Russell Rule #8: Rebounding or How to Change the Flow of the Game

My own comment: The Russell Celtics had fewer blowout victories than one might assume. The reason is that every other team saw every Celtics game as a victory crusade. They had no trouble getting up for the Celtics. Very often—at least among the better teams—the more the Celtics elevated their play, the more the opponents were motivated to elevate theirs as well. Knowing what a great 4th quarter team the Celtics were (abetted by having worn down the enemy), many opponents developed an almost frenzied focus on getting fast starts against the C's. Moreover, adversity in a greater sense occurred almost annually during the last decade of Russell's reign, in the form of having to replace retiring future Hall-of-Famers. The poise of the Celtics in combating the phenomenon of adversity game after game and season after season is almost beyond one's imagination.

So, despite their wondrous 13-year run, it's important to realize that those Celtics were no strangers to adversity. This chapter deals with how Russ and the team addressed times of adversity.

Sam

Russell Rule # 8: Rebounding, or How to Change the Flow of the Game

This chapter is all about adversity. When a team gets a defensive rebound, it's because the other team has suffered adversity, namely missing a shot. In that sense, the chapter is about CAPITALIZING on adversity. Ultimately, rebounding in a game—as in life—is all about taking charge—taking positive action in a negative situation to become a winner.

Russ says that a rebound can be instinctive or conscious. If it's instinctive, it may be viewed as a defensive action. If it's conscious, it can put you in control, becoming the beginning of an offensive transition. Conscious rebounding means maintaining your concentration and resiliency—not getting down if you miss one but instantly focusing on the next one.

Rebounding from adversity requires adaptability. One of the problems in focusing (in a broad sense) occurs with change in the makeup of the team. Almost every year in Russell's tenure, there were significant changes as one legend would retire and someone with upside would take his place. One key in the Celtics' reign was their ability to adapt quickly to such changes.

When Cousy left the Celtics and K.C. Jones became the playmaker, it was obvious that K.C. couldn't run the break the way Cousy had. They altered their offense, incorporating Russ to a greater degree, to the
point where Bill's assists jumped (in the top 10 that year) and his screens improved dramatically. It was then that people started saying, "Russell makes his teammates play taller."

Rebounding from victory is tougher than rebounding from defeat. It's harder to repeat as champion than to win the initial championship. Self-congratulatory lapses during a game can spur the other team on.

Bill's sub-rules for this chapter:

1. Rebounding is an affirmative act. It should be looked upon as wresting control and starting the offense.

2. Rebounding from adversity involves not developing a victim mentality. If you're not the one called upon to take the big shot, don't pout. Get into position for the rebound.

3. Build resilience both as a winner and a loser. Understand why you are winning, and never take it for granted. Recognize that it is harder to rebound from a win than to rebound from a loss.