Enjoy. Those who don't know much about Messina can start forming some opinions.
http://www.draftexpress.com/blog/Jonathan-Givony/
-The intensity level was extremely high for every minute of action seen in practice here. The sessions were short, no more than 60 to 75 minutes at most, but the players were working constantly, either on game-situations, such as 3 on 2 transition drills (5 seconds or less per possession) or breaking a full-court press [a big key against Milan], individual skill-work with guards and post-players separated (short one on one matchups with the defender closing out in the post or on the perimeter), or long stretches of 5 on 5 play dedicated to using just a specific half-court set.
-Messina is nothing if not a perfectionist, and he demands flawless execution from his players in everything they do. His presence is felt everywhere on the court, as he’s in constant motion, bringing a huge amount of energy to every moment of action. He is not afraid to get in any one of his players faces, from the youngest player to the oldest, for making even the slightest mistake, raising his tone frequently, but always doing so in a concise and professional manner—never in petty or sarcastic fashion. “Just do your [effing] job!” he demanded, on at least a dozen occasions.
-The attention to detail was extremely evident. The ball must move crisply around the court at all times, off-ball movement is constant, passes should be made with purpose, players must box out on every possession and read the happenings on the court with the utmost concentration, every finish around the basket must be made immediately, and most importantly, the players need to put a huge amount of pride into their work on the defensive end, especially off the ball.
We’re not talking about rocket science obviously-- just the fundamentals of basketball--but the means and consistency of the message--along with the respect that the source has managed to garner throughout the years-- eventually hammers the point across.
-As quick as he is to criticize, Messina isn’t afraid to offer praise. “Bravo” he offers up on every other possession, particularly rewarding his players for a good defensive effort, a smart pass, a solid screen, or an unselfish play that contributes to the team’s effort. Messages are short and to the point, and very little time is wasted in-between action.
-The question of whether this style of coaching would fly in the NBA didn’t take too long to come up in my mind, as the average American player (particularly the stars) just isn’t used to the amount of nitpicking on every minute detail that is found here. It’s just a difference of culture between American and European basketball more than anything—one that starts in high school and AAU, continues in college and is very difficult to squelch once they reach the professional level. It’s no secret that some players don’t take criticism very well, and you at times feel like some NBA coaches are at times a bit scared of hammering a point across too forcefully, as if not to have their star player or players turn against them.
-The reason this is important is because if any European coach gets hired by an NBA team in the near future, there is a good chance it will be Ettore Messina. With a very intriguing job just having opened up in Toronto—a European-style city with a European friendly roster and front office—it’s only natural to wonder whether Messina will get the call when the season is over. It’s widely expected at this point that he will be moving onto a new situation this summer (only the incompetence of Barcelona’s ownership kept him from taking that job last year already), and along with Armani Jeans Milano (a strong possibly according to rumors) his name could very well come up for NBA openings too.
-As good of a job as Messina does, we can’t ignore the depth of talent he has at his disposal. The roster has been constructed with a huge amount of emphasis on experience, character, skill and professionalism. Players like Trajan Langdon (in particular), Ramunas Siskauskas, Nikolaos Zisis, Viktor Khryapa and others looked incredibly focused on what their role is here on the team, executing crisply, making open shots, defending with intensity, and always looking out for their teammates. They don’t make much noise, but their presence is constantly felt, and that’s a huge reason why CSKA’s well-oiled machine’s is able to run so smoothly—especially when these players are signed to long-term contracts (another rarity in Europe) and brought back year after year, bringing incredibly important continuity and chemistry to the roster.
