deconstructing - Shawn Bradley - inlcudes related articles

Sporting News, The, March 22, 1999 by Ken Amos

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Newell was particularly incredulous that Bradley was forced to endure daily high-calorie meals during his first NBA season. The Sixers mistakenly thought increased weight would translate into increased strength.

Newell also believes Bradley's development probably has been hindered by his exposure to motion or flex offenses in college. In the collegiate ranks, there is more spacing between players, as opposed to the NBA's post game, through which so much offense flows.

"Nellie got (Bradley) in his (fourth) year," Newell says. "By that time, his style of play was pretty, well set. For a kid his size, he's very athletic, but his body is such that he's not going to be the best for NBA play because there's so much physicality in the paint."

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Because Bradley often gets manhandled because of his high center of gravity (which affects a player's balance), Newell believes Nelson is taking a logical approach this season with Bradley.

"At this point in his career, Bradley would really have to commit himself to work on playing in a low-stance position"to bring down his center of gravity, Newell says. "Basketball is a game of habits, and habits (good or bad) are acquired only through repetition."

Newell says one of the first things taught to big men is the necessity of keeping a low balance in order to resist the pressure of the defender, and the use of hips.

"You don't have any hips if you stand straight up," Newell says. "And his first five years of his career he wasn't required to stay low, so it's pretty hard for Nellie now to lower that down. Bradley has shown no propensity for doing it, and he'll never be a post player unless he learns to play low--knees flexed and butt out."--K.A.

* Clifford Ray

Credentials: Ray, 50, was an undersized center (6-9)and played 10 seasons in the NBA with Chicago and Golden State. Ray coached Bradley during his stay in New Jersey as an assistant to Butch Beard. Ray, who recently was diagnosed with prostate cancer, endeared himself to the young center with his tough-love coaching tactics and assertions that one day Bradley would become an All-Star.

Thoughts: "I think the biggest thing Shawn has to overcome is that you are who and what you are," says Ray, now an assistant coach with the Fort Wayne Fury of the Continental Basketball Association.

Ray still believes Bradley has All-Star potential, but first he would reiterate to him "not to let your ego get in the way." He says Bradley sometimes tries to do things on the court that his body physically won't allow.

"I always tell him, `Don't be a thug. We all know you've got a big heart,' "Ray says.

But he believes mixing it up with the likes of Shaquille O'Neal and Alonzo Mourning is better left to someone who can back it up.

To that end, Ray says Bradley, who never has been surrounded by a stellar cast, "needs another big, bulky player behind him when the other teams try to get into what I call a `bully game.' Then the Mavs could bring that player (to bang inside)."

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deconstructing - Shawn Bradley - inlcudes related articles

Sporting News, The, March 22, 1999 by Ken Amos

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