The evolution of basketball over the years is one of the most fascinating points of discussion within the NBA community. From the way how it is played to how data is processed, the game is almost unrecognizable from a couple of decades even.
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One of the most prominent changes to have taken place in the game is the increased prominence of the three-point shot. For something which wasn’t even in existence until 1979, it is remarkable how key it is to today’s iteration of basketball.
Among the early pioneers of the three-point revolution was Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird. Bird entered the NBA in 1978 and quickly showed the world the potential of the three-point shot.
And Bird’s early utilization of his three-point range may have been influenced by his visionary coach, Bill Fitch. Fitch was the head coach of Bird’s Celtics from 1979 to 1983 and was highly regarded in the NBA community, even landing a spot in the NBA’s top 10 coaches of all-time list in 1996.
Fitch passed away in February 2022 at the age of 89. And on this instance, Bird, his former protege was quick to offer his respects.
Larry Bird believed Bill Fitch was ahead of the game back in the 1980s.
Bird, an NBA coach of the Year winner himself, is clearly qualified to talk about the nuances of coaching in the NBA. And when such a legendary figure credits someone for being ahead of the curve, it holds considerable value.
Larry Legend spoke about how his fledgling career benefitted from Fitch’s methods of coaching. Especially Fitch’s usage of game tapes and breakdowns of the same. Bird even referred to the opportunity of having been under Bill Fitch’s coaching as a blessing.
“I came in as a rookie and he sort of showed me the rope. I thought he was ahead of the game. Breaking down tape after games, we never did that back then. VCR and he run it back and forth, back and forth. I was blessed to have him. I had the most respect for coach Fitch and I can’t thank him enough for what he did for my career” revealed the former Celtic about his Championship-winning coach.
To utilize game footage and break plays down with his players in the 1980s is remarkable. Clearly, Fitch was among the trailblazers in the coaching department. Especially pertaining to the use of video footage to combat opponents and fix systemic errors of his own teams.
Fitch enjoyed a lengthy spell as an NBA head coach, overseeing 2,050 games in the league. However, Bird may be true about him being ahead of his time. Despite his craft, the former Cavs and Celtics coach racked up 1,106 losses for his career.
Bill Fitch held the record for most losses as a coach in the NBA for five years.
The former NBA championship-winning coach with the Celtics held the ignominy of being the biggest “loser” in NBA history. Stints with terrible Cavaliers and Clippers rosters definitely contributed to the same. And, as Bird put it, his methods probably were too advanced to be implemented to his liking.
Fitch’s record was eventually broken by Lenny Wilkins in 2005. The former Celtics coach, therefore, left for the heavens without that albatross over his head.
And for the record, it appears another Fitch link could be formed. A former disciple of Fitch’s, Rick Carlisle is the active coach with the most losses. Will Carlisle overtake his coach and knock his old gaffer down another spot?
