Players who put up big numbers might not do the other things that help you win

In 16 NBA seasons, Paul Silas played in two All-Star games and was an All-Defensive pick five times. He was a member of three NBA title teams.

When his playing days were over, he served as a head coach for three NBA teams over 10 more seasons. Twenty-six seasons in the NBA is a long time.

According to Coach Silas, more than anyone -- players, scouts, GMs -- a coach is in "the best position to judge talent, because he is focused on a player's fundamentals."

In his words:

"Others may look at jumping ability, skill level or innate talent. Coaches look beyond that, because they have to fit a player into a system. So they notice how he runs a play, whether he plays hard, if he knows how to back cut, if he rebounds well. And they see if he puts himself in the right position to do those things.

Yes, GMs and players are concerned with winning, but not nearly as much as a coach is, because he can lose his job quickly. That's why coaches look beyond stats. Stats can be deluding; players who put up big numbers might not do the other things that help you win.''