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Wednesday, November 12, 2025

Letter to Players - Tested on a Gemini-Created Focus Group of Varsity Players

When we communicate with players, we don't know how information will land. 

Can we use AI to speculate and see what flies or dies?

Here's the process I've chosen. I've asked Google Gemini to create a mini "focus group" (FG) across the roster. Then, I'll deliver the message and seek feedback from the AI FG. 

First, here's the FG that Gemini created. 

Varsity Team Focus Group Roster

RoleNameYearKey Personality/Perspective
Senior Star PlayerMarcusSeniorConfident, expects excellence, needs a challenge and clear path to winning.
Skeptical Borderline StarterTariqSeniorPractical, easily frustrated by "fluff," needs tangible evidence and a defined role to buy in.
Senior ReserveJakeSeniorLoyal team player, understands his role, seeks acknowledgment for effort and contribution regardless of minutes.
Sophomore Borderline StarterLiamSophomoreHighly motivated, slightly anxious, needs structure and belief from the coach to overcome mistakes.
High Potential FreshmanDevonFreshmanObservant, ambitious, hasn't earned a role yet but wants to know how to get there.
Let's write a letter...using light revision and input from another AI, ChatGPT Plus which has an extensive baseline (thousands of blog posts I've written) to apply. 

Gentlemen,

Our success this season depends on you. Your attitude, commitment, energy, and performance will shape our story.

Everyone wonders about minutes, roles, and recognition — that’s normal. But our foundation is simple: teamwork, improvement, and accountability.

“Professional behavior” means more than talent. It means respect - for teammates, coaches, opponents, and officials. Coaches coach, players play, and referees officiate.

Professional behavior also means being on time, stretched out, and ready - physically and mentally - for practice. Everyone can lead by showing up prepared, working hard, staying focused, and supporting others.

All positions are open. Hard work doesn’t guarantee success or a starting spot, but failing to work hard guarantees failure.

If you have questions, ask. There are no bad questions, only unasked ones. Clarity keeps us united.

When we’re on the same page — when we buy into teamwork, improvement, and accountability — we raise the odds of success for everyone.

Take care of your family obligations and your coursework. The same discipline that makes you a good student and son makes you a better teammate.

“How you do anything is how you do everything.”

Help write a great story — one built on effort, respect, and pride in how we play. Let’s make this a memorable season.

Coach


"Here's the Gemini AI FG feedback"

The following responses represent the individual, unfiltered reactions of five players after reading the coach's introductory letter.

1. Marcus (Senior Star Player)

Perspective: Confident, expects excellence and winning.

"The message about Professional behavior is solid. That’s what separates champions from everyone else, and frankly, some guys on the team need to hear it—especially the punctuality stuff. I’m already there. But this letter felt... generalized. I didn't see anything about our goals. Are we aiming for the league title? State? If success 'depends on us,' I need to know what 'success' looks like on the scoreboard. It’s a good foundational letter, but I want to read the chapter about winning next."

2. Tariq (Skeptical Borderline Starter)

Perspective: Practical, easily frustrated by "fluff," needs tangible evidence and a defined role.

"I liked the clarity on 'Coaches coach, players play, and referees officiate'—that's a boundary that needs setting. But my biggest takeaway is how many buzzwords are in here: 'teamwork,' 'improvement,' 'accountability.' What does that actually mean for me? I’m fighting for a starting spot, and I need a clear definition of my role and the system. If 'all positions are open,' what is the quantifiable metric for me to earn that spot? The part about 'hard work doesn’t guarantee success' felt a little discouraging, almost like the coach is managing expectations for a losing season."

3. Jake (Senior Reserve)

Perspective: Loyal team player, seeks acknowledgment for effort regardless of minutes.

"I appreciate the focus on effort and respect. That’s what I bring every day, even when I know I’m not playing heavy minutes. It makes me feel like my contributions to practice—running the scout team, cheering from the bench—are recognized as being part of the 'great story.' That's important. My only hesitation is the line, 'All positions are open.' I'm a senior, and I know my role is reserve, and I'm fine with it. I hope the coach still sees the value in my effort within that defined role, rather than making me feel like I have to constantly battle for a spot I probably won't get."

4. Liam (Sophomore Borderline Starter)

Perspective: Motivated but anxious, needs structure and belief.

"I like the specific rules: be on time, stretched out, ready. That helps me stay focused because I know exactly what I need to do to meet the minimum standard. The connection between being a good student and a good teammate made sense. But I got nervous reading the middle section. If hard work doesn't guarantee success, and all positions are open, that means I have no margin for error. If I mess up my first start, will I immediately lose my chance? I need to know that the coach is willing to invest in me and help me through the mistakes."

5. Devon (High Potential Freshman)

Perspective: Observant, ambitious, wants a clear path to earning a role.

"I focused on two things: 'All positions are open' and 'If you have questions, ask.' That's exactly what I needed to hear as a freshman who wants to earn his way onto the court. I liked the connection between discipline in school and discipline in basketball. My question is: What does hard work look like for me right now? Is it extra shooting? Watching film? How do I translate my 'high potential' into the professional behavior and performance needed to actually get a role? I'll definitely take the coach up on the offer to ask questions, because I need clarity on the next steps."

Players "hear" what they want and as coaches, we need to know there's no "one size fits all." Seeing how an "imaginary" focus group might respond might help us communicate better and informs how important individual attention is. 

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Tuesday, November 11, 2025

Mazzulla Ball

There's a tendency to overhype "your" team and coach. That won't happen much for a team with an injured Jayson Tatum, selloff-mode "New Ownership," and a "Guess Who's Coming to Play Center" frontcourt. 

That shines the spotlight on Coach Joe Mazzulla, who relishes a challenge. Some have called him "certifiable."   

He believes in his system. He has reasons, including an NBA Championship in 2024.


The video shares what he says. The emphases are advantage and reads. 
  • Be impactful on both ends of the floor
  • Make reads offensively and defensively
  • Shoot threes based on analytics.
  • Draw 2 and get 2 on 1s. 

1. Defense First

  • Mazzulla-Ball demands defense. The Celtics have emphasized reducing opponent effective field goal percentage, as strategy drives defense. As of 11/11/25 the Celtics were 6th in NBA defensive EFG%.

  • Teaching/Coaching angle: Prioritizing defense builds “winning habits” - effort, communication, accountability.

2. Versatility 

  • Mazzulla designs schemes around the roster’s strengths and adapts roles (e.g., using Jrue Holiday in the short corner during the 2024 playoff run).

  • Coaching angle: Encourage players to learn multiple positions/roles, embrace change, and see value.

3. Attention to Detail & Execution

  • Example: practice championship stations. "Mazzulla's "championship stations" are specialized practice drills designed to focus on the small, often overlooked details that can impact winning or losing games."

  • Teaching angle: Winning isn’t just big plays - it’s earning little plays consistently...fundamentals first. 

4. Offense Built on Defensive Advantage

  • Mazzulla says offense “depends on defense.” The offense hunts mismatches, chooses intentional shots, and capitalizes on what defense creates.

  • Coaching angle: Teach offense as consequence of defense; reinforce that good defense generates better offense and that reads exploiting defense creates better offense. 

5. Collective Identity & Team First Culture

  • Staff and players emphasize role acceptance and shared purpose, not ego. Popovich says, "Get over yourself."

  • Coaching angle: Create an environment where the team’s identity is stronger than any single player’s brand. Encourage accountability, mutual trust, and elimination of distractions.

6. Adaptability & Situational Awareness

  • Mazzulla emphasizes that basketball demands ability to change rather than sticking rigidly to one system.

  • Coaching angle: Teach players to read the game, adjust, and not be locked into “what we run.” The “map” is dynamic; the territory changes. Coach K used to say, "Basketball is about making plays not running plays." 

Lagniappe. Growth demands struggle. Players and teams must learn to leave their comfort zone. 




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Monday, November 10, 2025

Basketball - Learning How to Win

Gary Washburn's Boston Sunday Globe column addresses the difficulty in winning with young players.

He notes that many young players can score and put up numbers but don't win. Jazz coach Will Hardy explains, "I think when development is talked about like, ‘Hey I’m just here to get better every day.’ It’s very focused on me, I. We’re a team. This is team sports. You want to win. So think there’s development of my ability to contribute to winning."

Wizards' coach Brian Keefe said, "How do we build consistent habits? The things that are going to lead to sustainability. That’s what we focus on here."

What do other notable coaches say about learning to win? 

Pete Carroll's book, "Win Forever" is built around maximizing compete levels. 

John Wooden specifically talked about success more than winning. He said, "My idea is that you can lose when you outscore somebody and win when you’re outscored.”

Coach Bob Knight had answers. 


Knight preached that because many games are lost via errors, that teams have to stop doing losing things. The Power of Negative Thinking revolves around knowing and avoiding what not to do. He said, "Victory favors the team making the fewest mistakes."

Dean Smith had the temperature of his team decades ago. He believed that effort, IQ, and unselfishness decided outcomes. That meant, "Play hard, play smart, and play together." 

Brad Stevens emphasized breaking the game down into possessions. "My goal is to win the next game one possession at a time." Good offensive possessions mean high quality scoring chances with unselfishness showing up in player and ball movement and good decisions as shot selection and avoiding turnovers. When players can see more possessions as "Got to Have It," playing harder for longer, then better results ensue. 

Phil Jackson's approach reflected his Zen mindset, “The most we can hope for is to create the best possible conditions for success, then let go of the outcome.”

Gregg Popovich stressed simplicity and teamwork. He said, “We believe in people executing their role and caring about the team more than anything individually.” Pop’s “learning to win” was boring excellence: consistency, competitiveness, and role acceptance.

What works against coaches? 
  • The emphasis on individual achievement over team, starting at a young age. 
  • Players can earn generational wealth early in their careers. Some may not have the same motivation after being set for life. 
  • Agendas. Former UNC Women's Soccer coach Anson Dorrance had a sign in the locker room, "Excellence is our only agenda." 
What did we emphasize? 

1) Shot quality. Take better shots, unselfishly. 
2) Avoid zero percent possessions. Track and reduce turnovers.
3) Handle pressure defense. Advantage-disadvantage drills...
4) "Foul for profit" as "fouls negate hustle." Better technique and decisions help limit fouls. 
5) Recognize contributions not in the scorebook - hustle plays, forced turnovers, blocking out.

How did Coach Ellis Lane "teach winning" in high school? 
  • Shot charts and film. Everyone was supposed to know what a good shot was for themselves and teammates. 
  • Turnovers. We heard "the ball is gold" over and over. 
  • Handling pressure. We played "5 against 7" full court each practice after we had lost by two in OT against the defending State Champ. 
Lagniappe. Serve our community. Serve our players. Serve our teammates. Adopt servant leadership as a theme. 
  

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Sunday, November 9, 2025

What Are Your Got to Have it Actions?

Bill Belichick says most football games have about five “Got to have it” situations. Basketball games can have fewer or more. 

What are ours? They usually sort into special situations, versus man, and versus zone. You'll have at least three of each on your play sheet. One advantage of blogging is that your blog becomes a searchable database.

Special situations


Four. A screen-the-screener action that once got a layup five times in a game. 


Inside stagger action 


Screen the middle of the zone. The low defenders make choices on what to take away. 

Versus Man


Elbow get creates three great options:

  • Reject the ball screen and drive
  • PnR
  • 4 slips 


Iverson backscreen. Iverson action can create action for '2' or a possible layup off the backscreen. 


This SLOB also works well as a standalone half-court set. The initial screen gets the ball to the '2' and the three sets a sequential screen for a diagonal cut for the big. 

Versus Zone


We can run similar actions from different formations or different actions from the same one. 


Alternative roads to the same destination. 

Here's what I got from an AI request:

Setup:

  • Two guards up top. Your ball-handler is one; your best shooter is the other.

  • The high-post (5) sets a ball screen on the top defender.

  • Shooter drifts to the weak-side wing.

  • Baseline players occupy both corners.

Action:

  1. Use the ball screen aggressively to split the top defenders.

  2. As the middle defender steps up, the roller dives into the middle lane.

  3. Ball-handler can:

    • Attack the elbow gap for a pull-up.

    • Hit the diving roller.

    • Skip to the shooter, now open on the weak-side wing.

Why it works: The 2–3 zone isn’t built to guard dynamic two-man action. Ball screens flatten the top, draw help, and create multiple “got to have it” reads — all inside 12 seconds.

Coaching Notes: Execution Under Pressure

  1. Get the ball to the middle, then inside-out. The closer the touch to the rim, the higher the foul and conversion rates.

  2. Rehearse “zone scramble” drills. When the ball skips sides, teach your players to re-space quickly — deep corners, 45° wings, strong high post.

  3. Define the decision-maker. Late in games, have a single “hub” who knows he’s making the read. Simplicity wins in chaos.

  4. Don’t chase perfection — chase advantage. The goal isn’t a “diagram-clean” look; it’s a defender in rotation and a player you trust taking the shot.

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Saturday, November 8, 2025

Basketball - Why We Choose Our Opinion Instead of Facts


Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player ever. If alive today, Teddy Roosevelt might say, "Comparison is the thief of joy." 

Life constantly challenges us to improve. We could think better. Of course, most of us will not. Why not?

James Clear shares answers in "Why Facts Don't Change Our Minds."

Three excerpts:

1) Economist J.K. Galbraith once wrote, “Faced with a choice between changing one’s mind and proving there is no need to do so, almost everyone gets busy with the proof.” People prefer their beliefs over truth. The bandwagon effect is real. 

2) "In Atomic Habits, I wrote, “Humans are herd animals. We want to fit in, to bond with others, and to earn the respect and approval of our peers. Such inclinations are essential to our survival. For most of our evolutionary history, our ancestors lived in tribes. Becoming separated from the tribe—or worse, being cast out—was a death sentence.” We put the tribe first. 

3) "We don’t always believe things because they are correct. Sometimes we believe things because they make us look good to the people we care about." 

Nobody wants to be told how or what to think. That's fine until it's not. In the dreaded Mann Gulch forest fire, leader Wagner Dodge dropped his tools and lit an "escape fire" at his feet to consume the surrounding area. His men carried their tools up the slope, most to their demise. How do we know when to drop our tools or our beliefs? 

For example:

  • Who's right about zone defense in youth basketball? 
  • Sports gambling, how much damage?
  • Coach Pitino says that the players don't care about the money?
  • Shot clock for all states? 
  • Youth sports costs...sustainable? 

Every other ad on sports seems like it's about sports betting. There were two gambling ads on while I wrote this article. 

There's obligatory caution about the hazards of gambling and fine print about where to get help. Sports wagering data suggest the print is smaller than fine. 

Lagniappe: Everyone has their opinion about the most clutch player ever. Via Reddit:

It's pretty well known that Bill Russell was 21-0 in winner-take-all games, but that's incorrect. 

It's been commonly stated over the years that Russell was 21-0 in winner-take-all games (example). If Russell's team played even with an opponent throughout a series or they both got to the same place in a tournament, Russell's team was ALWAYS going to pull it out in the end

But where does that 21-0 mark come from?

  • At USF, his '55 team was 5-0 in the tourney on the way to the title.

  • At USF, his '56 team was 4-0 in the tourney on the way to the title.

  • In the '56 Olympics, the US squad was 2-0 when it came to the winner-take-all final 4 for gold after the group stage.

  • In the NBA, the Celtics were famously 10-0 in Games 7's throughout his career.

That adds up to 21-0, but it's incomplete.

  • In the '66 playoffs, the Celtics won Game 5 in the best-of-5 series with Cincinnati (link), so Russell was actually 22-0 in winner-take-all-games.


Lagniappe 2. Excuses or discipline? 
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Friday, November 7, 2025

Basketball - "The Map Is not the Territory"

Mental models add clarity to our thinking. They help us see patterns, avoid blind spots, and make better decisions. The simplest are almost self-evident.

  • Sample Size: “A swallow does not make a summer.” It’s easy to crown someone the “next big thing” too soon.

  • Inversion: “What if we do the opposite?” Think Hoosiers - do you run the picket fence or isolate Jimmy?

  • Circle of Competence: “Stay in your lane.” Knowing what you don’t know prevents high-consequence errors.

A less obvious model is “The map is not the territory.”

AI might define it this way:

“Any representation of reality, whether a map, a financial statement, or a theory is a simplification and can never fully capture the complexity of the actual reality it describes.”

Basketball, like life, lives in that gap between plan and reality.

Coaching: Rules vs. Reality

Every coach has rules. “Max effort.” “No walking.” “Talk on defense.”
Those are the map. But the territory is more complicated.

Players are human. Some days they bring fire; other days they don't. Emotions, chemistry, and life all distort the map.

John Wooden adjusted his practice tempo daily based on how his players looked. Brad Stevens often swapped film for walk-throughs when focus waned. The best coaches redraw their maps to match the landscape they see.

Leadership: Ideal vs. Real

The leadership map says the best players should be the best leaders - communicators, role models, and standard-setters. But the territory rarely cooperates.

Michael Jordan led through intensity, not warmth. Kawhi Leonard leads through example not fiery tone. Meanwhile, role players like Udonis Haslem or Derek Fisher often became a team’s emotional compass.

Leadership, like geography, changes with terrain. Great leaders read the landscape and navigate accordingly.

Officiating: The Game Within the Game

The rulebook is the map. The game itself is the territory.

Officials aim for consistency, but perfect uniformity is impossible.
A hand-check in a high school game might be a foul; in the NBA Finals, the same contact is play-on. Two referees can see the same play from different angles and reach opposite conclusions - and both can be right in context.

Officiating lives in nuance. The best read the conditions moment by moment.

Execution: When the Map Meets Chaos

Basketball is more jazz than symphony. The playbook is the sheet music, but the players improvise.

Opponents switch coverages, players slip screens, fatigue blurs reactions.
Helmuth von Moltke said, “No plan survives first contact with the enemy.”
Mike Tyson translated: “Everyone has a plan until they get hit in the mouth.”

The Warriors’ motion offense looks spontaneous because it is - organized improvisation around shared principles. Maps give approximation and the best execution reveals precision. 

The Big Picture

“The map is not the territory” reminds us to stay humble.

  • Analytics, scouting, and film are tools but imperfect.

  • Metrics reveal patterns, not people.

  • Culture isn’t a diagram; it’s behavior under stress.

Great coaches, investors, and leaders all learn to update their maps as new terrain appears. They invite feedback, question assumptions, and resist false certainty.

The map helps us plan. The territory demands that we adapt. And in that space between theory and practice, control and chaos, lies the art of coaching.

Lagniappe. The unauthorized Saban biography, "Saban," reveals far more about the complexity of the man. His wife said that her husband wasn't the greatest coach, but he was the greatest recruiter. He earned a fortune at Alabama, and alumni donations poured in many fold. One person will describe him as a great guy and another an ass, and both can be right. 

We don't have to erect a shrine to learn about coaching from him. 



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Thursday, November 6, 2025

JC's Basketball Practice Rules - What About Ours?

We're teaching life. Coaches teach the ABC's - approaches, beliefs, and choices. 

Don't create a "life list" (birding) of useful practical applications. Stick to five, the five fingers that make a fist, establish guidelines for each practice. 

1. Be efficient. Start on time, get into and out of drills and practice segments quickly, and end on time. Think like a Swiss engineer. 

2. Stress fundamentals. Figure out how much time to devote to fundamentals (a minimum of fifty percent). Vary drills to keep players engaged and learning. Dean Smith said, "I don't coach effort." We'll never have Michael Jordan, so we must. 

3. Condition within drills. Full court, full press scrimmaging, transition drills, "Argentina Passing," and others keep players running and practicing with a ball. 3 x 3 x 3 shooting gets both high volumes of shots and running. 

4. Make it competitive. Build competition into as many drills as possible. Coach Knight taught that the best activities included offense, defense, decision-making and competition. If I had it to do over, I'd have more scrimmaging, building constraints into it. For example, require scoring inside the paint for part or scoring off perimeter shots, or a paint touch and a ball reversal during a possession. 

5. Defeat pressure defense. Pressure defense forces tempo, challenges teams to pass and cut, and prioritizes avoidance of turnovers. 

My favorite drills is "advantage-disadvantage" 5 versus 7 with constraints of no dribbling. You learn to cut and pass or fail. 

Four-on-four halfcourt without dribbling teaches similar principles. 

Lagniappe. Everybody plays hard in the postseason. You have to get there first.  

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Wednesday, November 5, 2025

Never Confuse "Simple" Basketball with Easy

Which is easier, doing one thing well or doing five? Students learn the alphabet before studying Shakespeare. There's a progression.

Coach Don Meyer said that coaching had three phases - blind enthusiasm, sophisticated complexity, and mature simplicity.

A great offensive player like KD doesn't trick people. Establish catch-and-shoot, then work on a handful that become second nature. 

Do simple well. Organize, prepare, execute. 

1) Handle pressure defense. Be able to separate in isolation full court. Be able to back-dribble crossover or pass early to nullify the double team. 

2) Good > Great. Great is the enemy of good. Efficiency in the ordinary beats occasional excellence. 

3) Do well what you do a lot. Play and defend in the half-court. Stop transition attacks. Execute and defend the PnR. If you're a shooter, extend your range.  

4) Grow your game. Regardless of our domain, we're either advancing our skillset or falling behind. What one skill you can add? What current skills can we enhance? 

5) What is your skill? What gets you and keeps you on the court? Consult your coaches if you're not sure. Any good coach will tell you to earn trust to earn more playing time. 

6) Study the game. "The WHY is everything." Study video. Study basketball teaching videos (YouTube, FIBA, trainers (Hanlen, Brickley, Kelbick), coaches (Popovich, Etorre Messina, Krzyzewski, Auriemma, Obradovic). 

7) Connect. Some of you have played together and attended school together for years. Strengthen those ties. Share. 

8) Keep a notebook. Write down what you learn. The act of handwriting improves retention. If you learn three new basketball concepts a day, that's over a thousand a year. 

9) Work out together. Shared experience builds skill, competitiveness, and  connection. Former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer had the 10-80-10 concept, that players sort into the top 10%, middle 80%, and bottom 10%. He insisted that top 10%ers bring someone in the middle to training. "Drag them" into the top 10%. 

10) Want to be great. What makes exceptional coaches? Exceptional players. Do not fear greatness. 


One of my favorite basketball teammates played on the freshman "B" team. He asked Coach how he could improve. Coach said, "Play a lot." John became an ML All-Star, outplayed a future Celtics draft choice in Boston Garden, played at Tufts, and had a wonderful career in the petroleum industry.  

11) Never tire of the little things. Coach Wooden attributed Bill Walton's greatness to his will to excel and never to tire of working on "the little things," like his impeccable footwork. You can't be "too good" at fundamental skills. 

12) Believe. Ted Lasso's "fourth thing" was BELIEVE. Belief helps you make a play "in the moment." The 2005 team lost the third set in the State semis and won the fourth something like 25-8. The 2012 State Champions won the fourth and final set 25-10. Excellence has no doubt and leaves none. 

Lagniappe. This volleyball post contains many hoop truths.

 

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Tuesday, November 4, 2025

Basketball - "Not a Game of Perfect" Part One


Leverage the power of the mind. Bob Rotella earned a reputation for elevating performance through his consulting practice. 

"A person with great dreams can achieve great things."

See yourself as a winner. 

"Play one shot at a time." 

"We've got to find a new dream, 'What's next?'"

"I am not a shrink; I am an enlarger."

"A golfer has to learn to enjoy the process."

Make everyday the chance to chase our dreams. 

Champions have strong will, dreams, and a long-term commitment. 

The difference between the consistent and erratic player is the ability to control our thoughts and channel them into consistency. 

"You have to choose to think well."

"Winners and losers are self-determined, but only the winners are willing to admit it." - John Wooden

The player who fears failure starts to focus on mechanics instead of playing 'freely'

The only place to worry about mechanics is practice.

"Trusting is not easy or instinctive."

"Work at developing thoughts and habits that promote trust."

"The hot streak represents a golfer's true capability." 

Staying out of our way means dismissing doubt that interferes with our game (and our game can be relationships, business, or sport)

Lagniappe. Process, confidence, freedom. AI Assist

1. Focus on Process, Not Outcome

“The smaller your target, the sharper your focus.”

Golf: The best players narrow their attention to one shot, one swing, one target. They don’t think about scorecards or leaderboards.

Volleyball/Basketball Crossover:

  • Focus on the next play, not the scoreboard or the last error.

  • Build consistent routines—from serve receive to free throws—so athletes can anchor their minds in the process.

  • Encourage players to “win the rally” or “win the possession,” not to chase the big picture.

Coach’s cue: “Play the next point.”
Teams that play one possession at a time sustain emotional control and outperform more talented, anxious teams.

2. Confidence is a Choice

“You have to train your mind to see what you want to happen, not what you fear might happen.”

Golf: Rotella teaches visualization and belief. Great golfers picture success, not hazards.

Volleyball/Basketball Crossover:

  • Replace “don’t miss this serve” with “attack your spot.”

  • Confidence comes from repetition plus belief. Players must practice pressure situations (serving at 24–23, shooting with 10 seconds left).

  • Coaches model confidence through calm body language and tone, even when the game tightens.

Coach’s cue: “Confidence is preparation plus imagination.”
You train both the skill and the story in your athlete’s mind.

3. Accept Imperfection and Let Go

“The mark of a great player is not how good his good shots are. It’s how good his bad shots are.”

Golf: Every round includes misses. Champions recover faster and don’t compound errors.

Volleyball/Basketball Crossover:

  • Everyone shanks a pass, misses a layup, or mishits a swing. Great teams respond, don’t react.

  • Teach athletes to “flush” mistakes—physical reset (breath, posture, eye contact), then refocus.

  • Perfectionism creates paralysis. Allow mistakes within aggressive, smart play.

Coach’s cue: “Next ball, next play, next possession.”
Mental recovery is the separator between good and elite teams.

Summary Table

Rotella PrincipleGolf LessonVolleyball/Basketball TranslationCoaching Cue
Focus on ProcessOne shot at a timeOne play at a time“Win this rally.”
Confidence is a ChoiceBelieve before you seeRehearse success, not failure“Attack your target.”
Let Go of ImperfectionBad shots happenFlush mistakes, reset“Next play.”

Lagniappe 2. We don't have to be Newell, Wooden, Smith, or Knight. The best version of ourselves can inform excellence. 

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Monday, November 3, 2025

Basketball - Inside the Numbers, An Early Look

First, I don't gamble. Study numbers to understand the game. As a Celtics fan, I'm not optimistic, not because of management or coaching, but because of the talent drain from finances and injury.

Let's look at the Four Factors differentials for Boston after a handful of games. Sample size deserves mention as a limitation. 

These do not include the Celtics shooting 11-51 on threes last night or their being outrebounded by 19. 

EFG% differential

"Just because I want you on the floor, doesn't mean I want you to shoot." - Bob Knight

Rebounding differential 

"Get me the ball, Danny." - Gene Hackman, "The Replacements"

Turnovers

"The ball is gold." - Coach Sonny Lane

Portland is the high forced (21+), high own turnovers (16+) team

Free throws  

“...and you will make your second shot” - Gene Hackman, in "Hoosiers"

Allowing 12 more free throws per game is one indictment, although indirect, of rim protection

Some will say, "the only stat that matters is the scoreboard." Hard to refute that. The top teams necessarily master key areas. The basketball venue is the Court of Truth. 

Lagniappe. Pop wisdom. 


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