What I'am learning from sport 2.1

Someone posted me a nice private comment concerning my last post on basketball. In particular for the part I wrote on Steve Nash as he actually wrote a message on Facebook to his supporters and others which in my view confirm what I ment with the stature and the standing of the man. Have a look at the post on his facebook concerning the sacrifices a player need to do.

https://www.facebook.com/stevenash

What I'm learning from sport 2nd part

A team composition “cooking receipt” I’ve learned some time ago from a Svetislav Pešić speech , a former Serbian professional basketball player and current basketball head coach of Bayern Munich, is that the team roster should be made 40/30/30.  Based on players’ experience and position on the field, in his principle, 40% of the players should be in the outside role, 30% should be the inside players and 30% should be rookies (see also my previous post for basketball roles).

Before entering in the details of this receipt, what is Pesic famous for? His table of honours reports: as player the victory of the Yugoslav League and one Euroleague; as Head Coach 3 National Championship and 3 National Cups (namely in Yugoslavia, Germany and Spain); 3 European Cups (Korac, Euroleague and Euro Cups) and 4 Gold medals with National Teams (with a youth team for the FIBA U19 cup, 2 Euro Cups and 1 World Championship). Seen the above credentials I’ve decided to acknowledge this rule... Although, giving my “control freak” background, not passively accepting the principle before understanding more on the topic. 

Hence, I’ve started a personal bit of search on the Internet to verify the general applicability in the Basketball world. Just for a nice test I took out some NBA rosters and salaries from last year championship. Surprise, surprise! Also the NBA teams seem to use a similar rule. So, suspect is that he was somehow “kidding” us and this is not his own rule while a wider applicable Basketball rule.

Looking for example at the roster composition and salary list from the 2013/14 NBA championship of Los Angele Lakers, one of the most honoured and famous NBA team, we have some 41% of players in the outside role, 29.5% inside players and 29.5% young players (I’ve taken the 26 years old as age threshold) distributed in the 2 spaces. Similar results can be obtained by setting a different threshold on age for the rookies with many other teams.

What’s my learning from this? 

First, set a rule fitting the purpose to create a team and stick to it. If the rule is something shared on market or a best practice, that’s really work better.

Second, it is really important to set roles to avoid misunderstandings and setting purpose of people in the game.

Third, the introduction of fresh-brains it is always a must (the rookies in this space), to get new energies and motivate the older so that they can feel themselves also useful to the peer-coaching of younger players in the same role. Nonetheless you would have prepared in-house players for the future teams.

If this is a good rule which I ideally transposed in my job, from this story and analysis I’ve also taken that hierarchies, salaries and rankings should be also seriously taken into considerations. Side effects in the above example?

If we have a look at the salary level, and for a better simplification living aside for a while who is playing in the paint or not, it is also clear that the Lakers set a clear hierarchy: for example who is Captain and who is his deputy. Well actually, looking at the roster I’ve copied from the internet for my example, I still think that given his age, history, role and standing also Nash instead of Gasol would have been a very good co-pilot...but this is another story and however the Lakers set it clear. I suppose this should be an unsaid part of the Pesic rule.

Setting a good level of professional relationship within the team has also to do with what we know of the role that we are called to play within the team and for which price. This has a lot pros and cons, of course. Easy should be (or was at this point in time) for Kobe to accept Elias Harries, set at a minimum NBA salary given the second one being a rookie and having a lot to learn from him. Also Kobe would potentially felt honoured to help in developing a new talent. Again also having some fresh resources, coming from whatever playground, would set a good level of “sane” competition for the more seniors. Different story and less easier job could be to set the right relationship within the stars Kobe-Pau-Steve if they were not seasoned profy.

What I'm learning from sport

Asking yourself "how would I hire in my team?" You most often get an end to the answer that concludes with "this is how the best person for that job was found". 

That’s not how I would like to hire. I normally don’t look to put the best person in the job. Instead, I look to put the best team together. This can be a very different exercise.

To understand that difference, I often use a team analogy that I have learned from basketball.

Basketball, as many other sports, is a good metaphor of life: we have roles for all five players, we have timing, rules and techniques.

Imagine you need to teach basketball vs. soccer to a kid. For the latter the easiest way when you are on the field is kicking the ball and saying: "you need to score a goal just kicking the ball with your foot, avoiding any hand's touch and hitting the opponents in an unfair way". Five seconds and the kids can start playing.

 

Basketball, like life, is more complex. 

First of all you need to teach the dribble: you cannot move with the ball in your hand.

Second you can throw balls to the basket only by stepping on the two fits, with small variation of jumps or after a lay-up (a sequence of 2 steps with the ball in your hands). You cannot stay for more than 3 seconds in the paint, you need to move always.       

Basketball is also a kind of sport where you cannot stop the flow (again like in life): when you score, the ball is immediately given to the opponents which restart immediately a new action which in a extreme simplification is made of 24 seconds. No time for congratulations or exultation, no time to protest with the referees, no time for drinking (unless for few regulated time-outs). Then again it is you attacking. Players should need to know offensive and defensive techniques at all time on the field.   

 

Back to hiring. First of all, none of the good known Basketball coaches would hire "another-me" as a player. First because they are supposed to know their defects and limits that they could mirror in the players and second because no one on earth should need a mini-me to do the job. The coach need to know who to hire for which role. To understand better what I mean a short and simplified explanation of basketball roles is needed first.

 

Point guard PG

The point guard, also known as the one, is typically the team's best ball handler and passer. They are often quick and are able to hit shots either outside the three-point line or in the paint, largely depending on the player's skill level. Point guards are looked upon as the 'floor general' or the 'coach on the floor'. They should study the game and game film to be able to recognize the weaknesses of the defense, and the strengths of their own offense. They are responsible for directing plays. Good point guards increase team efficiency and generally have a high number of assists. The point guard is also stereotypically a shorter or smaller player. They are often referred to as dribblers or playmakers.

 

Shooting guard SG

The shooting guard, also known as the two, is usually the team's best shooter, and typically is consistently able to hit long range shots. Besides being able to shoot the ball, shooting guards tend to have good ball touching skills and the ability to drive the ball to the net, often creating their own shots off the dribble. A versatile shooting guard will have good passing skills, allowing them to assume point guard responsibilities. On defense, shooting guards are often tasked with defending the opponent's strongest perimeter threat.

 

Small forward SF

The small forward is technically known as the three. The small forward position is considered to be perhaps the most versatile of the main five basketball positions, due to the nature of its role, which is sometimes similar to that of a power forward, but more often resembles the role of a shooting guard. Thus, the small forward and shooting guard positions are often interchangeable. Small forwards have a variety of assets, such as quickness and strength inside. One common thread between all kinds of small forwards is an ability to "get to the line" and draw fouls by aggressively attempting post-up plays, lay-ups, or slam dunks. As such, accurate foul shooting is a common skill for small forwards, many of whom record a large portion of their points from the foul line. Small forwards should be able to do a little bit of everything on the court, typically playing roles such as swingmen but also as point forwards and defensive specialists.

 

Power Forward PF

Also known as the four position the Power forward plays a role similar to that of the center, down in the "post" or "low blocks". On offense, they are often the team's most versatile traveler, being able to score close to the basket while also being able to shoot mid-range jump shots. On defense, they are required to have the strength to guard bigger players close to the basket, while having the athleticism to guard quick players away from the basket.

 

Center C

The center, also referred to as the five or the "pivot", usually plays near the baseline, close to the basket . The center is usually a key player in the game of basketball. It is usually the tallest player on the floor, The center usually scores "down low, in the paint" (near the basket, in the key), but some can be good perimeter shooters. They are typically skilled at gathering rebounds, contesting shots and setting screens on plays. The Center position has been traditionally considered as one of the most important positions, if not the most important. The scope of the position has transitioned from relatively slower but much taller 'back to the basket' players to players who would normally be classified as power forwards but can dominate the position with their athletic prowess, defensive skills, or mismatch ability to shoot from the high post.

 

Now, assume you have a random group of terrific players for your basketball team, the best five players you can imagine but all very good PGs.

Had that group played together, would they have won any championship?

My answer, could be maybe, but most preferably no….and just because they were all point guards.

Roles should be always evaluated as well as seniority (for which I would write upon in another post). Techniques is something that we can teach but certain traits like physical appearance is something that only the nature drives. 

 

It is commonly known, greater diversity of thought, perspective and background has been shown to lead to greater innovation and superior results.

So, when I hire for a team, I try to avoid hiring all PGs.

This means that I look for people who make me feel somehow uncomfortable.

I try to look for people who are different from me, who hold different views than I do, who have different areas of expertise than I do.

I look for people from whom I can learn starting from the interview session.

I look for people with qualities and backgrounds that are additive to – rather than the same as – the rest of the team.

Hiring in this way may make the workplace less “comfortable” for the team, but that this is exactly my point.