Chat with Lawrence Frank

Ray Floriani was in attendance for Wednesday's double-header at the Garden, and had a chance to speak with former New Jersey Nets coach Lawrence Frank.

On Wednesday it was off to MSG for a doubleheader. St.John’s edged Cincinnati for their first Big East win 52-50 while Dayton posted a 74-58 Atlantic Ten decision over Fordham. Among those in attendance was former NJ Nets coach Lawrence Frank. I got a chance to meet and talk with Frank who had a front row seat behind the Cincy and Dayton benches. Frank hails from Teaneck, NJ, and my residence is Lyndhurst, about 8 miles south, so we had something in common to discuss right off the bat.

We discussed officiating and youth basketball. I am a big proponent of having youth teams only press on a limited basis. Let them learn half court and fundamentals first. Frank shares the same opinion and added that he attended a fifth grade game the other night and one coach was in a 1-3-1 half court trapping defense. “Some of these coaches go out there like they are trying to win an NBA title, he said. “The important thing is to teach the kids the game.“

As we went on I noted the other night I officiated a fifth grade game and both teams pressed the whole game. Even the winning team up eleven with six seconds to go pressed off a dead ball. The kids ,on both teams, exited the gym with virtually no chance to patiently advance the ball and run half court sets the entire night.

We discussed a pet peeve of mine, verticality. We as officials make mistakes but players can stay out of trouble employing verticality on defense. Frank noted that on defense players are taught or encouraged to locate the offense with their bodies rather than getting to a space. ‘Get a body on someone’ I hear coaches encourage on many an occasion. Frank’s idea of establishing a space or beating a man to the spot is virtually forgotten at the lower levels today.

Overall, an enjoyable chat and meeting with a someone who coached at the game’s highest level but is in tune regarding what is needed at the foundations of the game.