In basketball, consider the triangle offense.
The ballside triangle 'conventionally' sets up twin cuts, offering quick passes, weakside screening action, and post isolation just to name a few options.
Conversely, you could just as easily vary it with scissors action setting up dribble pitch to the 1 or a quick mid-range shot. Experienced players and coaches 'chunk' the opportunity sets. A myriad of other options quickly come to mind.
High basketball IQ players learn to see and play 'situational basketball'. Here are just a few examples that players 'instinctively' learn:
How and why to adjust game tempo
How to space the floor - "Spacing is offense and offense is spacing."
When to shoot - "Bad shooters are always open."
When to pass and to whom (depending on situation)
How and where to cut - "Set up your cut"
How to receive the ball - "shorten the pass"
How to improve rebounding position
When to screen (e.g. underrated drag screens in transition) - headhunt (screen the body) or area
How the game is being officiated
How to use the shot clock properly (2 for 1, last shot situations, I seldom see any high school teams execute this in a way that suggests players care)
When and how to attack a player already in foul trouble
When to foul (strategic fouling to set up potential 1 and 1 situations can be important)
How to draw fouls and charges
How to use offensive and defensive fakes
They also avoid bad decisions.
Know when not to foul. (Watching players foul terrible shots flyaways and runners from the corner is yet another pet peeve)
Avoid fouling jump shots and especially three point shots. (Celtics' "star" guard Avery Bradley does this repeatedly)
Know whom to foul and whom not to foul.
Don't turn one bad play into another (reaction/frustration foul).
Learn how to play with fouls.
Know when not to shoot by time and score.
Avoid high-risk, low-reward passes.
Avoid passing or dribbling into traffic.
Avoid passing to poorer ball-handlers in space.
Avoid defensive gambles that will lead to easy baskets when unsuccessful.
Maintain floor balance defensively.
Know that 'the ball scores' and containing your player means nothing when another scores.
All of us can go on and on about this.
Can we do anything about this?
Film review matters. I've discussed how much grainy 8 mm film we used to watch in high school. But players need to internalize that and learn how to see opportunities and mistakes. Remind players when they watch games to see how good teams get and prevent separation.
Can you teach vision? The Israeli Air Force commissioned development of "awareness software" and improved pilot performance over 60 percent. Elite programs use a modification of this "video game" to improve their visualization. I've told some players to try using "Asteroids"...the poor man's visualization tool.
Can we teach concentration? Maybe it's just coincidence, but we're shooting free throws better. Because we only have three baskets at practice, we have four shooters at each during free throw practice. I instituted "One or run" practice. If you don't make at least one of two, then you take a lap (instead of standing around) while you wait.
Share your ideas for raising basketball IQ.
