Norris Cole: Stretch four, small-ball now trending in NBA

MANILA, Philippines – Way before the Golden State Warriors used the small ball system to their advantage and shoot their way to the championship last year, the Miami Heat “dynasty” with Chris Bosh, LeBron James and Shane Battier utilized small ball en route to their back-to-back title conquests in 2012 and 2013, as told by Norris Cole, a two-time NBA champion now playing for the New Orleans Pelicans.

 

“Small ball is in and Stretch 4 (referring to big players who shoot from the outside like Ryan Anderson and Dirk Nowitzki) has definitely been the trend in the NBA right now," Cole told a group of reporters in an exclusive interview in the NBA Café in SM Aura. 

 

“It is also important to have dominating point guard play. The NBA is always on different phrase. From the big man phase (which used to dominate the paint) and now two guards scoring,” he added.

 

Cole is in town for the Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA camps on Sunday.

 

“It is important for the kids to have encouragement, the foundation and the fundamentals of the game. The Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA can be the foundation for these young kids and they must take advantage of the opportunity and become better players and individuals,” said Cole.

 

Being a first-time visitor of the country, the trip excited him a lot, knowing that the Filipinos are passionate of the game. A close friend of Cavs superstar James, with whom he frequently communicates with, it was a hard transition from being among the young players in a veteran-laden Miami Heat and  to being one of the experienced players for the Pelicans.

 

“It’s all being part of a professional basketball player,” he adds.