Defend
This one sounds less like a coach’s core principle and more like just general, sound basketball strategy. Defense is one of the primary components to the game, so at first, this puzzled me.
However, once I stopped saying, “defense” and used Monty’s word, “defend,” it crystalized a bit more. “Play defense” is what high school teams do. Any ole schmo can do that (sort of).
However, how many players do you know who truly defend? They say this basket is mine, and I will guard it with everything inside me. Its players like Jevon Carter and Mikal Bridges who take getting scored upon personally who embody what Williams is attempting to preach.
If you look at the stats, it may have worked. While their defensive rating was 19th in the league at 111.3, that is a huge step up from last season where they were 29th in the league at 114.2. Their peskiness led to 7.8 steals per game, good for 13th in the league, and often these steals led to points. The Suns were 5th in the league in points off turnovers, cashing in on an average of 18.7 per game.
Not bad. Not bad at all.
I’m sure Monty will keep building on this as he looks to improve on defending against tallies in loss column next season.