrick attended practice.
No comments:
Post a Comment