I didn't think reaching the NBA was a possibility when I coached Derby in 1990. I was right out of college when I went there and was more concerned about playing a bit and getting that out of my system.

Nick Nurse

Categorized in : Think More Right College

I just want us to be playing our best basketball here when the playoffs start, and in the right mindset.

best start basketball want

It's really an organizational job with a football team to watch them go through their day.

job day team football

We've got to be innovative. We've got to think about what's coming next.

coming about think next

I always say we're chasing perfection in an imperfect game.

say game always perfection

You look at any roster and you say, 'Geez, he's pretty good. He's pretty good. He's talented. He comes off the bench?' All of a sudden, it's, 'Geez, that's a pretty good roster they got right there.'

say good look you

I worked at chemistry and developing a style of play on both sides of the ball and studied success and winning.

chemistry style winning success

We've gotta be trying to think of what's coming next before it comes next.

coming think next trying

I think switching is like a lot of things. You can do it - it's a game plan - but you better do it well. You better practise it.

game think you you-can-do-it

It's not like I'm shy or anything. I'm not.

anything like shy

I've coached a lot of teams and moved up gradually and tried to succeed and tried to have success at every level. When that happens, you just continue to wonder if you can keep doing it one more level.

doing you succeed success

I love jazz and blues, where there's a structure, but a lot of the cool stuff is veering off the page and playing.

blues cool jazz love

As an assistant, when you wake up in the morning, you're opening your laptop and watching film. Then the game starts, and you're watching it until you finally fall asleep.

game you wake-up morning

I think the game in general is changing so fast right before our eyes.

fast eyes game think

If you ask what my philosophy is, my philosophy is kind of like an entrepreneurial philosophy.

ask like you philosophy

An entrepreneur will do whatever they have to do to make sure things get done. Our coaches will be that way; our players will be that way. Just do what it takes.

will entrepreneur done way

Esthetically, let's move the ball. Let's guard people. Let's fight.

guard ball fight people

Football is a pretty complex numbering system most of the time: run the three back through the four hole, things like that. We kind of do the same thing - the three man sets for the four, or whatever.

back man time football

We are trying to get away from those traditional centre, power forward type things.

forward things power trying

It used to be every single time you got the rebound, you handed it to the point guard, or you outlet it to the point guard, or everyone cleared, and you waited until the point guard brought the ball up the floor.

everyone you single time

I'm gonna back my players.

players gonna back