If you were around campus during winter quarter, you heard the whispers.
Ben Howland can’t coach a proper offense.
If you sat in the student section in Pauley Pavilion, you probably heard the doubters.
Why don’t UCLA players score at an elite level? It’s because all Howland cares about is defense. All he cares about is rebounding. His style is too Big East and not enough Pac-10. His style doesn’t play to the strength of its players.
Admit it. You’ve heard these concerns. You may have even expressed a few of them yourself. And admittedly, it was hard to watch the Bruins lose large leads late in games this season. But Ben Howland is still a fantastic coach, and I intend to prove it.
The NBA Playoffs tipped off this past weekend, and if you look closely enough, you’ll notice that several Howland-coached UCLA alums are playing significant roles for the league’s elite.
Yet Howland is often criticized (unfairly) for not allowing some of his most talented players to flourish in an offensive system. This claim was made in the days of Jordan Farmar, Arron Afflalo and Kevin Love and has resurfaced recently in discussion about freshman shooting guard Jrue Holiday. Holiday, who has declared for the NBA draft, struggled much of the year to put the ball in the basket, though playing out of position ““ he is a natural point guard ““ almost certainly had more to do with the low offensive output than any inherent flaws in the coaching scheme.
Many believe that former stars such as Russell Westbrook have flourished in the NBA because they have more offensive freedom rather than a strict set of plays. I would argue, however, that their success is bred from the toughness that Howland and his style of play instills in his players. His players are groomed for professional success. All you need to do to see proof of that is look to the NBA.
Farmar, a star point guard during UCLA’s Final Four run in 2006, earned increased playing time with the Los Angeles Lakers, the Western Conference’s No. 1 seed. Farmar was contributing substantial minutes and leadership running the “Bench Mob,” the Lakers’ second team. He has since lost a few minutes to flashy guard Shannon Brown, but Farmar is thought to be the heir apparent to aging Laker guard Derek Fisher. His savvy and basketball intelligence, as well as his defensive abilities, are often remarked as strengths of his game.
Meanwhile, former teammate and dynamic duo partner Afflalo has seen an increase in his playing time with the Detroit Pistons. Afflalo, an All-American and veteran of two Final Fours, starred as a shooting guard in his three seasons at UCLA and was hailed as a premier defender, a quality that has translated to the professional level. Afflalo has seen an increase in minutes since the injury of star Allen Iverson, and though the Pistons staggered into the playoffs, Afflalo looks primed to have more success in the years to come.
Lakers’ small forward Trevor Ariza was only in Westwood for one year ““ Howland’s first as the Bruins’ coach. His departure raised a few eyebrows from those who held doubts about Ariza’s potential. Talented but undeniably raw at first, Ariza has flourished wearing the purple and gold. He has channeled his premier athleticism and length into his game and has rapidly become one of the best bench players in the league. One of Ariza’s strengths is the defensive intensity that he brings to the perimeter, a trait no doubt instilled in him by the defense-minded Howland.
Other players are finding success in the league despite their absence from the playoffs. Kevin Love, the former freshman extraordinaire, made a strong push for Rookie of the Year after his outstanding performance with the Timberwolves. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute has surprised many with his success as a forward for the Milwaukee Bucks and is hailed as a defensive stopper. Russell Westbrook has teamed up with fellow high-flyer Kevin Durant to lead the Seattle … sorry, Oklahoma City Thunder, a talented but overmatched squad with plenty of young talent. Westbrook has shown the same offensive flash he displayed during his days in Westwood, but the highest praise comes for his effort on the defensive end.
If you’ve noticed a pattern, you are not alone. All of these players were tutored under Howland’s supposedly stagnant system, and all have gained a significant foothold in the professional ranks. While Howland’s offensive scheme leaves something to be desired, there is no doubt that his focus on defensive intensity breeds big-time success.
If you think that Ben Howland can coach you to the NBA, e-mail Salter at ksalter@media.ucla.edu.