Interview with Sacramento Kings’ Assistant Coach Pete Carril—Part II

Friedman: "Correct me if I'm wrong, but what you're suggesting is that all basketball players should have the capability to dribble, but part of that capability is knowing how and when to use it."

Carril: "That's definitely true. When you show a guy a dribble move and you show him all of the techniques that are involved in this dribble move-let's say the reverse pivot dribble, which used to be called the 'Pearl move' after Earl Monroe-after you're done and he gets that down pat, you're next job is just as important: where do you use it and when."

Friedman: "I did an article about Roger Brown ( http://hoopshype.com/articles/brown_frie... ),who played in the ABA, and he was known for his great first step, which was described to me by George Gervin and others. Gervin told me that what was great about Roger Brown's first step was that he was not using a lot of dribbles. He would extend his jab step past the defender's hip and then he would go. Does that fit in with what you are talking about in terms of knowing how to use the dribble?"

Carril: "Right-or even knowing whether you can drive or not. You can work with some guys for weeks at a time to get beyond the guy who is defending them and they can't do it. We have a couple guys we are working with on that and we say, 'Gosh, can't you get around this guy?' But they can't. I remember that from my high school days, when I was a high school coach. We worked like a son-of-a-gun to get this guy to drive beyond his man and he couldn't do it, even after a year or two."

Friedman: "Is that just lack of speed or a lack of proper technique?"

Carril: "It's hard. It's hard. When you're teaching basketball it is like teaching algebra. Why do some of your kids get 90s and some get 60s or 50s? Why is it that you have a guy who is getting 60,65, you bring him in after school and you work with him and you give him the test-and he gets 65? The guy who gets 90, you never see him, you give him the test and he gets 90."

Friedman: "Why is that? Is it just talent? You can't get around talent at some point."

Carril: "That's right."

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