“EVERYTHING has to be controlled,” Sterling Davis booms, whistle in one hand, notepad in other. The devil, he tells his players, is in the details of offence, defence and everything in between.
For the past seven years, Glasgow Rocks have looked to the American to provide both inspiration and perspiration at the outset of the British Basketball League season. But as the new domestic campaign begins tonight, their coach will restricted to the role of the most interested spectator with his influence restricted to the sidelines as others take the lead.
Retiring from active duty this summer at the age of 38, the Texan native is still acclimating mind and body to this radical switch. The latter did not have to push itself through the rigours of pre-season training. The former, as a consequence, was exercised like never before.
“It was so different even from the first practice in what you’re able to see, being able to stop things and break things down and get it to where you really want,” he proclaims. “That’s what I’m excited about because I really get to view things in a different light as opposed to trying to play and see it at the same time.
“Plus having that line drawn is huge, just to be able separate myself completely from that side of things and be able to put the onus on the players to do what I want rather than being out there trying to show them, sometimes failing and sometimes succeeding.”
The true reality will not hit home, he suspects, until the ball is thrown up tonight at the outset of the Rocks season opener at Worcester Wolves. It will be “weird”, he admits. But also a relief. Since his surprise appointment when the Rocks still called Braehead Arena their home, the science of coaching has moved on in leaps and bounds. His rivals, even without the swathes of support personnel employed in the NBA, have utilised video footage as an essential tool. While basketball, inevitably, has profited richly from a studious use of analytics.
Despite the additional hours devoted to the club’s community programmes, Davis now has the leeway to advance his craft. “That’s the plan and the intention. It’s something that has been difficult to do while balancing my time. But it’s a big help. That’s how basketball is moving now, being more analytical. So I want to be more versed in that and have it as a tool to help the guys.”
Having opted to rebuild rather than merely tinker, he will welcome all available assistance. Two returnees, eight new arrivals. Glasgow’s rookie backcourt Riley Grabau and Warren Gillis arrive with polished CVs from the US collegiate game. So too their super-sized compatriot Marcus Ware. Croatian forward Armin Mazic adds a touch of the exotic along side the proven talents of Great Britain captain Kieron Achara.
As ever, Newcastle Eagles will be favoured to defend their BBL title. Leicester and Worcester have recruited well. In the 12 years since the Rocks last won a trophy, under-achievement has become the norm. This time, Davis hopes, his bets will pay off.
“A lot of our main pieces are young. They are untested as pros. But at the same time that can work to our advantage, being new and having that stamina. We have some depth, guys down the bench who can give us good minutes. But we have to use that youth to our advantage and work on their maturity as the months go.”
Elsewhere, Serbia face Lithuania in Lille in the second semi of EuroBasket with the winners also securing their place at the Rio 2016 Olympics.
FIXTURES
TODAY
BBL (all 7.30). Worcester Wolves v Glasgow Rocks, Leeds Force v Cheshire Phoenix, Surrey Scorchers v Newcastle Eagles. EuroBasket semi-final (Lille). Serbia v Lithuania (8pm)
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