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Sunday, March 19, 2017

Fast Five: A Plea for Traditional Basketball Actions

I don't long for another time. Dribble drive and drive and kick are terrific entrees in the basketball feast. But I believe that team actions deserve priority teaching. I've watched too many middle school games with a parade of airballs, wondering whether anybody preaches Jay Bilas toughness, "it's not your shot, it's our shot." How many times have I said, "that must be the coach's kid, because who greenlights THAT?" 



"Multiple actions lead to great offense." It's not that combination plays became unfashionable, rather players inconsistently set up cuts, don't cut hard enough, won't wait for screens, and need more teaching to read defenses. 

The youth coach who indoctrinates players into "doing it right" allows high school coaches to elevate their teaching. That lifts the burden from the college coach. How can we watch pro basketball and see players roll blindly after screening and trot back on defense not seeing the ball? 

Give-and-go. This should be like taking candy from a baby. With children playing soccer once they leave the womb, how can this not be a preferred entree? 

Backdoor cuts. First, give players a definition: the backdoor cut means cutting to the ball before cutting away from it. 



When the defender plays high (left), then she facilitates the back cut. 

Pick-and-roll options. See Spot run. See the post roll, pop, slip, rescreen. See the dribbler drive, dish (on the roll or pop), and split. See the defender go under and the dribbler shoot. 

Ball reversal. Everyone knows how tough great closeouts are. Make your opponent fail. 

Will every defender commit to working this hard? 




"Don't cheat the drill."


Even great players get caught napping, late, or lazy...

Option cuts (UCLA cut)



Screen-the-screener




If we don't teach the youngsters, who will?