Red Zone Diaries - Two Coaching Legends Weigh in on the HEAT

Dr. Jack was also impressed, with what he called, Miami’s “role players.”

“It was one of the question marks I had about this team from the very beginning,” said the Hall-of-Famer. “How would the role players perform in their particular responsibilities? Damon Jones has been a terrific find for the Heat. This is the best season of basketball he ever played. He’s been with six other NBA teams and has never been with a team longer than one season but I think he has found a home. He’s matured to the point where he knows how to lead the team and he does it in a quiet way. He doesn’t make a lot of mistakes. He’s a very dangerous shooter from the edges and he’s certainly team-oriented.”

Damon Jones, set an NBA playoff, 4 game series record, with his 17- three pointers and did it on 50 percent shooting from behind the arc. Another role player that impressed Ramsay was Udonis Haslem, who nearly averaged a double-double in the series, with 8.8 points and 11.8 rebounds.

“I wasn’t sure that he was going to work out,” Ramsay said of Haslem. He has since changed his mind about a player that gives his heart every time out.

“He is so quick off the floor and is another player who is mistake free. He does whatever is necessary for his team. He gets shots from 15 to 17 feet because of the defensive alignments against Shaq and he knocks them down or makes the appropriate pass. And he defends and rebounds hard.”

Not going un-noticed was the overall leadership and defense of Heat Captain, Eddie Jones.

“The fact that he held Vince Carter to 37 percent shooting was big,” said Hubie Brown. Hubie has always been defensive-minded.

“That guy (Carter) was taking 24 shots a game. He (Eddie Jones) did more than his job on that guy. In the double-overtime game (Game 3) we all know that Carter could not get a look at the basket.”

Ramsay was also keen on the play of Eddie Jones. “In my opinion,” he said, “EJ had the best season of all around play in his career. I think his team needed that.”

What surprised both coaching legends about the Heat’s first round play? For Hubie it was perimeter game.

“These guys are shooting it as well as at any time as they have all season. I also like their defense. It’s swarming and they’re getting it done. They get to the key people,” said Brown.

“The Heat defends well,” echoed Ramsay. “Stan Van Gundy has a good game plan and the players are carrying it out well.”

I also spoke with both Jack (80) and Hubie (71) about Dwyane Wade. They have spent most of their adult lives coaching, teaching, studying and watching the game. They have seen all of the games greatest players. Now they have seen Wade. I wondered what they saw in him. Wonder no more.

“All-NBA First Team,” said Brown. “If not, definitely second team and then you’re splitting hairs of the guy you’re putting in front of him on the first-team. That’s the kind of year he’s had.

“He’s been very valuable and the thing I love about him, with 30 seconds on that clock and down at the end of every game or the end of a quarter, no matter what he is doing prior to that point, he can step up and drain it and hurt you. And he does that every night and the thing that’s really great is that he does it without hurrying. He’s totally under control.”

Ramsay was equally complimentary about the 23-year old Wade.

“He’s been terrific,” is how Dr. Jack began. “Almost equal to his play on the floor, which has been sensational, is his demeanor. He’s not overcome by these accolades that are coming his way. He takes everything in stride. “He acknowledges his mistakes. He works on his game and he has amazing skills. His change of direction, his change of pace, his explosiveness in the basket area is as good as it gets.

“He is developing a perimeter shot now and he has great confidence in himself. He has the ability to make big plays when his team needs its. He’s a team oriented guy, right from the get-go. He needs to improve on his decision making but he knows that and I am sure that’s going to happen over the course of his career.”

Through the course of their distinguished careers, to this very day, Dr. Jack Ramsay and Hubie Brown have given so much of themselves to this game. They are both Hall-of-Famers, living legends and brilliant basketball minds. We thank them for their lifetime of contributions to this great game. We are forever grateful for the time shared with them both and for their many gifts which includes their unique ability to teach, educate and entertain while they share their knowledge.

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