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Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Common Themes for Ultimate Success

Success follows common themes. Tell people what you are going to tell them, say it, and summarize what you told them.

Repetition gets the messages across. 

"Life is about the management of risk." 

Risk assessment looks at both the upside and downside of strategy, decision-making and execution. A team with only offensive standouts risks getting burned on the defensive end. There is a tendency to only "see" strengths not weaknesses. "Hiding" bad defenders works until it doesn't. 

"Pound the rock." - Gregg Popovich  

Another Popovich saying, "If it takes a hundred hits to break the rock, you need all hundred hits. 

"You can't skip steps."

When the "Fourpeat" UCONN women practiced, running two laps before practice, nobody cut a corner. Champions don't cut corners. 

There are "equations" that relate outcomes to process. 

Success Equation

ACHIEVEMENT = PERFORMANCE x TIME 

What works in one environment may not work in another. What if the NBA elected to move the three-point line (above the break) out farther? 

Jimmy Johnson Equation

PA (positive attitude) + E (effort) = P (performance)

Positivity adds value. It helps get buy-in. 

Urban Meyer Equation

E (event) + R (response) = O (outcome)

Memorable outcomes come from the importance of the contest and the performance. Bill Walton's 44 point outburst against Memphis is unforgettable to older fans. 

Wooden Equation

Results = E + D + I + R x 5

(Explanation + Demonstration + Imitation + Repetition x 5)

Wooden emphasized the value of repetition. He commented that Walton never tired of working on footwork, which helped fashion his inside game. You know the saying, "Repetition makes reputations" and "The magic is in the work. 

Lagniappe. Lengthy video of sets from Tournament teams. Something for everyone. 


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Tuesday, January 6, 2026

Leadership Principles from "Once an Eagle"

Coaches model and teach leadership. The best do so naturally and authentically. At Naval Officer Indoctrination School in 1978, we trained under Lieutenant Unruh, someone you wanted to follow.

General Stanley McChrystal shares leadership thoughts in his book, "On Character." The saying goes that, "Sport doesn't build character, it reveals it." 

General McChrystal is a man with whom I'd enjoy having lunch to share his experiences on leadership. That won't happen because he only eats one meal a day, dinner. In the book, he referenced a novel, "Once An Eagle," a novel he read multiple times for the leadership concepts.  

The book contrasts the experiences of two officers who work their way up "the chain," one via valor and the other via politics. You can guess which one he identifies with. 

Here are eight principles extracted from the book, with brief basketball annotations:

Lead by moral example. Authority flows from character not rank alone; standards must be visible and modeled daily.

Basketball: It's a big ask to expect players to set an example when we cannot as a coach. Donald Sterling modeled bad behavior as an owner. Former Patriots assistant Mike Lombardi excavated the character of possible NFL draftees (via SEC sororities). 

Serve the mission and the people, in that order.  The unit exists to accomplish the job. Leaders protect and develop the unit, not for personal  glory.

Basketball: Pete Carroll believes that the first responsibility for coaches and players is to protect the team. The Celtics had a managerial SNAFU that led to Joe Mazzulla's hiring. 

Earn loyalty; don’t demand it. Respect is earned through competence, shared struggle, and fairness. 

Basketball: Coaching resembles parenting. If everyone likes you, then you're not doing your job. Coaches set limits and enforce discipline and even professionals don't always want that. 

Tell the truth early and often. Transparency builds trust; collaboration requires communication and sometimes hard conversations. 

Basketball: Kevin Eastman says that you can't fool children, dogs, and basketball players. When players play hard, the coach is doing something right. 

Courage includes protecting subordinates from unnecessary harm. A leader sometimes "takes the hit." At the end of the day, (s)he is accountable. Players should recognize and value that loyalty as well. 

Basketball: My coach, Ellis Lane, stuck to his principles in defending the team from outside political attack. He got rewarded with multiple sectional titles, a state championship, and election to the New England Basketball Hall of Fame. 

Ambition must have guardrails. The desire to win is not a flaw; it becomes one when it spawns unethical behavior. 

Basketball: Recruiting violations, gambling, and "sports fixing" have all come into sharp relief in recent years. 

Competence is a duty, not a credential. Master your craft; stay humble and hungry. A title alone does not establish competence. 

Basketball: Leaders don't bigfoot subordinates or players. Few have sympathy for those who "kiss up and punch down."

Accountability flows one direction: inward. Things will go wrong for every team. Leaders own culture, mistakes, and results. 

Basketball: Lay out clear expectations. Players need to understand both the what and the why of rules. Getting enough rest improves your performance. Violating alcohol and substance use policy shows contempt for the team and teammates. 

It is said that differences between who we are now and whom we become in five years are the people we meet and the books we read. 

Lagniappe. Learn every day. 

Leadership QOTD: pic.twitter.com/iMENkEfxs5

— Allistair McCaw (@AllistairMcCaw) January 5, 2026

Lagniappe 2. Great set but the complexity could easily confuse young players. 

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Monday, January 5, 2026

Basketball - Managing Obsession with Winning

"Addiction is the sustained compulsive use of a substance or behavior...even if it causes harm to us." - "Dopamine Nation"

Concept Sources: Experience, MasterClass, "Dopamine Nation" book review (Blinkist), ChatGPT Plus) 

The world competes for our consumption - electronic devices, video games, gambling, drugs, alcohol, exercise, and more. Dopamine is the "reward chemical" that links to addiction. 

Recognize the "exposures" that we and our players experience because we are all vulnerable. 

Triggers or facilitators of addiction include:

  • Access (more consumption, more brain change)
  • Quantity (more use can trigger dopamine deficiency)
  • Potency (how much dopamine is released, how fast?) - tolerance occurs so we need larger doses
  • Novelty (think about the many forms of gambling advertised, novelty decreases tolerance)
  • Uncertainty (there's a slot machine effect)
Dopamine release is maximized when the odds of winning and losing are equal. 

Basketball and sport are not immune - as some obsess with practice, video, or winning. Is that bad? It can be. Examples: 

Winning becomes harmful when it shifts from pursuit of excellence to compulsion for relief. The goal shifts from competing to relieving anxiety by controlling outcomes, whatever the cost. The need to win or cost of losing can impact the mental health of athletes and coaches

Gambling

The allure of sports gambling is simple - money. That makes coaches, athletes, and officials potential targets for those seeking to "shift the odds" in their favor. 

Advancing "Self-Interest"

Procuring a spot on a team on a team can lead to pathological behavior. The Texas Cheerleader Mom scandal illustrated the extent to which parents will go to undermine competitors. When an area politician's child was cut, he made firing the coach his mission. 

Win at Any Cost

Lance Armstrong's recovery from cancer and desire to return to greatness led to a performance enhancement scandal. That's not unique with either the Tour de France, the Olympics, or US sports. Obsession can lead to cheating. 

Beating the System

NIL evolved for a variety of reasons including the "widespread" perceived cheating of paying players. With its advent, a "balance of power" shift may be underway as the playing field gets leveled. Some high school coaches get reputations by winning, becoming "Gators" (talent aggregators) recruiting players far out of area. Other programs relocate players or redshirt promising middle school players. 

Even the "blueblood" sports programs have weathered allegations of providing illegal benefits to athletes. Allegations are not proof.  

Institutional Abuses

Tolerating abuses (USA gymnastics) or coverups of misbehavior of athletes (sexual misconduct, substance use, grade manipulation) occur as institutions seek to both win and sanitize reputations. 

Recognize that participants make conscious choices to stretch or to violate boundaries to feed their obsessions. 

Lagniappe. A lot of us might think, "everybody knows that." If that's so, why is there so much bad defense out there? 


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Sunday, January 4, 2026

Basketball - The Main Things

“Ninety percent of success can be boiled down to consistently doing the obvious thing for an uncommonly long period of time without convincing yourself that you're smarter than you are.” - Shane Parrish

“The main thing is the main thing.” - David Cottrell, leadership expert

Coaches have ownership of teaching the game and sharing life lessons that help players succeed away from the court. Often, those lessons passed down from coaches who influenced our worldview. 

Sharing some of those lessons are both a privilege and an obligation. That doesn't mean that we're perfect, only that we're working to improve. 

Warren Buffett recommends a "top down" process (25-5), compiling a big list of twenty-five or so, filtered to a manageable, memorable five. If you want an expansive list, consider Kevin Eastman's "Why the Best Are the Best." Here's a one paragraph summary from ChatGPT Plus:

"Kevin Eastman’s “Why the Best Are the Best” is a coaching manifesto built on craft, humility, and standards. Eastman argues that elite performers separate through unseen habits: obsessive film study, deliberate note-taking, and teaching the game back to others. He emphasizes role clarity, consistent language, and constant skill sharpening, treating every day as development day. The best carry a beginner’s mind, accept hard coaching without resistance, and build competitive advantage through transparent routines, not shortcuts—ideas that translate naturally from NBA locker rooms to high school gyms. The book delivers dense, practical mental models for coaches who want to design systems, reduce errors, and cultivate teams that compete with curiosity, accountability, and a team-first identity."

1. In basketball and in life, the best performers have the capacity to deliver more intensity and consistency over time. They "play harder for longer" and do the "unseen work." They recognize that success comes from "a marathon not a sprint." The Success Equation reflects this:

ACHIEVEMENT = PERFORMANCE x TIME 

"Champions do extra." 

Success stories like LeBron James arise because of his commitment to practicing his craft and self-care (sleep, nutrition, training, mindfulness). 

2. Recognize the power of "negative thinking," meaning don't give away games (work) by bad decisions. The "mental model" is inversion, meaning invert the bad. The Killer S's are selfishness, softness, and sloth (laziness). The opposites are teamwork, toughness, and tenacity. 

3. Model excellence. Because "mentoring is the only shortcut to excellence," leaders have to represent excellence in preparation, practice, and performance. 


Dad taught positivity saying, "you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar." 

4. Seek balance. Courage balances recklessness and fear. Confidence balances arrogance and doubt. Wisdom balances information and ignorance. Finding work-life balance presents a great challenge for those obsessed with success or self-indulgence. 

5. Commit to lifelong learning. Learn across domains. Study success and failure. Abraham Lincoln said that he learned from everyone, often what not to do. Some of history's most "successful" people like Ulysses Grant and Winston Churchill, overcame abject failures earlier in their careers. Adversity is inevitable...and opportunity.

Lagniappe. Werner Herzog's best advice, "Read. Read. Read. Read. Read." 

Lagniappe 2. What's on your leadership plate? 




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Saturday, January 3, 2026

Team Building

Collaboration doesn't always come naturally or easily. Elite teams have elite players accustomed to being the "Alphas" at every previous level. 

How do teams navigate the "exceptional talent, unlimited potential" minefield that can prevent championships? 

Culture

  • The San Antonio Spurs, authors of "The Beautiful Game," emphasized culture built around their Big Three of Duncan, Ginobili, and Parker. Coach Gregg Popovich's mantra included, "Get over yourself."
  • Golden State won four titles built around Curry, Thompson, Green, and Durant. Steve Kerr's philosophy emanated from culture, mindset, and mentors (including Popovich). 
  • The 2008 Celtics had three players in Pierce, Garnett, and Allen who sacrificed shots and numbers for winning under the umbrella of "Ubuntu," meaning "I am because we are." 

Joint Workouts

Team sports need exceptional togetherness, often built around working out together. Urban Meyer believed that teams fell into 10-80-10 percent categories and required top 10 percenters to bring a teammate to workouts, seeking to "drag" players into the top ten percent performance. 

Team Reading

Many books add value by sharing examples of achievement earned through shared vision and missions. Here are a few:

  • Legacy by James Kerr, profiling the All-Blacks rugby program
  • Toughness by Jay Bilas, detailing what toughness means
  • Vision of a Champion by Anson Dorrance, winner of 22 National Women's Soccer titles at Carolina, the record for any D1 coach
Team Socialization

Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski held regular team dinners for players and coaches. Informal gatherings allow team members to interact in a noncompetitive atmosphere. 

Guest Lecturers and Events

Some coaches bring in guest speakers to discuss their experiences with winning. Bill Belichick used this approach regularly including:

  • Bill Russell speaking about the winning habits required for championship play. 
  • IMAX event showing a private screening of the film "Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure," illustrating the possibilities of teamwork and testing the limits of human endurance. 
  • Team trip to the Pro Football Hall of Fame to expose players to the history and evolution of professional football. 
As young players we got exposure to team building in a variety of ways. 
  • In 1970, players were recruited to upgrade outdoor courts in our community. That included posting a sign "Tech Tourney 1973" as part of the long-term vision for becoming competitive. 
  • In 1972, Boston Celtics Assistant Coach John Killilea spoke at our "Breakup Dinner," including each of us in remarks. 
  • A framed poster of Coach John Wooden's "Pyramid of Success" hung in our basketball "team room." Wooden's values were timeless and remain part of coaching today. 
Lagniappe. When a team embraces "sacrifice," more is possible. 




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Friday, January 2, 2026

Basketball - Study Video to Learn the Game and How Individuals Flourish

If Chik-Fil-A's motto is "Eat More Chik'n" then mine might be "Watch More Tape." 

Challenge ourselves to learn more by watching and studying. 

"Basketball is a game of separation." Jazz guard Keyonte George has made himself into a force with footwork and finishing. 

The inside game is not as dead as you think. Young players should learn the reverse pivot/drop step like Queta. 

Screen and 'rescreen' separated by a pass. This leads to a "screen assist." Queta boosts Pritchard's separation with a screen and then (illegal) screen. 

The midrange is not dead. Watch Pritchard create separation but also watch Garza screen the middle to cutoff the help. 

"The ball has energy." Simons penetrates and then gets a "hockey assist" with a pitch to Pritchard who throws a "one more" pass to Garza. 

Sam Hauser's shot varies as he doesn't always "dip." But here he does. Also worth noting this is a hoop in that "first six seconds" of a possession. 

Nurkic is a gifted offensive player. Yet here, in drop coverage, there is no help whatsoever on White. It's the "yin and yang" of some players. 

George is a menace. Clever gather and fire. 

Brown had a "bad handle" especially going to his left. That was then (although he is still turnover prone). He has a devastating midrange game, shooting over 50 percent. 

Classic "Mazzula Ball" as White draws two and finds Walsh alone. The Jazz have defensive issues. 

The Celtics manipulate two bigs into the PnR with Pritchard and Queta. It doesn't go well for the defense. 

Garza and Simons show how not to defend the PnR. 

Real-time, I thought this was supposed to be Spain PnR (screen-the-roller). The Jazz's defense is so uncommitted that it turns the play into do whatever you want. White hits the midrange but Queta was open low, too. 

 

Lagniappe. Invested most of my coaching 'career' as an assistant - loved teaching and don't enjoy substituting (controlling minutes). Advice from Kevin Eastman...


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Thursday, January 1, 2026

Applying AI - Investigative Methods for Coaches

Artificial intelligence (AI) offers a bright future for coaches. The applications offer many possible insights. Here are a few:

  • Player development
  • Analytics (assessing possessions by team and individual)
  • Anticipating player sentiment
  • Offensive development
  • Game planning
  • Psychological profiling
Let's focus on two - offense development and player development. 

AI generates "hallucinations" which need checking. AI makes errors. Its recommendations may not work for you as they may not fit your philosophy or personnel. 

And yes, I understand the TLDR (too long, didn't read) sentiment. Coaching isn't easy. 

Learn to "prompt" AI to get better responses. For instance:

Prompt: I'm interested in basketball 'system' development. Efficient offenses benefit from spacing, avoid turnovers, and challenge defenses with "hard to defend actions." They create better scoring chances. Please describe three high points per possession sets.

Here are 3 high-PPP (points per possession) sets you can plug into a basketball system that values spacing, simple reads, and low turnover risk. Each creates leverage without complex timing or risky passes.

1) Double-Gap 5-Out “Chase & Replace”

Core idea: Create a driving lane by vacating it, then replace it instantly for a kick-out 3.

Alignment:

  • 5-Out, corners wide, two players flanking the top (slots), one in the middle, one wing.

Flow:

  1. Slot initiates a hard sprint (“chase”) to the opposite corner.

  2. Corner player fills up to the vacated slot as the drive begins (replace).

  3. Handler attacks the now-empty double gap to the rim.

  4. Reads become binary:

    • Help at rim → kick to replace (slot 3)

    • No help → finish at rim

Why it scores per possession:

  • Defense can’t load the nail and rim at once.

  • All passes are forward-facing kick-outs.

  • Spacing is dynamic and self-correcting.

Coaching cue:

“Clear it, fill it, then score it.”

2) Side Pick-and-Roll “45 Series” (Reject → Lift → Corner)

Core idea: Start with the highest-efficiency screen action in basketball (side PnR), but with built-in automatic spacing responses.

Alignment:

  • Ball handler at 45° wing, screener outside the lane line, weak-side corner filled.

Flow:

  1. Big sets wide side PnR (shoulder to sideline, not middle).

  2. Handler’s reads:

    • PnR defender goes under → handler shoots the 3

    • Roll defender steps up → big rolls to rim

    • Tag from weak side → handler rejects baseline, big flips to short roll

  3. After the read, handler lifts to top, weak-side slot drifts to corner for a 1-more pass.

Why it scores per possession:

  • Side PnR produces the best paint or rhythm 3 outcomes.

  • Reject + lift eliminates strips.

  • Short-roll catches are stationary and forward.

  • Corners remain anchored for efficient 3s.

Coaching cue:

“If you don’t score, lift to space. Someone else will.”

3) Pistol Flip with Back-Door Bailout

Core idea: Convert dribble into a handoff immediately, turning ball pressure into receiver pressure instead of handler chaos.

Alignment:

  • Shooter receives at wing, handler follows into Pistol handoff.

  • Big starts at dunker or 5-Out, depending on your roster.

Flow:

  1. Wing catches → immediate Pistol handoff back to trailing handler.

  2. Big sets screen-the-screener slip into a short roll.

  3. Reads:

    • Wing defender top-locks handoff → wing back-cuts for bounce pass at rim

    • No top-lock → handler turns corner off the handoff

    • Big defender steps up → short roll finish or drop-off

    • Late rotation → 1-more to corner 3

Why it scores per possession:

  • The ball never stops.

  • No idle dribbling to invite strips.

  • Bounce passes only to rim or back door.

  • Every catch happens facing the rim.

  • Physicality is legal and contained (clean screens, not moving chaos).

Coaching cue:

“Handoff or back-door. No third option.”

PPP principle shared by all 3 sets

SetHow it creates pointsHow it protects the ballHow it keeps spacing
Chase & ReplacePaint drive or slot 3Kick-outs onlyAuto corner fill
45 SeriesSide PnR or rejection 3Short roll, handler lift1-more to corner
Pistol Flip + Back DoorTurn corner or rim cutNo idle dribblingCorners anchored

System note for your coaching philosophy

These are classroom sets:

  • They teach players to read one defender at a time

  • They avoid in-air or behind-vision passes

  • They anchor corners unless scoring is immediate

  • They scale cleanly to high school and college because they rely on geometry and cognition, not improvisational fury

Player Development

Prompt: "Every day is player development day." Suggest your best individual shooting drill, best one-on-one attack drill, and best two-on-two practice action.

1) Individual Shooting Drill — “3-Level Rise & Settle”

Goal: Train a high, clean, repeatable release, game-speed footwork, and automatic balance recovery.

How it runs

  1. Start at corner 3 → shoot 5 makes.

  2. Sprint to elbow (mid-range) → shoot 5 makes (square your shoulders, same release point).

  3. Pop to top of key 3 → 5 makes.

  4. After each shot, land and settle into a defensive stance for 1 second before the next rep.

Why it’s your best

  • Keeps mechanics consistent across 3 distances/angles.

  • Adds post-shot stability so missed shots don’t bleed into rushed follow-ups.

  • Hard sprints between spots raise heart rate while preserving forward vision and clean foot alignment.

Coaching cue

“Same shot, 3 floors. Rise, release, reset.”

2) 1-on-1 Attack Drill — “Angle, Shoulder, Finish”

Goal: Create advantage using legal force, clear geometry, and one read (your Iverson/Munger overlap).

How it runs

  1. Offense starts on the wing at 45°, defender on ball.

  2. Offense gets 3 dribbles max.

  3. Choose one angle:

    • Middle drive (attack top foot)

    • Baseline drive (if middle is cut off)

  4. Defender must absorb a legal shoulder bump at the lane line before the finish.

  5. Play continues until shot or turnover.

Why it’s your best

  • Trains ball security by eliminating wasted dribbles.

  • Forces players to win with angle and shoulder control, not wiggle dribble indecision.

  • Encourages rim finishes with a physical element that is legal and contained.

Coaching cue

“Bend the line, bump the line, finish the line.”

3) 2-on-2 Action — “Short Roll → 1-More”

Goal: Fast cognitive reps, clean catch geometry, and automatic spacing answers.

How it runs

  1. 2-on-2 begins at wing.

  2. Big sets a wide screen outside lane line → instant short roll catch.

  3. Guard reads the tag:

    • No tag → bounce to short roll

    • Tag commits → 1-more swing to corner

  4. Corner player catches on the move or back door and finishes.

  5. Switch roles every 3 reps.

Why it’s your best

  • Every pass is bounce, forward, or 1-more (lowest strip/TO risk).

  • Short roll simplifies the read to one defender at a time.

  • Corner spacing keeps help defenders late and reactive.

Coaching cue

“Roll to score, swing to punish.”

Daily Development Principle (one line)

Shooting = repeatable rise. 1-on-1 = angle + shoulder. 2-on-2 = roll + 1-more.

Learn to use AI and benefit from its access to the universe. 

Lagniappe. Kelvin Sampson discusses improvement. He'd get the Bob Rotella ("Golf Is Not a Game of Perfect") approval. Rotella says there is "training" practice and "trusting" practice. Training improves skill and trusting wins championships. 

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Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Unconventional Basketball- Personal Practice

Every coach has favorite offensive drills. Few if any of these are among yours. You've probably never seen or heard of them. 

Why practice? Practice to build skill and confidence. Our brain has to see the ball go into the basket for both. 

Perhaps the most unconventional ball handling drill was Kyrie Irving's "ball in the plastic bag" dribble. 

I used these growing up. Make practice hard and games are easier. 

Ball Control

  • Winter Gloves - Shooting in winter gloves takes the 'feel' off the ball. Plus the cold Boston winters were even colder back in the day. 
  • Blind Man - set up on either elbow with eyes closed. One dribble attack off the jab either strong side or off the rib through. This forces better feel into the shooting pocket. You can't open your eyes until the ball is in the shot pocket. 

Target Better (side of backboard) 

Shoot at a spot on the side of the backboard. There's minimal margin for error, so every bad shot means chasing the ball. 

Quicker Release

  • Quick draw - Hold the ball above the waist, slamming it down to require a "soft hands" catch and then the quickest release possible.
  • Turn and Fire - stand just inside the free throw line facing the basket. Flip the ball back over your head; catch the ball on the bounce, "turn, target, and fire. This improves targeting and quickness of release off the catch. 

Higher Release

  • Prayers - Shoot off of one knee. Unless the release is high enough, then the shot has no prayer. 
  • Ladder Drill...I taped a tennis racquet to a step ladder to simulate a defender in "Camp Driveway"...image created by ChatGPT Plus

Accuracy 

  • Swish or miss (free throws). The goal is to make at least 50 percent of free throws via swish. Score only when swishing the free throw. 
  • Bill Bradley (Beat the Pro) - Game to 11. One point for a make, "Bill" gets three for a miss. Must make 11/14 to win. Harder version...game to 14, "Bill" gets eight points for a miss. Must make 14/15 to win. 
We are only limited by our imagination. 

Lagniappe. "Always protect the team." Represent. 

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Tuesday, December 30, 2025

Basketball - Perspective Headed into 2026

"On a personal level, perspective demands thoughtfulness. I hear people pronounce the evil of Confederate soldiers during the Civil War, but I believe that with the same life journey, most would have done the same. I know slavery was evil, and I believe the Southerners were wrong, but I also believe the power of perspective was the dominant force in society at that time." - On Character: Choices That Define a Life by General Stanley McChrystal 

Experience uniquely shapes our perspective. Our basketball journey crafts our opinions about the game and the controversies within. 

Youth Basketball Training Arc

Then: Growing up, many of our generation played whatever sport was in season. Early specialization was rare. The chance that sports participation could earn free college or compensation never occurred to most of us. 

Now: Early specialization is common. Players access personal trainers, sport-specific position coaches, and players and families target scholarships. Many seek a pot of gold at the end of basketball rainbows. 

Then: There was no gravitational pull from AAU. If there were, money wouldn't have been available for most.

Now: Offseason basketball is big business. Families pay thousands to participate, travel within and outside their area and get showcased.

Then: An orderly progression from freshman, through JV and varsity was the norm. Freshmen weren't eligible. 

Now: The "crabs in a bucket" mentality reaches down ever lower. Freshmen sometimes arrive after "informal" and unspoken redshirting in middle school. Freshmen compete for roles and upperclassmen (and parents) sometimes bigfoot upstarts whom they see as cutting the line. 

Rules

Rules evolve yet are non-uniform. As of October 2025, 32 states have adopted a shot clock (now or future) in some capacity (some require it, others offer optional use depending on the game).

The lack of a shot clock changes game strategy and sometimes development in a "game meant to be played fast." 

Strategy

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery." In youth and high school basketball, "chicks" and "chicos" dig the long ball. It's not unusual to see teams "abuse the privilege" with games regularly featuring airball after airball. Pete Newell's advice to get "more and better shots than opponents" seems silenced. 

In youth basketball, full court pressure and zone defenses proliferate as homage to winning often transcends commitment to development. 

Coaching

Coaches have access to a firehose of information impacting leadership and philosophy, player development, offensive and defensive system development, analytics and more. The tasks of teaching, adding value, and getting buy-in have never been more available or harder with critics everywhere. 

Officiating

Basketball has always been hard to officiate but the speed and physicality of the game create collisions tough to adjudicate.  Coaches, players, and fans have always targeted officials, but without the vocality or violence sometimes seen now. Unless officials get more relief, they will become harder to recruit and retain. 

A dynamic environment ensures change. One set of rules across the planet would make sense. Moving the three-point line out in high school might prevent bombing without conscience. 

Lagniappe. Floppy. 

Lagniappe 2. Give what the game needs. 

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Monday, December 29, 2025

Coloring Outside the Lines - When Coaching Isn't Coaching

Life trains us to color inside the lines. Society works because most of us accept norms of fairness, order, and restraint. Coaching lives in the same domain. 

Great programs win because of consistent, transparent habits. Competitive advantage in basketball comes from preparation, execution, and culture, not intimidation or bending rules until they break.

But recurring subplots emerge:

  • Winning at any cost

  • Talent aggregation above all else

  • Officials put under pressure

  • Physical play that crosses boundaries

Where the Blur Begins

Ego and winning tempt some coaches to step outside the boundaries:

  • Preferring “home town referees” instead of neutral crews

  • Recruiting with a mindset of “collect assets first, teach later”

  • Normalizing “Gorilla Ball” physicality under the banner of toughness

  • Coaching moving screens and illegal contact as if they’re strategy

  • Treating officials as objects to outmaneuver

There’s a difference between hard and harmful basketball:

  • Clean physical play? Yes. (Solid screens, legal box-outs, competitive hands.)

  • “Gorilla Ball” to remove players? No. That’s not basketball. That’s damage. We had four players taken out in one game. 

  • Testing limits? Yes. Every system probes boundaries. Teaching players to weaponize illegal actions? No. 

Coaches Messages Reveal Intent

The tell is often language. You've heard lines coaches crossed:

  • “They can’t call a foul every time.”

  • “They can’t call the game from the stands.”

  • “Winning is the only thing.”

  • “The end proves me right.”

You can win a game while losing your honor. 

The Ethical Line Isn’t Abstract

It’s practical. It protects:

  • The players

  • The officials

  • The fans

  • The sport

  • The classroom basketball becomes for young athletes

When coaches teach:

  • “Sportsmanship doesn’t matter”

  • “Winning is the only thing”

  • “Rules are suggestions”

They’ve stopped coaching basketball and started coaching ego.

Coaching, Like Banking, Needs Stress Tests

The Fed evaluates banks to ensure they survive pressure. Basketball programs need their own version:

Can your offense survive without illegal screens?
Can your defense contain without fouling?
Can your culture win without casualties?
Can your language teach accountability instead of excuses?

If the answer requires “Well, technically…”, you’re off the court already

A Jury of Our Peers

Most coaches coach the sport. Some coach the scoreboard. A few coach the rules until the rules collapse. Those outliers deserve warnings -  retraining or removal.

Basketball excellence is public domain. Harm is preventable.
Basketball advantage is habits, not harm. Teaching violence isn't teaching the game. 

Lagniappe. Winning demands sacrifice. 

Lagniappe 2. Better offense spills into defense.  






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