Day One at Camp
posted: 10/3/2006 at 10:02 PM
The first day of training camp for the Trail Blazers, actually ended at night. The second practice session ended at around 7:30pm, but when I left at about 8:15, there were still about eight players getting extra work on the court.
Both sessions were intense, and went very well, but the morning session was the more physical practice. Just to get you straight on NBA rules, you can only have one practice a day that involves game-type speed, and full contact. That's called, fittingly enough, the "contact practice." That doesn't mean the second can't be just as difficult, but it has to involve lighter work and less banging. It's normally during this second practice that teams work more on offensive sets, out of bounds plays, and things that are more executed at walk-through type speed.
The morning practice ended with what Nate McMillan likes to call "pressure free throws." That's what you're seeing in the photo above, with Joel Przybilla at the line. Sometimes Nate calls players out to step to the line, and sometimes he takes volunteers. Today, it was up to the players to take it upon themselves to walk to the foul line. Two free-throw makes means no running. One miss means one full-court down-and-back. Two misses means two down-and-backs. Joel made both of his free throws, by the way, and got a nice hand from his teammates.
The team was put through a lot of different conditioning drills during the morning session. They worked on foot work, defensive positioning, and ran full-court, timed, three-man fast breaks. They were also put through many different five-on-five exercises.
At the night session many players started practice wearing running shoes, and not basketball shoes. It was the first night of time trials. This is something Nate has always done, and it is brutal. It is a test you have to pass. The team all runs at the same time, and has to go end line to end line 10 times. That makes one set, or lap. The players run four sets, and get only one minute of rest between sets. Each individual is timed. In the end, the total times are given. The guards have to average :60 seconds per down-and-back. The forwards have to average :63 seconds, and big guys have to average :65 seconds. Often times the players are given their split times midway through the trial. They know whether they have to pick it up, or continue pacing themselves. Even though I didn't get every player's time, I can tell you that Martell Webster had the fastest total time, beating the set goal by 13 seconds. It may surprise you to learn that LaMarcus Aldridge beat the "big guys" goal by 12 seconds. The guy runs like a deer. Travis Outlaw, who needed a few nights to pass his test last season, passed it on the first night this year. I won't name any more names, but just about every player passed the test on night one. Many more than passed it on the first night last season.
The time trial portion of training camp is an intense, exhausting experience even to watch. Several players collapsed upon finishing the final set and stayed down for several minutes trying to get their wind back. The players who passed, celebrated wildly, and all were congratulated for their efforts. It has a real "initiation" feel to it. During the test the gym is very loud with coaches, trainers, and other team personnel shouting encouragement. McMillan ran along with several totally-drained players shouting like a drill sargent. After it was over, he slapped fives, and ran up and down the line congratulating his players.
McMillan has been using the time trials for years, and I happened to be sitting by Antonio Harvey when the tests were going on. Harvey played for Nate in Seattle, and said several times during the test, "nothing prepares you for this." Not only does it test endurance, and physically drain the players, it's one of those moments when you see the team totally come together. They're all going through the same thing, at the same time. It's not uncommon to see players hugging, and helping each other up, following the test. It was certainly my lasting image of day one. People who think training camps aren't tough, have never witnessed this. The players who didn't pass on night one will do it all again on night two.
By the way,
after the time trials, the team practiced. Nate started putting in several offensive plays, and walked the team through some new material that I had never seen. I could tell many plays were new, because the veterans were learning along with the new guys. NBA training camps are so short, coaches have to get this stuff in as soon as they can. The first pre-season game is on the 11th.
Aldridge, the second-overall pick in the draft, took part in the full-court running test, but wasn't involved in any contact drills. He continues to rehab following shoulder surgery. LaMarcus spent a lot of time with trainer Jay Jensen on Tuesday, and did some light shooting, just testing out his right shoulder.
Two players, Raef LaFrentz and Darius Miles, didn't do any leg work on day one. Raef is battling a pulled calf muscle, but should be back soon. Miles, who spent the summer working with Michael Jordan's personal trainer, Tim Grover, in Chicago, is trying to get his knees back into shape. Many people forget that Darius had knee surgery during the season last year, and has said that he probably came back a little too soon following the procedure. The team is taking extra precautions this time, and is making sure the knee is 100 percent before he begins full-contact drills.
Miles did work on his outside shooting during the first day of training camp, and spent a lot of time on the treadmill. He told me after the morning session that he is excited to get started. "I love what the team did in the off-season," Miles said. "I am seeing some great things out on the court, and today really motivated me to get completely healthy so I can get back out there." There is no timetable on a return to full practice for Miles, but the team is not going to rush him. His upper body is in tremendous shape, and now it's just a waiting game on the knees. Darius did have a smile on his face before the evening session, and was letting everyone know that his beloved St.Louis Cardinals beat San Diego in game one, just like he predicted.
It's back to work on Wednesday morning for the Blazers. Another set of practices is planned for day two.
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Wow, that's great. It's exciting to know guys are working hard. Martell being the fastest on the team is excellent news. It's not like I get to go to the practices like you but I'd say he's the hardest worker on the team. In fact, I'm wearing my Martell jersey to school today.
I also like how Nate's practices are set up. Pressure free throws were something my 8th grade team did last year. It's a good way to bring the team together.
Aww, C'mon Mike. you can tell us who didnt pass.
Im almost positive that one of those people was Jamal Magloire. Lets see....Sergio? Maybe, Dan Dickau.
I know you have to let the cat out of the bag sometime.
Great blog, Mike. I don't know if other teams have someone like you covering everything under the sun that has to do with their team, but my guess would be they don't. Your work is much appreciated.
I see they let Tone and The Wild One write stories for traliblazers.com. The grammatical errors were fantastic and numerous, but i always love to hear what Rice has to say. He doesn't hold back and is almost always controversial. Keep up the great work, guys.
Mike, just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate this insider info. I love being able to follow the progress of the team in the offseason. Thanks!
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