Chicago Bulls' Mindset Dictates Success

“If you work hard one day and you improve, and then you don’t work hard for three days, well guess what? You’re not going to be very consistent, The good teams establish how they’re going to go about their business. They do it day after day. That’s how you build your mental toughness, that’s how you build your conditioning, that’s how you build your discipline, and that’s how you win.

“You start off the season, and you have everybody saying they want to win a championship, but very few are willing to pay that price every single day. When you study championship teams, you see the drive that they have. I know what Michael [Jordan] did when he was here. I know his mentality. I know what [Kevin] Garnett did in Boston, I know what Larry Bird did in Boston, I know what Isiah [Thomas] did in Detroit, I know what Magic [Johnson] did with the Lakers, and you don’t sneak around. You’ve got to earn it.’’ 

 --Tom Thibodeau, Chicago Bulls head coach, discussing the team mindset entering the 2014-2015 NBA season.

The Chicago Bulls are one of the favorites to win the Eastern Conference of the NBA and contend for the Finals Championship this year.  To that end, the Bulls opened with season with a win over the New York Knicks, 104-80.

The Bulls spend the summer upgrading their team talent.  They signed Pau Gasol, giving him a contract for three years, worth $22 million. In his debut with the Bulls, Gasol scored 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. They drafted a collegiate star, Doug McDermott and brought in, Nikola Mirotic, arguably the best player in Europe. They have ex-MVP Derrick Rose, back from two years of injuries, at point guard.

Despite the talent upgrade, what may determine their standing this year is their success at developing the mental toughness that Coach Thibodeau is speaking of.  The desire to win must be followed by the will to put in the work and the daily preparation that is required to excel and succeed.   

All NBA teams and players want to win.  Who will put in the time and energy to make it happen?  

The season has begun.

Taken from Chicago Sun Times (October 29,2014).

Eric Spoelstra & The Miami Heat: Fighting Human Nature

"There is an objective lens.  We just need to make the most educated decisions on what's real and what wasn't real. Part of it just might have been Chicago and what they brought to the game.

"There are no shortcuts to it.  You can't cheat the game. So you have to work at it. We had a day like [Friday] where you're almost a week out from competing and you're coming off a very intense series. Your natural reaction is not to want to come in here and really get after it and sweat and condition." 

--Eric Spoelstra, head coach of the Miami Heat, discussing what he learned from the playoff series with the Chicago Bulls.

The Miami Heat were upset by the Chicago Bulls in Game 1 of their playoff series. The Heat bounced back to take 4 straight games from the Bulls to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. Spoelstra is focused on learning from that series and reviewing what went right and what went wrong during that series.  

Despite having one of the most talented teams in the NBA, Spoelstra does all that he can to fight complacency and prepare himself and his team to win. The Heat is awaiting the winner of the series between the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers.    

For more, click on:  "Heat Wants to be Ready for Game 1 This Time Around" (SunSentinel.com, May 17, 2013).

Champions Prepare

"Champions do not become champions when they win an event, but in the hours, weeks, and months, and years they spend preparing for it. The victorious performance itself is merely a demonstration of their championship character."


--Michael Jordan.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Happy 49th Birthday, Your Airness!

"Whenever I was working out and got tired and figured I ought to stop, I'd close my eyes and see that list in the locker room without my name on it, and that usually got me going again."

--Michael Jordan, talking about his intense drive and determination, originating from early disappointment and adversity.

Early in his career, Michael Jordan played basketball at Laney High School in Wilmington, North Carolina. Ironically, Jordan was cut from the varsity team as a sophomore. Instead of giving up after failing to make the team, Jordan used it to spur himself to greater achievements, practicing hour after hour on the court.

Be on the lookout for my book: "Razor Thin: The Difference between Winning and Losing," coming soon. 

NBA Playoff Rewind: "Michael Jordan Wants the Ball" (YouTube video)

The NBA Playoffs are gaining speed and intensity. Here is a video rewind honoring Michael Jordan.