Freeman: Blazers' scout Larry Greer is "The Spy Who Everyone Knows"

Joe Freeman of The Oregonian writes about advance scout Larry Greer and the role scouts play in developing a game plan.
----------------------------
Marcus Camby glares at the opposing coach along the sideline during a stop in play, hears the coach yell "Floppy" to his players, and cups his hands around his mouth and screams across the court toward the Trail Blazers' bench.

"Floppy! Floppy! Floppy!"

A salt-and-pepper-haired man rises from the row of seats just behind the Blazers' bench, contemplates Camby's words, and shouts back. "Power. Power." Camby yells "Power" to Andre Miller, who yells it to Wesley Matthews, and before the opponent readies to inbound the ball, every Blazers player on the court knows exactly what play is about to be run and exactly how they are supposed to defend it.
----------------------------
Greer is the guy who suggested the Miller-to-Batum alley-oop play that won the Spurs game.

ed: bumped to front page

about 1 year ago Corvid 60 comments 4 recs |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

After rewatching the laker game I noticed him yelling plays behind the bench.

Mainly cause Rice mentioned him about 30 times during the dallas game. Other then missing so much time with the family, that has to be the best job in the world. Q: what do you do for a living. A: I travel the country and watch great nba teams face off every night.

No one in the world can beat me at RBI baseball 3(nes).

by svlittle on Apr 10, 2011 10:15 AM PDT reply actions

Another over looked advantage of having one of the richest sport owners in the world

Being able to have two advanced scouts

No one in the world can beat me at RBI baseball 3(nes).

by svlittle on Apr 10, 2011 10:17 AM PDT reply actions

Undoubtedly there are many other folks behind the scenes who contribute to our team's success

Nice to read about the dudes who scout opposing teams. I would be interested to read about the sports psychologists who help our players excel. Ron Artest explicitly acknowledged the help of his shrink. Other than being physically fit and in good health, being mentally sharp and focused is probably the most important element of success. Learning about what is done to keep top athletes mentally sound would be very interesting.

Win the day!
Coffee is for Closers!
Always Be Closing!

by Blzr fan on Apr 10, 2011 10:43 AM PDT via mobile reply actions 1 recs

This guy must be a stud....

I was lucky enough to be invited to a game where I was directly to the left of the Blazer bench. I mean I could touch it (if it weren’t for the security guard giving me the eye). As a regular last row of the 300 section type of fan, I was amazed at this guy behind the bench yelling out directions all game. I wasn’t sure who he was, at first I was more impressed that he was sitting next to Buck. But almost every play he yelled out a read to the defense. Sometimes he did it based on the opposing teams calls on the floor, sometimes he looked right to the other bench, and like Freeman said, sometimes the plays came in from what the Blazers on the floor heard.

I guess I was more impressed that EVERYONE on the bench listened to what he said. If he yelled out “Power!” the front row of coaches started yelling out the same thing. Everyone knew their role and this guy, Greer, was trusted to scout out everything the other team was doing. It was so impressive. It was obvious to me that the other coaches really think he brings a lot to the success of the team.

by Ryan_PDX on Apr 10, 2011 11:12 AM PDT reply actions 4 recs

Pretty awesome. I have quarter season tickets near the visitor bench and it's always intersting to watch the behind the scenes stuff

Btw, did anyone notice how luke walton spends every timeout stretching and kinda dancing. He doesn’t even pay attention to the huddles. He reminds me of the guy at the gym who gets all studded out and spends most the team stretching in front of the treadmills

No one in the world can beat me at RBI baseball 3(nes).

by svlittle on Apr 10, 2011 11:19 AM PDT up reply actions

I hope GW continues to stretch..do whatever he has been doing before coming to the Blazers.

by Natsthecat on Apr 10, 2011 4:13 PM PDT up reply actions

Cool story

Wiggada Wiggada Zers!

by Corvid on Apr 10, 2011 1:44 PM PDT up reply actions

Oftentimes seated near Greer...

…you have assistant coach Buck Williams, who’s notable for rarely uttering a word during games. In fact, sometimes I’m hard-pressed to find a facial expression.

by Bart King on Apr 10, 2011 3:24 PM PDT up reply actions

Let me take the time here to repost an earlier comment of mine.

“That’s Larry Greer, who’s the younger brother of Andy Greer.

Oh, and with regards to Andy Greer, he’s an assistant to Tom T. in Chicago, who are a part of the Jeff Van Gundy coaching branch. I do wish that I could call it the JVG coaching tree, but he’s just a branch that’s connected to the roots of Pat Riley.

http://www.nba.com/blazers/contact/front_office.html
http://www.nba.com/coachfile/andy_greer/index.html?nav=page

And yeah, JVG is, was, and always will be greater than Nate McMillan, who still moronically relies in the SOS pressure defense as his staple scheme and, worse yet, resorts to gimmicky zones — particuarly of the matchup variety — from time to time.

It’s garbage … hot garbage at that.

Oh, and if JVG gets another head coaching gig sometime down the line, I assume Larry Greer would be on his short list of potential assistant coaches."

http://www.blazersedge.com/2011/4/3/2089588/game-77-recap-trail-blazers-104-mavericks-pwned#63095116

Now, with that said, let me just say that some folks view the game the right way. Larry Greer is one of those guys.

But yeah, Larry’s brother, Andy, is in a better position career wise. Why? Well, unlike his brother, he’s working for an organization that’s on pace to win a championship. That’s right, folks, a championship.

"They say it has no memory. That’s where I want to live the rest of my life. A warm place with no memory."

by AK1984 on Apr 10, 2011 12:54 PM PDT reply actions

Way to take a thread that is supposed to be upbeat and shine some positive light on the Blazer organization and SLAM IT!

You remind me of the bullies I used to have to deal with in school. They tried to elevate themselves by tearing everyone else down.

LaMONSTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by LaMarvelous on Apr 10, 2011 1:21 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

thanks for the insight

(Although I have always found it somewhat pathetic when people quote themselves)

Win the day!
Coffee is for Closers!
Always Be Closing!

by Blzr fan on Apr 10, 2011 1:23 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions

My thoughts exactly

But I guess when your smarter then everyone else the only person you can quote is yourself

No one in the world can beat me at RBI baseball 3(nes).

by svlittle on Apr 10, 2011 1:27 PM PDT up reply actions

I have two questions I've been wondering for awhile

1. You try to come off as the all knowing basketball guru but have you ever played, coached, refereed or even covered basketball? Or even been associated with a basketball team in real life?

2. I know that you were a sonics fan, but what made you become a blazers “fan.” You don’t like anything about the front office, coach, players or even fans. It seems like you wait to belittle people for their opinions and wait to try to jump on any chance to try and correct someone, even if it has nothing to do with anything and anybody that doesn’t think so is dumb. It’s really getting old. Every move the blazers make is the dumbest move possible and every blazer player is overrated.I thought blazersedge was a fan forum. Most your remarks walk the line on trolling, but mocking the blazers by saying greers brother works for a team on pace for a championship and what ever you were trying to imply is out of line. I hear the warriors are looking for new fans

No one in the world can beat me at RBI baseball 3(nes).

by svlittle on Apr 10, 2011 1:42 PM PDT up reply actions 17 recs

lol nice

rec

Rumor has it that Dos Equis first approached Aldridge, but Aldridge turned thrm down because the real 'most interesting man in the world' would not have to prove it in a commercial. - Canis Hoopus 1/7/11

by jamon51 on Apr 10, 2011 2:14 PM PDT up reply actions

I have felt this way about a lot of the "Anti Posts" on this site

I have wanted to say, "Ummm..Yeah, so, who is knocking down your door to (Insert, Coach, Gm, Train) an NBA team?

I am a fan who is trying to understand and I get glimmers of long term hope with this team. And, it is a team of guys who I can really get on board rooting for.

If I don’t understand playing time, rotations ect, I always defer to the fact that these teams have coaching staffs and scouts who spend a lot of hours of the day with the players. WE don’t know as fans what all the players are dealing with that may mean the coach has to hedge they just may not have it this game.

Anyways, I am not calling for all out “Homerism”. However, at least be a bit of a fan

Roy Bashing~ "Blakes gone...Brandon is next alphabetically " ;-}

by Hermistonmelons on Apr 10, 2011 2:28 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah, the doomsday posts get old

I don’t mind them when there done with respect because everyone is entitled to there opinion. But it seems like when doomsday predictions are wrong, you never hear from them again. For the last year, I’ve seen alot of posts claiming aldridge will always be soft, dre will never fit into this offense and even that the wallace trade was a terrible move. What I haven’t seen is very many retractions

No one in the world can beat me at RBI baseball 3(nes).

by svlittle on Apr 10, 2011 2:50 PM PDT up reply actions

I think AK1984 does have quite a bit of knowledge re: players and

he does have distinct opinions re: type of play that is effective.
I don’t take these comments as dooms day comments.
I do wonder if he is a Blazer fan as many of the comments made do not seem to be very pro Blazer.
But he obviously follows the team so I have to give him credit for this.
Also I have learned from many of his posts.

by Natsthecat on Apr 11, 2011 1:28 PM PDT up reply actions

I often admit when I'm wrong. If you don't believe me, then research my comment history.

I, by the way, applauded the Gerald Wallace trade, as well as have been in the middle on Andre Miller — neither pro nor con, for he’s got both good and bad qualities on the court — thus, aside from LaMarcus Aldridge, you’re veering off course in your misguided angst here.

Whatever, though, it’s your right to get riled up and whatnot, even if it’s way off base in my opinion.

"They say it has no memory. That’s where I want to live the rest of my life. A warm place with no memory."

by AK1984 on Apr 15, 2011 4:41 AM PDT up reply actions

My phone jumbled up part of this

This is what I was trying to say: “It seems like you wait to belittle people for their opinions and wait to try to jump on any chance to try and correct someone, even if it has nothing to do with anything. Every move the blazers make is the dumbest move possible and every blazer player is overrated and anybody that doesn’t think so is dumb”

No one in the world can beat me at RBI baseball 3(nes).

by svlittle on Apr 10, 2011 2:45 PM PDT up reply actions

You see what you want to see.

Though, to be fair, we all view things in our own lens.

"They say it has no memory. That’s where I want to live the rest of my life. A warm place with no memory."

by AK1984 on Apr 15, 2011 5:25 AM PDT up reply actions

BANG

So true, it gets old really quick. Rec.

Bat88m

by RyanRTE on Apr 10, 2011 4:04 PM PDT up reply actions

annnnnd rec

Opinions are always welcome but trumpeting the same negativity over and over again gets old. Especially when we’re past the point of being able to change much.

by poorwebguy on Apr 10, 2011 5:13 PM PDT up reply actions

Sorry, but the day I become a happy-go-lucky drone is the day I check out of life as we know it.

Clearly, some folks find what I consider realistic to be negative and whatnot. Not me, though. We’re all different in our own way, however, which is what thankfully makes each and every single one of us — including you and I — unique individuals.

"They say it has no memory. That’s where I want to live the rest of my life. A warm place with no memory."

by AK1984 on Apr 15, 2011 4:37 AM PDT up reply actions

1. Not at a pro level*, but it doesn't matter. Why? Well, an appeal to authority is a logical fallacy.

2. Let’s face facts, okay. The Chicago Bulls are more likely to win a championship than the Portland Trail Blazers this season. Why’s that? Well, coaching and defensive efficiency are the main reasons. That was my point here.

*By that, I played when I was younger and did cover a few different sports — including men and women’s basketball — for one year when writing for a community college newspaper.

"They say it has no memory. That’s where I want to live the rest of my life. A warm place with no memory."

by AK1984 on Apr 15, 2011 4:32 AM PDT up reply actions

I should add that by "younger" I mean before high school. So yeah, I'm sure there are many ...

folks here who played high school basketball and can hold that over me. Remember, though, there are coaches throughout NBA history — such as Dick Motta in the past and Lawrence Frank more recently — who didn’t play high school basketball themselves.

"They say it has no memory. That’s where I want to live the rest of my life. A warm place with no memory."

by AK1984 on Apr 15, 2011 5:22 AM PDT up reply actions

Small world, eh?

Andy Greer did some scouting for the Trail Blazers last year. I wonder if Larry got him the job.

Wiggada Wiggada Zers!

by Corvid on Apr 10, 2011 1:43 PM PDT up reply actions

In pro sports, it's definitely a small circle.

"They say it has no memory. That’s where I want to live the rest of my life. A warm place with no memory."

by AK1984 on Apr 15, 2011 4:26 AM PDT up reply actions

Tom Thibadeau...

by Natsthecat on Apr 10, 2011 4:14 PM PDT up reply actions

JVG's legacy is one of accidentally making the finals in a boondoggle of a season

He is mainly known for attempting to verbally spar with Mark Jackson and coming across as a hypocritical idiot. He was known for turning himself into a laughing stock when he instructed his team to raise their level of aggression in order to turn a game into a boxing match, and then latching onto a player’s leg in a pale imitation of humping toy poodle.

He should be, but is less known for somehow always underachieving with some of the highest paid, and best constructed teams of the past 15 years.
And totally wasting the careers of Yao Ming,and Tracy McGrady.

Post that I mentioned to you before

Your attempts to build him up do not hide the fact that he has been a coaching failure and is totally un-hire-able at this point in his career do to his repeated inadequacies.

dinasour type of guys choir boys

by mittsabishy on Apr 10, 2011 6:03 PM PDT up reply actions

Good thing you're not a doctor, for you'd be an abject failure. If you wanted the real answer, then ...

you just should’ve simply asked me. Heck, here it is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obsessive%E2%80%93compulsive_personality_disorder

"They say it has no memory. That’s where I want to live the rest of my life. A warm place with no memory."

by AK1984 on Apr 15, 2011 4:46 AM PDT up reply actions

Wicked

"All is vanity and vexation of spirit."
http://year5000.bandcamp.com

by Y5k on Apr 10, 2011 1:29 PM PDT reply actions

Who was that?! Was that Larry Greer ? No, It was my aaaaabdominals

Po-po-po-po-po-po-power

by chuky on Apr 10, 2011 1:33 PM PDT reply actions

I wonder if the Warriors don't garner the same level of advanced scouting

There are always a few of the crumier teams that we always seem to have more trouble with than other teams. Maybe the advance scouts only see a couple of those teams games and thus the blazers are less prepared. It could explain that 4 game swing where the blazers beat Orlando and the Heat but look bad against the Bobcats. Maybe the Bobcats weren’t scouted as much post Wallace.

by NWfan on Apr 10, 2011 2:58 PM PDT reply actions

Very good point

Same thing happens when a primary scorer is out for a team and your the first to face them. Seems like it takes at least a quarter to figure out what there offense is trying to do

No one in the world can beat me at RBI baseball 3(nes).

by svlittle on Apr 10, 2011 3:07 PM PDT up reply actions

After linking to this story I found this awesome "gigapan". Take a look at it.

It’s probably worth a fanshot.

link

It’s a composite,interactive shot of the RG during the Laker game. Really cool

#52--------I believe in Greg Oden

by annthefan on Apr 10, 2011 3:07 PM PDT reply actions 9 recs

That's awesome

Blazers win!

by The X-man on Apr 10, 2011 3:13 PM PDT up reply actions

Haha! Nice shot man! If you focus in on Rice's head it looks like its split in 2!

LET'S PLAY SOME DAMN DEFENSE!!!!!!!!!!

by Batum Shakalaka on Apr 10, 2011 3:14 PM PDT up reply actions

and Barrett looks like he's opening a fortune cookie

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Apr 10, 2011 6:55 PM PDT up reply actions

Really shows his bald spot to advantage. It's so circular.

#52--------I believe in Greg Oden

by annthefan on Apr 10, 2011 7:04 PM PDT up reply actions

Please make it green so others will notice it. :)

#52--------I believe in Greg Oden

by annthefan on Apr 10, 2011 3:48 PM PDT up reply actions

ATF!!! this is amazing!

Rec!!!

wake me in 2012

by jstbeachy on Apr 10, 2011 4:07 PM PDT up reply actions

Very Cool.

Rec.

Although if you zoom in on the cheerleaders in the stands on the bottom right of the pic, you’ll notice someone had some fun with creative editing before posting it.

by katzenbe on Apr 10, 2011 4:49 PM PDT up reply actions

plate lady on the unicycle

I wonder if she helped or hurt Portland on that possession?

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Apr 10, 2011 6:49 PM PDT up reply actions

Hahahahahaa!!!! That's an innie where her whatnot should be.

Do you think that’s intentional? It looks like a spliced area to me.

#52--------I believe in Greg Oden

by annthefan on Apr 10, 2011 6:50 PM PDT up reply actions

Wow, yeah I think you’re right. That it’s unintentional kind of makes it even funnier though.

by katzenbe on Apr 10, 2011 8:23 PM PDT up reply actions

whoa, that is awesome!! I've never heard of a gigapan before but I love it.

#52

by bustabucket on Apr 10, 2011 5:20 PM PDT up reply actions

Ann that totally ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks!

There is like 6 basketballs on the court and you can see Dre take a shot while LMA blocks a Kobe attempt……..LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LaMONSTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by LaMarvelous on Apr 10, 2011 6:11 PM PDT up reply actions

That is cool

I like the way Blaze is on the court “during play” as well as the gal on the unicycle. Plus LMA is about to block Kobe’s shot and score on Pau

so way cool

Me: "I heard the BCS just bought March Madness.......the vote should be out tomorrow and we will see Duke and Kansas in the championship game"

by 92wastheyear on Apr 11, 2011 7:56 AM PDT up reply actions

I am assuming we are cheering for Memphis today.

#52--------I believe in Greg Oden

by annthefan on Apr 10, 2011 3:28 PM PDT reply actions

yes

by Natsthecat on Apr 10, 2011 4:14 PM PDT up reply actions

Actually, it was just a rhetorical question. :)

#52--------I believe in Greg Oden

by annthefan on Apr 10, 2011 6:22 PM PDT up reply actions

smiley face...I know..just being a smart alleck...

by Natsthecat on Apr 11, 2011 1:31 PM PDT up reply actions

Good news, Memphis is up 12 against New Orleans. If the Hornets lose, our fate is entirely in our hands.

I think Memphis will be due for a loss too. The tough game will be @Golden State.

by BRoyInThe4th on Apr 10, 2011 4:43 PM PDT reply actions

Also, it looks like if Memphis wins, and we lose to Memphis, we will lose the tie breaker with both NO and Memphis. Then we should be in good posistion to get the 8th seed or 6th regardless of the final two games.

by BRoyInThe4th on Apr 10, 2011 4:46 PM PDT reply actions

by svlittle on Apr 10, 2011 8:13 PM PDT up reply actions

Lakers lose. They look old and tired

#52--------I believe in Greg Oden

by annthefan on Apr 10, 2011 9:06 PM PDT up reply actions

How do you have artest-best on ball defender in league, kobe-first team all defense every year, and 3 “elite” 7 footers and give up 120 on your home court.

No one in the world can beat me at RBI baseball 3(nes).

by svlittle on Apr 10, 2011 9:30 PM PDT up reply actions