Rating: 
Summary: Get the Inside Scoop on the 2001 Championship Season
Review: "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.
Rating:
Summary: Godd basketball stuff!
Review: ...;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.
Rating: 
Summary: For Duke Fans Only
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: i love this book
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Recipe for Success: On the Court, In Business, and in Life
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Coach K "Cooks Up" a Winning Season (and Book!)
Review: 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 Krzyzewski's 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 Coach's 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 Coach's '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 'It's our'' instead of 'It's 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 Duke's 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 college's most respected coaches cannot go wrong with buying this book.
Rating:
Summary: Must Read for any Duke Fan!
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Number One
Review: Honestly the best book I've ever read.
Rating: 
Summary: Skip it...
Review: Honestly, it's just a bunch of blather about how supereme Duke is and how despite everyone being injured the team overcomes impossible odds to win the title. Honestly, I don't recall this team being all that injury ridden. If you're a Duke fan, buy it. Everyone else, don't bother.
Rating:
Summary: Skip it...
Review: Honestly, it's just a bunch of blather about how supereme Duke is and how despite everyone being injured the team overcomes impossible odds to win the title. Honestly, I don't recall this team being all that injury ridden. If you're a Duke fan, buy it. Everyone else, don't bother.
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