Little things make a difference. (Courtside Matters).

For most fans, every stat that matters can be pulled out of the standard box score. From minutes played to points scored to the names of the refs, it all can be found in those few inches of column space in your morning newspaper.

For coaches, though, what's in a box score is not enough. We're always hungry for more information that might help us win a game. We scrutinize boxes, but we're just as interested in all those little things that can't be found in the box score. Most teams, in fact, keep a running total during games of many of those little things and will use them to help make adjustments on the fly:

Deflected passes. If the Lakers deflect 10 balls in a half, we know our players are expending good effort on defense. When someone gets a deflection, it means he's being active. He has what we call "live hands" he's moving his feet, he's playing with quickness.

Taking charges. This is another indicator of defensive effort. Usually, when a player takes a charge, he takes it against a player that he is not guarding. He likely has moved over to help a teammate. When you're willing to sacrifice your body for a teammate who has been beaten by his man, it shows how willing you are to help out. That's as important as any factor in strong team defense.

For some players, taking a charge might be more about flopping. But that's all right. You still have to move your feet and get in good position to flop. When you flop, what you're trying to do is make it appear there is more contact than there really is. You are trying to force the official to make a decision in your favor.

Transition ...