Jeff Bzdelik Interview on Coaching Outside the Bubble

How to Coach Zion Williamson Remotely

GQ Sports Interview with Bzdelik that gives us a little insight to his current role and level of participation.

Some highlights:

On Zion's request upon learning Bzdelik would not be joining the team in Orlando...

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Will you please just stay on top of me. Text me what I need. Stay on top of my defense

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On exactly who IS in charge of the defense (and a nod to Jamelle)...

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Bzdelik also spends hours on the phone every week with Gentry, associate head coach Chris Finch, and assistant coach Jamelle McMillan, who Bzdelik calls his “right-hand man.” The vast bulk of his exchanges are with Pelicans assistant coach Fred Vinson, who’s spearheading the team’s defense in Bzdelik’s place. “I talk to Fred more than I talk to my wife on a daily basis,” he said.

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Perhaps a nod to what we noticed in the last scrimmage with the young guys doing a better job of boxing out and preventing rebounds...

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I remember when we had Nene, we had our end of the year meetings. Someone from the management team says ‘Hey Nene, your defensive rebounding numbers were down.’ And Nene got very upset. I jumped in there real fast before Nene reached across the table,” Bzdelik laughs. “All year long we had great examples of Nene blocking people off, making sure DeMarcus Cousins and Dwight Howard and people like that didn’t grab offensive rebounds

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#wontbowdown