SWENSDAY STUFF

The Little Details
Swen Nater

It is well-known; Coach Wooden was a man of detail. He said,

It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.

He practiced what he preached. Here are some examples.
1. If you put your socks on the correct way, you prevent blisters.
2. When releasing the jump shot, the nod of the head helps give the ball momentum.
3. When releasing the jump shot, bringing the elbow back down on the same route it went up, prevented the drop of the elbow at release, allowing the lifting of the ball rather than the push.
4. Going to the key area after shooting a jump shot provided rebounding and defensive balance.
5. 8 ounces of orange juice after practice provided Vitamin C to boost the immune system.
6. No profanity helped control emotions.
7. Pointing to the person who passed you the ball for the score built team spirit.
8. Screening with the back prevented fouls and put the responsibility for getting open solely on the dribbler or cutter.

I don’t see that degree of detail today. I don’t see players trained to go to the middle after shooting an outside shot. I rarely see a player screen with his backside. I sit behind the bench of a college team and hear terrible language, condoned and also practiced by the coach. I rarely see a scorer acknowledge the passer. Everybody preaches detail but few actually believe in them and how the little things can often be the difference between a win and a loss, a championship and not a championship.

In game 3 of this year’s NBA finals, Mario Chalmers of the Miami Heat demonstrated just how important details are. On the offensive end, guarded by the Mavericks’ Jose Barea, he made an amazing three point shot from the right corner. After the ball went in, Mario stopped for a fraction of a second to turn to the fans and fully take in the applause. But by that time Dallas had already inbounded the ball and was heading down the court. Chalmers was one step behind the play and did his best to catch up to his assignment, Barea. But by the time he got there, it was too late. Barea hit a three pointer of his own. 

That kind of behavior was never tolerated at UCLA because Coach considered it a “detail.” Coach Wooden trained us to focus. Had Mario Chalmers played for Coach, after making that shot, he would have pointed to the passer while sprinting down the court to play defense.

Attention to detail (the little things) can be found in almost anything. It’s the hint of a smirk found in the Mona Lisa. It’s the type of wood found in the violins Antonio Stradivari made. It’s customer service in business. And it’s that little nut on the wheel of a Rolls Royce.

When addressing the subject of detail, Coach Wooden often used that very analogy: the detail of that little nut on the wheel of a car.  After explaining it to me, I went home and wrote him this poem.

The Little Nut

I’m just a lug nut—slight and minute.
My job is to fasten the wheel.
Like gears and the clutch,
I’m not noticed so much.
I guess I’m just not a big deal.

Now the engine, it roars and makes folks stop and stare,
At that powerful, glorious, machine.
And the wheels have a shine,
So much better than mine,
Made of chrome and impeccably clean.

But will someone remind those two “stars” of the team,
That without me they’ll not get too far.
All that power and chrome,
Isn’t getting back home,
If that wheel doesn’t stay on the car. 
    Swen Nater 

Do the little things make the difference? The Mavericks won game 3 by 3 points.