Customer Reviews

Five-Point Play: The Story of Duke's Amazing 2000-2001 Championship Season

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Duke is on TV almost as much as Sponge Bob. I've probably missed five games in twenty-five years (including my time at Duke). After reading this book, I've missed all of them. The behind-the-scenes, locker-room perspective on how Coach K motivates players is powerful and moving. His preparation for each game centers less on the opponent and more on singling out one player on his own team to lift that player's game. His simple, direct message gets through.
"Next Play," "Confidence Breeds Courage," "Collective Responsibility" and other catch-phrases of K's apply not only to basketball but to business and to life.
How many coaches after winning the National Championship would bring their team back into the locker room two days later to remind them that the Lessons of the Fist (for what those are you have to read the book) apply not only to basketball but to life? How many, in the same meeting, would goad their players to excel not only on the basketball court but in the classroom and in life?
This is a book to treasure.

Five-Point Play is the perfect companion to the 2000-2001 Basketball Season. I received the book from Amazon two days ago, and managed to read it in just a couple of hours. The book is a blow-by-blow account of how the Blue Devils grew and matured during its championship run. Five-Point Play is written in the same style as the ESPNMAG article that was written from Coach K's perspective.

Although I don't think one has to read "Leading with the Heart" to enjoy this book, I do think that one's enjoyment is definitely elevated by doing so. A lot of what Coach K emphasizes in Five-Point Play has distinct echoes from his previous book. Such important lessons as communication, trust, collective responsibility, caring, etc. are big themes that he re-emphasizes to the team. However, the primary difference is that in this book, Coach K follows the season in chronological order, with descriptions of practices and in-game situations. There are also several quotes from the players, coaches and staff that are inserted during these situations that further illuminate the different perspectives on the team. Perhaps one of the most interesting parts of the book describe, in great detail, the team's psyche when Carlos suffered his foot injury and the team's subsequent shift in offensive and defensive strategies. In reality, there was a signifcant amount of doubt that the team would be able to be competitive by practically everyone on the team-- including Coach K! Fortunately, the Duke Blue Devils overcame this obstacle (among many others) and surged towards the National Championship.

In Five Point Play, Coach Mike Krzyzewski tries to teach the 2001 Duke basketball team about not only basketball, but life too. By setting examples for the team, Coach shows his players the results of communication, trust, care, responsibility, and pride, the same points that helped them win the national championship. "Coach K" has a crew of talented coaches and players that include Shane Battier, Jason Williams, Carlos Boozer and many more. I like the way that Coach Krzyzewski put this book together, by explaining every pep talk, describing every huddle, and giving the details of every game. Although I wouldn't recommend this book to a North Carolina fan, I hope that every other basketball fan gets a chance to read Five Point Play.

I thought this book was great. It was truly inspirational. It changed my life. From now on, I am going to cut my own meat! Fist!

"Five-point Play" is a great follow-up to Coach K's "Leading with the Heart." The reader gets an in-depth view of the intracacies of Duke basketball as well as tremendous insight into the mind of one of basketball's all-time greatest coaches, Mike Krzyzewski.

Coaches of all sports will enjoy this book because Coach K describes the roller coaster of ups and downs that every athlete and coach faces throughout the season. What is of most interest though, is the way that Coach K is able to truly understand and coach each of his different players in an effort to continually help them play to their potential. The reader will clearly see that Coach K's success is based on his ability to develop trusting relationships with each of his players and staff.

If you want a view inside the locker room of one of sport's most respected and successful programs, then definitely "Five-point Play" is the book for you.

I am a Duke grad, so my love of Duke hoops and Coach K are unmitigated. However, his books, as much as I'd like to feel otherwise, are not good. If they didn't deal directly with glorious Duke basketball, I don't think I could have finished them.
This book offers the occasional fresh story or insight; mostly it is predictable and repetitive--just the qualities which K and his clubs avoid consistently.
The brillliance of Coach K and his Duke teams are far better enjoyed while watching them play. His talent for motivation, and his exemplary example are better displayed on the court as well.

Five Point Play is a must-have for any die-hard Duke basketball fan. The book depicts the 2000-2001 season in its entirety from not only Coach Krzyzewskis point of view, but also from the point of view of many of the players who made the national championship possible for the university. All the important highlights of the season are included, from Coachs 500th victory at Cameron Indoor Stadium, to the Miracle Minute that led to a surprise victory against Maryland.

The book does not just talk about the highlights of the games, however. It accurately portrays Coachs recipe for success that helped land the team in the Final Four and, eventually, to the 2001 National Championship. Coach K (his nickname) makes sure that he imposes a low-pressure environment on his players. He attempts to remove any jealousy between the all-star members of the team and forces his players to openly admit their respect for their comrades and allow everyone to make a play, not just the starters or the Senior members (including Shane Battier). He also makes it known that he will not yell at any player who misses a shot (and he keeps that promise) but he will chastise a player who does not attempt a play when there is an opportunity. One of coaches other important ingredients is his idea of Next Play. In other words, he encourages the team to avoid becoming over-confident after a victory or to obsess about mistakes or misfortunes, and tells them instead to focus on what is coming up. Most importantly, Coach emphasizes his five-point idea of The Fist: Collective Responsibility (Coach is constantly quoted using Its our instead of Its your as to imply that everything that happens is the result of the team and not an individual), Communication, Caring, Pride, and Trust. Five Point Play seems to be not only a book about Dukes incredible basketball season, but also a motivational lecture as many of the ideals used by Coach can easily be applied to everyday life.

Anyone looking for an in-depth account of Duke basketball or for some inspiration from one of colleges most respected coaches cannot go wrong with buying this book.

...;I loved this book. It really showed how Coach K dealt with his players. This is a good book for
someone looking into coaching, it shows it is not just X's and O's. Coach K emphasizes `The
Fist' like he did in his other book. Coach K gets his players to believe and in this book he shows
how. A great read for a Duke fan or any fan of basketball.

As an avid Duke fan, the book was quite enjoyable and fun to read. Even folks that have read virtually every Duke article during last season's championship run will find a substantial amount of "new" material, i.e, Coach K's "conversation" with Nate James prior to the Final Four trip. Coach K's constant reference to the "fist" gets a little tiresome after a while but he truly believes in the concept and his success is indisputable.

Book review of "Five-Point Play"
"Five-Point Play" by Mike Krzyzewski with Donald T. Phillips is an inspirational story of Dukes journey to the 2001 National Championship. Through the book you will find Coach K's schemes that helped lead the team towards their goals. Also the way he connects his players and his own emotions towards the journey in the book is very entertaining.
There are many things I enjoyed about the book, but one thing I liked a lot about it was how often he used personal quotes from himself, other coaches, and players to connect you with there journey. Such quotes like at the end of the book after they have won the championship he says, "I just tried to sing my own song for this year's performance and not worry about things. It made me healthier and helped me coach for the right reasons. I had the most incredible year that I've had with a group of kids. I can't stop smiling." You can always get media and other people's opinions on what happened, but when you get there personal quotes, you can actually see what they went through to reach their goals. Another reason I loved reading the book was discovering Coach K's elaborate plans and schemes to get players to build off each other and off their situations. But his main principle is the "Five-Point Play"; Communication, Trust, Collective Responsibility, Caring, and Pride. He has many other amazing schemes, but to get into detail you would have to read it yourself.
Those are just a few reasons why you could get to liking this book. It's a very inspirational journey and you can find tools that Coach K uses for yourself in everyday life. Also you're never going to loose background or information in the story because of all the personal quotes and information. It is a very enjoyable book and I recommend it.