One of the great advancements in modern athletics was the discovery that individual skill work does far more to improve a player than playing in games. Thanks in large part to the influence of now-Pistons assistant coach Tim Grgurich, pregame at an NBA arena features a long procession of individual skill work. Beyond how it helps get players ready, the pregame drills offer a way to sneak in some improvement between practices. That’s not where the most growth comes, though. Players “add” things in the offseason; the season itself is a showcase for all that work during the warmer months.
This might be the market inefficiency Steph Curry and the Warriors hobbled into after their injury-plagued season left them outside the Orlando playoff bubble. They have eons to just work on their games, refining and refining absent many other responsibilities. Right now, while the NBA’s elite is in the bubble, Curry is in the lab. His private trainer, Brandon Payne, has…
