For his first experience as a main coach, Wes Unseld Jr. was not spared by this facet of “business”, when a workforce can find itself completely upset overnight.
Appointed in mid-July with the mission of developing a formation whose main strength lay in its “one-two punch” Westbrook-Beal, the technician found himself having to start again from a blank page after the departure of Russell Westbrook to the Lakers, less than two weeks later!
The Wizards still picked up Kyle Kuzma and Montrezl Harrell while Spencer Dinwiddie arrived to take the point guard. The forces in the presence of the workforce thus seem to be better distributed. Now it’s up to Wes Unseld Jr. to get the most out of all these beautiful people by integrating them properly.
Despite this sudden change of course, the new coach of the Wizards ensures that his philosophy will remain the same.
“You have to take a step back and look at who you have when you plan and develop a philosophy. Obviously, that changed completely afterwards. But the general concepts remain the same. We need to play at a sustained pace when we have the opportunity, and we need to improve our efficiency. But this team has never had a problem scoring points, so I’m not going to come in and change everything. I firmly believe that your best players will show you how to coach ”, did he declare.
Concentration, effort … and proximity
Among the major elements that Wes Unseld Jr. wants to see evolve, the new Wizards strongman has emphasized “Concentration and effort”, hoping that the whole group adheres to its project. Regarding his adaptation to him, the coach will bet on proximity or communication.
While Matt Barnes recently spoke of the evolution of the coaching position in the NBA in the relationship with the players, evoking the rigidity of Stan Van Gundy problematic with the “new generation”, the development of the proximity between Wes Unseld Jr. and his locker room will be essential. It will also take time.
“It has to happen naturally. I emphasized this throughout the job interview process and when I had the opportunity to speak to the players. They’re not going to trust me all of a sudden. You need to take the time to get to know them on and off the pitch. That way you will find common ground, what motivates them and what drives them. You will find triggers that will allow you to push them a little harder than someone else. At some point there will be times of stress. In these moments, walls rise up, it’s natural and inevitable. In this case, if both parties know where the other is coming from, it can help alleviate the anxiety ”, he added.
The first player to “convince” will undoubtedly be Bradley Beal, the rear now having the keys to become the first leader of the team again, by example, but also by being more vocal.
“He was very benevolent. I told him I thought it would be a great opportunity for him. He’s got a lot of ability, he’s one of the top scorers in the league. The next step for him will be his leadership capacity. He is a man a leader by example. The challenge now is to use your voice ”.
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