‘Can’t be sleeping right now’: Behind-the-scenes look at NBA playoff preparation
LA TimesBefore the first game of Cleveland’s opening-round playoff series of 2015, Cavaliers players gathered to watch a video meant for the team’s eyes only. “These guys can’t be sleeping right now,” said Patrick O’Keefe, a former video coordinator for the Clippers, Lakers and Denver Nuggets. According to a former video coordinator who was barred to speak publicly by his current team, here’s the kicker: “By Game 2, everything changes again.” “You do all this prep for one game,” Lue echoed, “and six or seven of the plays you went over and tried to defend they don’t even run against you. In 2014, the Clippers didn’t know they would face the Warriors in the first round until after their 82nd and final game, Dakhil said, but coach Doc Rivers ordered the “book” on the first-round opponent — whomever it would be — to be sitting on everyone’s chair as soon as the matchup was locked in. “One of the years against Phoenix, he thought our advantage was to go inside in the triangle that way, so we used Denzel Washington in ‘Inside Man.’” Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, talking to referee Courtney Kirkland, is one of many NBA coaches who rose through the video staff ranks.
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