GasTerra Flames Head coach Marco van den Berg, "We had a special team" www.donarbasketbal.nl GasTerra Flames

GasTerra Flames Head coach Marco van den Berg, "We had a special team" - Jun 5, 2010 (by Fred Roggen)

Two weeks after the GasTerra Flames won their third national championship, coach of the year Marco van den Berg set out to explain how he lead his team to a inspirational Dutch championship. The club averaged about 3.100 fans at home games this past season, but has already sold more then 1.100 new season ticket plans since the Ducth championship. Whatever happens, Coach van den Berg said his coaching style and attitude won't change. 'I just try to be as positive and confident for my players as I can,' he said. 'When you have players on the floor who believe in each other, you can withstand anything that comes up.'
I reviews the GasTerra Flames' season with coach van den Berg, to talk to him about his team and his aspirations for the future.

Talk about the season, review it, now that it's all wrapped up. How did everything go?
It was a very special season. We had a special team. I will remember this year fondly. We were number one in the rankings from beginning till end, and won the championship. You can hardly ask for more.

What is the first step that a coach can take to develop a championship team?
Explaining his philosophy to the organisation, then finding people who fit with this way of thinking. Finding players who resonate with each other, who can 'make music together', I always say, is the next step.

When did you realize this team could be as good as it was? Was there a particular game during the season that stood out that said to you weve taken that next step?
I knew we would be pretty good when we played the German champion to a standstill in preseason, then in season we blew out Bergen op Zoom at home, I could tell we were on the right track.

GasTerra Flames has a reputation of never giving up since you arrived in Groningen. How is it possible to motivate your players and keep the intensity in each and every game?
This is probably the biggest compliment you could pay me. This is a huge thing to me, unbreakability. I guess I don't condone quitting. There is always a next game, you know.

What do you like best about your team?
friendship and loyalty.

For a coach in important games like those as the Playoffs Final, how important is preparation before the game compared to making decisions during it?
If you truly want to win a championship, you prepare the team for winning it all every day all year. This includes decisionmaking under pressure, but also many other aspects that you don't see on a statsheet. As a matter of fact, truly winning is prepared for in the practice gym; it's like a alchemy-process. Winning in the finals is so much about the right state of mind. You have to prepare your team all year, possibly more than one year even, for that. Once a coach has ingrained the right state of mind, he can guide the team anywhere.

We know about defense wins championships. If you look at the teams that have kind of won this thing in recent years, they've been teams that could throw a knock-out punch on offense. What do you think about that balance?
I think you cannot win if you don't have the right toughness on defense and the boards, but it is equally important to be able to make big plays on offense under pressure; once again,this comes down to having developed the right mental state in practice.

GasTerra Flames this season is a team of role players that maximizes its strengths and minimizes its weaknesses while finding different ways to win.
I don't necessarily agree: we were most of all a team of players who were all willing to sacrifice indiviuality for the sake of the team. This was the true reason behind our success. If that makes our guys seem like role-players to the outside world, than that's a bit of a shame, because they were all very high-level people/players. They just didn't care about individual credit. This is what basketball can be about.

Ok y're right Marco ..... How would you compare this championship team to your championship team from a couple years back? What coaching strategies are you doing similarly or differently from that team?
The team in Nijmegen had more individual talent and experience, this team had certainly more mutual trust, was closer. they were both special teams and I don't rate the one over the other. Each championship provides for memories which last a lifetime.

How do you as a coaching staff find time for player development during a busy season, when you're focused on competing as a top team?
You build in technique development in your drills and work on mental toughness every day. The biggest improvement for a grown up professional player should be in the mind.

What does it take to be a good head coach? What qualities are essential?
Being non-political and true to yourself. Don't use crutches. Love your players.Be eager to learn something everyday.

What's the key to your success?
You should ask the people around me that question, ask the players.

Marco, is there a philosophy you teach that you want your players to follow?
'to give is the greatest gift of all'

Basketball seems to require not only good fundamental skills but teamwork, toughness and mental focus. How do you try to develop those concepts in your players?
'explain, demonstrate, and repeat, repeat, repeat and repeat some more.'

What are your predictions for next season?
We will get better

In the second half of last season, Matt Haryasz showed to be your top all-around offensive player. Is he being expected to lead the team in scoring the upcoming season?
I don't care who is our leading scorer, but we love Matt and his talent. He's a great asset to our team because of who he is. That's enough for me.

Where do you see yourself in the next 2-3 years? What are your immediate and long-term goals?
Being happy with my wife and daughter (and dog). In terms of goals: I would like to become better in all aspects of living and working. I try to break down a small stone in my defenses day by day. The work I do really helps me with this development.
A Great summer to you all! Thanks Marco, the same to you and your family.