Latest news with #OnPoint
Time of India
32 minutes ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Coach Mike D'Antoni reveals how NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal's game inspired him to reshape basketball
How did NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal's domination inspire coach Mike D'Antoni to reshape basketball? (Image Source: Getty) Mike D'Antoni has transformed the Phoenix Suns, with the sole goal of countering the NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal's dominance on the basketball field. With newer possibilities, D'Antoni has been able to reshape the NBA and has done it brilliantly. Shaquille O'Neal was unbeatable, says Mike D'Antoni The Phoenix Suns hadn't been performing well, so by the end of the 2003-2004 NBA season, Mike D'Antoni took over as the head coach. It was D'Antoni's job to change the game and reshape the team as much as he could. Back then, NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal was playing for the Los Angeles Lakers, and the team was unbeatable, with him being one of their brilliant players. While speaking on the 'On Point' podcast, D'Antoni explained how they came up with a solid plan while focusing on winning, and making it even harder for the team to defend. He said, 'It started, excuse me, earlier in my career, and I thought in Europe when I was coaching in Europe, that's the best way to play and was working, Obviously, then you come to the NBA, you have better players to do what I always thought that needed to be done.' D'Antoni said as per Lakers Nation, 'A big driving force was that Shaquille O'Neal was the center in Los Angeles, which is in our division. And we always said among ourselves, you can't out Shaq Shaq. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Amazon CFD : La clave para un ingreso extra (Conoce más) Empezar ahora Registrarse Undo You can't just trot somebody out there and think you're gonna get the best of Shaq. So we had to figure out a way to beat him. And that was to speed the game up, take more 3s and spread them out, and then they give us a chance to win.' While Shaq left after a little while, what D'Antoni taught the team stayed with them. It changed the way basketball was taught and played, and high speed and being able to pass the ball as quickly as one can, meant everything. He said, "Getting the ball in quick, getting all guys to believe in what we're doing to run the floor, spread 'em out and beat Shaq down the floor or beat any big down the floor. And as players got used to it, also a side effect of the other team having to play at that pace that they never practiced, and they never did it.' Also Read: 'Get Your Hands Off Me': Shaquille O'Neal Throws Stephen A Smith Out During Pregame Show In A Lighthearted Moment D'Antoni was aware nobody was able to stop Shaquille O'Neal. His focus was completely on speed, and even bigger players couldn't possibly match the level.
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Mike D'Antoni: Lakers legend was behind 'pace and space' revolution
Mike D'Antoni: Lakers legend was behind 'pace and space' revolution Back in the 1990s and early 2000s, the NBA was a league that was infested with slowdown basketball. Almost every team routinely walked the ball upcourt and milked the shot clock, and the result was scoring and shooting percentages plunging to levels not seen in decades. Ratings and fan interest sagged, and something needed to be done. The league instituted a number of rule changes starting in the mid-1990s, but none of them helped. The change that was necessary needed to come from within. In the early 2000s, the Sacramento Kings came within a whisker of winning the NBA championship by employing a freewheeling, run-and-gun style of offense. A few years later, the Phoenix Suns, coached by Mike D'Antoni, took that style to a new level. Those Suns teams immediately became championship contenders and reached the Western Conference Finals three times in six years. D'Antoni made a surprising admission while on the "On Point" podcast that Los Angeles Lakers superstar Shaquille O'Neal was a huge influence on his offensive philosophy. "A big driving force was Shaquille O'Neal was the center in Los Angeles, which is in our division," D'Antoni said. "And we always said among ourselves, you can't out Shaq Shaq. You can't just trot somebody out there and think you're gonna get the best of Shaq. "So we had to figure out a way to beat him," D'Antoni continued. "And that was to speed the game up, take more 3s and spread them out, and then they give us a chance to win." D'Antoni became the head coach of the Suns early in the 2003-04 season, which was O'Neal's last season with the Lakers. They didn't do too well that season, but they did rank sixth in pace. The following season, when Hall of Fame point guard Steve Nash came on board, their revolution began in earnest. They led everyone in both pace and fast-break points, and they were the first NBA team in many years to reach 110 points a game. It took over a decade, but eventually, most teams had adopted at least some of D'Antoni's "Seven Seconds or Less" offensive philosophy. During the 2018-19 season, NBA teams averaged 111.2 points a game, the first time the league average was over 110 points per game since the 1985-86 campaign, and it was also the first time in over 20 years that teams averaged over 24 assists per game. Although many have complained about excessive 3-point attempts over the last few years, D'Antoni helped make NBA basketball beautiful again. "Pace and space" basketball, as well as quick ball movement around the horn, is now the norm across not just the league but the entire sport.
Business Wire
20-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Christian Timbers: Cybersecurity Executive Pay Up 4.3% in 2025
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Christian & Timbers, the first tech executive search firm, announced the release of a proprietary study today entitled: 'Navigating the Cybersecurity Talent Landscape: A Comprehensive Analysis of C-Suite Compensation Trends in 2025.' It can be accessed at LINK. The study reveals that cybersecurity executive compensation climbed by 4.3% in 2025 as talent competition intensified, reflecting growing demand for leaders who can navigate both technological disruption and revenue challenges. Based on data collected from approximately 100 venture-backed and 75 private equity-backed privately held cybersecurity companies and over 300 executives, the study analyzes compensation for CEOs, CFOs, CROs, CMOs, CTOs, CPOs, CPTOs, and CAIOs. It compares variations in compensation by company size and funding stage, ranging from Series A startups to established enterprises valued between $500 million and $1 billion. Jeff Christian, CEO of Christian & Timbers, says, 'There is a war for talent as the world continues to digitize and cyber threats escalate. Attracting and retaining top executive leadership is a core strategic priority. This study provides a detailed breakdown of compensation patterns that helps boards and investors make more informed hiring decisions.' He added, 'Having just returned from RSA, the buzz was all about AI. CEOs and investors are elevating the importance of AI expertise and seeking a new breed of CROs who can scale quickly and provide strategic direction for revenue acceleration while leveraging AI.' The study reveals that cybersecurity executive compensation climbed by 4.3% in 2025 as talent competition intensified, reflecting growing demand for leaders who can navigate both technological disruption and revenue challenges. This proprietary study serves as a definitive benchmark for understanding compensation package structures across key cybersecurity leadership roles. By analyzing salary, bonus, and equity trends, the report offers meaningful guidance to executives and stakeholders navigating a competitive hiring market. Some of the most impactful trends in cybersecurity leadership for 2025 are: Cybersecurity companies are searching for a new type of CRO who is both strategic and tactically sharp. Top-of-funnel-focused CROs no longer drive growth as they did before. While slower enterprise buying cycles are often blamed, elite CROs continue to excel. Today's high-impact CROs combine data fluency with rapid decision-making and hands-on execution. This blend of strategy and operations is rare. These CROs belong in the 95th percentile and are closely monitored by leading private equity and venture firms. Christian & Timbers catalogs this talent through its OnPoint platform. In 2024, Chief AI Officers (CAIOs) gained prominence across cybersecurity firms. Zscaler's CAIO appointment reflects this shift as GenAI, LLMs, and agentic systems become strategic priorities. Boards are actively evaluating risks, opportunities, and partnerships in this space. The CAIO now plays a central role in aligning AI with product and enterprise strategy. In larger companies, SVPs and VPs of AI lead deployment. This momentum continues in 2025. CAIO compensation rose by 9 percent, with demand exceeding supply. Demand for CPTOs remains elevated in 2025. These hybrid leaders drive engineering and product teams, often overseeing LLM-based development and AI integration. CPTOs are now expected to deliver both operational stability and strategic vision. Their role is critical to AI innovation, platform growth, and organizational alignment, with compensation increases outpacing most peers. Our study incorporated data from multiple sources, including proprietary surveys and external benchmarks such as Mercer 's January 2025 QuickPulse U.S. Compensation Planning Survey, which forecasted a 3.7% increase in total salary budgets for non-unionized employees. Based on our analysis, cybersecurity C-suite compensation is increasing at an average rate of 3.8%, with certain leadership roles experiencing materially higher growth. We anticipate a 4.2% increase for CROs and a 4.1% increase for CPTOs. CAIOs are seeing even steeper increases, ranging from 8% to 10%, as competition for this rare leadership talent intensifies. Base and bonus compensation for existing CEOs will remain flat in most cybersecurity companies, with a 2% increase in cash compensation for newly hired CEOs. However, total compensation, especially when equity is included, is rising sharply in GenAI-focused cybersecurity startups founded in 2024 and 2025. In these firms, valuations have surged, and new leadership hires are securing significantly higher equity-based packages than the broader market norm. For more information and to access the full report, visit LINK. Christian & Timbers has specialized in cybersecurity talent acquisition for decades, providing tailored strategies to help clients secure the most impactful executive leaders in the field. Founded over four decades ago, C&T is the first technology-focused executive search firm. The firm has significantly shaped the leadership dynamics within the tech industry, completing over 1,000 CEO assignments.
